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Welcome to Durham Law School

Durham Law School is a world leader in legal education and research. Our award- winning academic staff produce ground-breaking research with impact. Durham Law School is ranked 6th in The Complete University Guide 2024 and we were awarded the Athena Swan Bronze Award for commitment to the advancement of gender equality: representation, progression and success for all in 2022.

We are proud to deliver some of the best results for student satisfaction and employability – and our graduates include some of law’s leading figures, such as current or previous members of the UK Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the High Court, Members of Parliament, barristers who are KCs, partners in leading international law firms and General Counsel to listed companies. Our top-ranked global law courses are very competitive with an excellent and diverse student population from across the world delivering a cutting-edge, research-led curriculum with a commitment to small group teaching through seminars and tutorials much prized by employers.

Find Out More
100% of research impact and environment was ranked 3* or 4* (REF 2021)
6th for Law The Complete University Guide 2025
5th The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025
Top 50 QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024

  

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Look closer at our Durham Law School

Press play to watch the video, and read more about us below.

Learn more about Durham Law School

Research

We are at the forefront of doctrinal, theoretical and interdisciplinary debates where our contributions have made a significant impact.

Examples include our work on reforming the legal regulation of expression, especially media freedom and the availability of extreme pornography; debates on the meaning and contemporary shape of federalism, citizenship and immigration policies in the UK, EU and beyond; investigations into law's capacity to respond to technological change, especially in the fields of bio-technologies and multi-faceted security challenges, including oversight of intelligence agencies; and to debates around Brexit.
See our Research pages
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Study with Us

  • Undergraduate Study

    Durham Law School is a world leader in legal education and research. Our LLB degree is a flexible, full-time course delivered over three years – and fully approved as a Qualifying Law Degree for careers as a barrister or solicitor.

    Group of students working
  • Postgraduate Study

    Postgraduate study at Durham Law School opens doors. Our Law School is a global leader with award-winning academic staff, top ranked research publications and centres and distinguished alumni in government, the UK Supreme Court, the UK’s top firms and chambers and beyond.

    Lecturer and students in classroom

Undergraduate Study

Durham Law School is a world leader in legal education and research. Our LLB degree is a flexible, full-time course delivered over three years – and fully approved as a Qualifying Law Degree for careers as a barrister or solicitor.

Group of students working

Postgraduate Study

Postgraduate study at Durham Law School opens doors. Our Law School is a global leader with award-winning academic staff, top ranked research publications and centres and distinguished alumni in government, the UK Supreme Court, the UK’s top firms and chambers and beyond.

Lecturer and students in classroom
Science Site and Bill Bryson Library

Scholarships

Thanks to generous gifts from our alumni, we can offer scholarships to our students.

Read more about our scholarships

  

Key Links for New Students

  • Student Hub

    Our Student Hub contains key information regarding your degree programme and the Law School. This is our student intranet and can only be accessed with your Durham University email.  

  • Learn Ultra

    Learn Ultra is our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). You can find information and interactive resources for specific modules here.  

    Picture of a web page menu

Student Hub

Our Student Hub contains key information regarding your degree programme and the Law School. This is our student intranet and can only be accessed with your Durham University email.  

Learn Ultra

Learn Ultra is our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). You can find information and interactive resources for specific modules here.  

Picture of a web page menu

News

Global law firm Clyde & Co gifts text books to first generation students at Durham Law School

The aim of this partnership between Clyde & Co and Durham Law School is to make law accessible to all, regardless of financial means or background.
Durham Law School Clyde & Co Scholars each received a certificate in respect of their books to help them with their studies as first generation scholars

Durham Law School Alumni and IP Law stars return to give a talk on the many paths from intellectual property law to a successful IP career

On 20 November 2024 Nigel Swycher (St Chad’s/Law,1981-84) and Richard Kempner (Aidan’s/Law, 1981-84) returned to Durham Law School 40 years after they graduated to speak to law undergraduates and post graduates on the many paths to a successful IP career.
Richard Kempner and Nigel Swycher outside of Durham Law School

Upcoming events

CELLS / GLAD seminar: Professor Mary Ziegler: Personhood: The New Civil War over Reproduction

Monday 2 December 2024 - Monday 2 December 2024
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
This event is taking place online via Zoom.
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Professor Anita Ramasastry Public Lecture: Unjust Transitions: Transition Mineral Extraction, Human Rights and the Green Economy.

Thursday 12 December 2024 - Thursday 12 December 2024
6:15 PM to 7:30 PM
PCL048, Hogan Lovells Lecture Theatre, Durham Law School, Palatine Centre, Durham
Professor Anita Ramasastry

Medicine, Law, Ethics and Popular Culture: Vera Drake

Wednesday 29 January 2025 - Wednesday 29 January 2025
2:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Hogan Lovells
Law school exterior cropped

CELLS seminar: Dr Eduardo Diaz Amado "The decriminalisation of euthanasia in Colombia - is it all about dignified death?"

Monday 24 February 2025 - Monday 24 February 2025
2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
This event is taking place online, via Zoom.
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REF 2021 Result

Our Research Excellence Framework 2021 results

Durham Law School submitted fifty-five members of staff, comprising 53.97 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) staff, to the REF Law UoA. The submission included nine Early Career Researchers.
More about The REF 2021 Result
Research

  

  

Get in touch

Enquiries about Durham Law School and our courses should be sent via the contact links below.

Durham Law School

Durham University
Palatine Centre
Stockton Road
Durham
DH1 3LE



Questions about studying here?

Check out our list of FAQs or submit an enquiry form.

Your Durham prospectus

Order your personalised prospectus and College guide here.