About the York Law School
York Law School is a thriving and renowned law school, which is known for its distinctive programmes based on problem-based learning (PBL) and its strong tradition of cross-disciplinary, socially engaged research. YLS has grown from an initial entry of 75 undergraduate students in 2008 to an annual entry of 240. Our postgraduate taught programmes attract over 70 students a year. We also have a vibrant and growing community of postgraduate research students at different stages of their PhDs. In total we have a community of over 700 students and 57 academic staff, which includes an active group of practice-based staff. We are housed in a purpose-built building with a suite of PBL classrooms and a moot court. We host the Baroness Hale Law Clinic, which provides free legal advice in the region and beyond, and also forms an important base for our research.
Research
The School has a very strong international research record. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 results ranked YLS joint first for the excellence of its research, 4th for its impact and 5th overall in the UK, with 46% of its publications classed as ‘world leading’ (4*) and 34% ‘internationally excellent’ (3*). A key characteristic of the research environment at YLS is its strong multi-disciplinary focus. Since its founding, YLS has combined a commitment to fostering disciplinary excellence with taking on an active role in interdisciplinary leadership across a broad span of research. Openness to a variety of methodologies and disciplines, and serving as a hub to shape research agendas across the university, are key features of all our activities.
The School has retained a particular focus on socially engaged research, and draws on legal ideas, methods, and frameworks to address grand research challenges. We are very well networked with other disciplines. Our Centre for Applied Human Rights is established in partnership with the Politics Department, and we have close collaborative relationships with departments across the University in all three Faculties. Over the past five years, we have worked with twelve other departments at York on 23 joint projects, several of which we led. Further details about our research are available on our website.
Teaching
Our innovation and attention to the student experience have seen YLS quickly become established as a highly rated law school. We admitted our first intake of undergraduate students in October 2008. A Masters programme in International Corporate and Commercial Law was launched in 2009, followed in 2010 by an LLM in International Human Rights Law. We currently offer three interdisciplinary programmes: an LLM in Legal and Political Theory, an LLM in Art Law (jointly offered with the Department of History of Art), and a B.A. in Law and Criminology (jointly offered with the Department of Sociology).
As the only Law School in the UK to base our undergraduate degrees on problem-based learning (PBL), we offer a distinctive and dynamic approach to teaching and learning. Problem-based and experiential learning are also used on our Masters degrees alongside other forms of learning. We have recently begun to offer a new LLM (Juris Doctor) degree, which combines the academic study of law with a deep understanding of the law in action. The Baroness Hale Law clinic, which opened its door in January 2011, is embedded into our teaching, and undergraduate students have the option to undertake experiential learning through an optional clinic module.
Values
YLS has sought to establish a key set of values which inform all our work. These are:
- The starting principle is that YLS is a learning community in which staff and students are active participants.
- We have developed a concept of departmental citizenship, and the language of citizenship is used in dealings with staff and students.
- Trust and respect are the important foundation of our relationships.
- We consider that a collaborative approach to all our work and dealings is a good thing. This is reflected in our approaches to both teaching and research.
- YLS is a learning organisation. In YLS critical reflection – collective and individual - on our values, principles, processes and performance is normal.
- We attempt to foster a culture of respectful informality, in which the importance of learning and the value of all members of the YLS community are given serious recognition, but in which unnecessary hierarchical relationships are minimised where possible.