Law

Studying law will not only give you the opportunity to qualify as a solicitor or barrister: it will also help you develop a diverse set of skills which you will be able to apply in many different situations. You will learn to assimilate and analyse complex information, construct arguments, write with precision and clarity and think on your feet.

BA (Hons) Law
BA (Hons) Law with Law Studies in Europe

Law is an unusual subject for a university degree in that the overwhelming majority of students have not previously studied it. The courses are therefore designed for those starting from scratch. The title of the Oxford undergraduate BA degree—Jurisprudence—is an old-fashioned word derived from Latin. However, Jurisprudence (or the philosophy of law) is one of the compulsory courses for the BA degree at Oxford.

Law at Wadham

While we welcome applications from graduates to read Law as a second BA, we do not accept applications to take the degree in two years. We are unfortunately unable to accept visiting students. Our primary method of teaching is in tutorials comprising groups of two or three students. The focus is on an in-depth and critical treatment of the topics studied. This sometimes means we cover a slightly smaller range of topics. Oxford law undergraduates have written examinations in three courses at the end of their second term and a further nine at the end of their final year. Students are also required to write an extended essay on a topic in Jurisprudence over the summer break after their second year as part of their overall evaluation. A full list of courses offered is available here. Wadham's law library is very well stocked and always open; electronic law databases can also be accessed from anywhere in College. The Law Faculty and Library are also about a 5-minute walk away.

The College has an active Law Society run by our students. There is also a senior section of the society, run principally by the old members, which takes an active part in the organisation of trips and raises money to subsidise social activities and, for example, the law collection in the College Library. Many of these non-resident members are happy to advise them on careers in law. The current President of the Society is Master of Rolls, Lord Dyson.