STUDYING LAW AT KENT Joanne Conaghan Professor Law Head of Kent Law School

2 Basic stats Total of 1,200+ students at Canterbury, 160 at Medway Undergraduate entry of 300+, rest postgraduate LLM/PhD Around 25% non-UK students 50 academics, 20 support staff, 25 sessional teachers Very strong in research – rated 5 in Research Assessment Exercise 2001 (2008 results pending)

3 Range of programmes LLB LLB in Law with a Language European Legal Studies English and French/German/Spanish/Italian Law Law with a year in China/Hong Kong A range of Joint Honours programmes

4 Kent LLB in 2008/9 Stage 1Critical IntroCriminalPublic Law Obligations 1 (Contract) Stage 2 Obligations 2 (Tort) Property European Law Option 1 Stage 3 Equity and Trusts Option 2Option 3Option 4

5 What makes Kent distinctive A critical social perspective on law Kent Law Clinic European/international orientation and ethos Innovative use of IT Strong support for student learning

6 Supporting student learning Curriculum delivery and contact time Monitoring progress and assessment Study skills support Pastoral support Student mentoring system

7 Curriculum delivery Whole class lectures (1or 2 weekly per course) Smaller / larger group seminars Weekly / Fortnightly : nos variable (usually between 8-16) Staff office hours providing 1-on-1 support Total weekly contact hours bet 6-12; remainder private study/essays etc

8 Progress and assessment Forms of assessment: coursework, exams, dissertations, participation / oral presentations Seminar attendance compulsory Processes for flagging up student learning problems (role of student advice office) Study skills support (drop ins; workshops; VALUE programme)

9 Pastoral Support and Mentoring Stage One: Personal Tutors Stage 2 & 3 KLS student advisors Student Mentoring system University-wide support

10 Personal and Professional Development Active student societies Development of professional networks Mooting Programme and Law Clinic Student reps and community building roles Strong Students Union – excellent voice for student concerns