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Law School Bulletin February 2026
Welcome to the February edition of our newsletter.
I hope you have enjoyed and made the most of your second term so far.
We regularly hear from our alumni, who let us know of all the amazing things they have gone on to do since graduating in Law from Exeter. On Wednesday 11 March, we will be welcoming Ben Ainsley-Gill, Eleanor Scogings and Duncan Gorst back to the campus. They have kindly offered to give a talk to students about their careers in international arbitration. The event is in-person, free of charge, but booking is essential. Do please consider coming along to hear about their journey, and whether a career in arbitration presents a good option for you.
In this edition we have a Mooting/Competitions update, photos from this week’s Lasok Lecture and details on how to apply for a grant from the Alumni Annual Fund.
This is my last newsletter as Acting Head of School, as we welcome Prof Caroline Fournet back from her maternity leave.
Best wishes,
Richard
Dr Richard Bowyer, Acting Head of Exeter Law School
Education Matters with David Yuratich
Hello, and welcome to the end of February.🌞Here comes the sun, do-do-do-do. 😎
As we enter the final quarter of the academic year, I will keep my comments brief until next time. I hope you are enjoying your modules, and that global release day went well for you.
At the end of March, you will be able to choose your option modules (if your programme allows this). Please keep an eye out for further information which will come to you from the University, as well as information about our virtual Module Fair. Students often ask us what they should consider when choosing their modules, further guidance will follow as part of the module fair, but ultimately, do something you are interested in!
Finally, thank you very much to all those finalists who have completed the National Student Survey (NSS). If you have not completed the survey yet, please can I encourage you to do so. You can find out more here.
Best wishes,
David
Dr David Yuratich, Director of Education and Student Experience
Competitions Update from Adam Nicholls
It's been a very busy period for Mooting and Competitions at Exeter Law School. This week Matthew Jolliffe and Grace Radnedge took on a team from University of Bristol in the second round of the ESU-Essex Court Moot. Superb news - they got through to the next round! It was judged by a Partner of Clifford Chance, Sachin Trikha, who commended the team on their mature advocacy skills, persuasive delivery and detailed understanding of the facts.
In addition, we have had contestants in the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, the All Exeter Moot, the LSE-Featherstone Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Moot and the CEDR Negotiation Competition 2026. Find out how those teams are getting on via our page here. Congratulations to all students for what their achievements so far, and good luck to those about to enter another round of competitions.
📣Your Voice Matters 📣
Over the past few weeks, we have received lots of feedback from students on a range of topics. All feedback is valuable, even if we cannot immediately act on it; for example, sometimes we receive feedback about scheduling issues or course content, which we consider more fully as part of our module review processes. But we are always listening. An example of this longer-term feedback relates to option choices. Our Term 1 survey told us that career plans are often a motivating factor in option selection. When the online module fair opens, you will see that a lot of our new modules will provide you with exposure to a different ways of ‘doing law’, for example by exploring policy work and by introducing you to different areas of the law and legal study, such as consumer law and media law. The full list of option modules will be shared with you in due course. Please bear in mind this list may be subject to change if unforeseen circumstances arise.
Remember you can share your feedback with your Academic Tutor or a Law Student Rep. As Undergraduate Co-Directors, Matthew Channon and Amy Man also welcome feedback directly to them. Student Reps work with the Students' Guild and University staff to address specific issues and implement positive changes. You can find your Reps on the Students' Guild webpages.
🗓️Opportunities and Events 🗒️
Thank you for attending the Law School Social on Wednesday. These kind of events are a great way to meet others from your cohort and other year groups. We're planning a quiz in March, date to be confirmed but likely to be Tuesday 17 March. Please keep an eye on our Instagram and on the Opportunities page for information about Law School events in the coming months.
The Opportunities page hosts a variety of employability and career development events. Here are some of the ones currently on the site.⬇️⬇️⬇️
Tuesday 3 March: Law Speed Networking Event
Wednesday 11 March: International Arbitration Careers - Hear from LLB Alumni
Various dates in March: Explore AI through a playground and escape room
We marked the 49th annual Lasok Lecture with a visit from Agustín Reyna, the Director General of BEUC, The European Consumer Organisation.
It was excellent to see so many undergraduate and postgraduate students putting questions to Agustín in the pre-lecture drinks and the Q+A. We will share a recording in the coming days.
This week David Yuratich has taken his Supreme Court module students on a virtual visit to the UK Supreme Court. They heard from the registrars, judicial assistants, and, the highlight of the day, Lady Simler, who gave us an hour of her time. What a wonderful and insightful experience!
Apply to the Alumni Annual Fund
Students and staff can now apply for funds through the Alumni Annual Fund to support inclusive, student‑focused projects in 2025/26. These grants aim to enhance the student experience and foster a strong sense of belonging across our University community.
Projects should align with at least one of this year’s five priority themes:
- Anti-racism
- Disability and Accessibility
- Gender Equality
- Student Safety
- Community Cohesion.
Intersectional approaches are also encouraged. You can request between £500 and £3,000 to design and deliver initiatives that draw on lived experience and contribute to positive cultural change. Submit via the Alumni Annual Fund Application Form(below) by Friday 27 March 2026. Successful applicants will be notified on Tuesday 7 April 2026. Please contact annualfund@exeter.ac.uk if you have any questions.
The National Student Survey - ☎️ IPSOS calling ☎️
If you’ve not yet filled out the National Student Survey, the agency which runs the National Student Survey – Ipsos - might call to see if you can answer the questions over the phone. Ipsos is an independent agency and is not part of the University.
It’s your choice whether to complete the NSS. Once you have completed it, Ipsos won’t contact you again. You can find out more information on the NSS website.
🏛️University of Law Open Day
Wednesday 11 March - 14:00-16:00
Join the University of Law team on campus for their upcoming Open Day to learn more about how their courses are designed to support your future career ambitions and set you up for success. With an emphasis on practical learning, industry insight, and flexible study modes, you’ll receive guidance and support throughout your postgraduate studies.
New Society to join - The AI & Law Society
As you will know there are quite a few different law societies at Exeter, but did you know that this term there is a new one, the AI & Law Society.
Adam Jennings is the President, he explains why they have formed the society:
“The AI & Law Society was founded to help students understand and engage with one of the fastest-growing and most transformative areas of the legal profession. AI is no longer a future issue - it is reshaping how law is practised, interpreted, and regulated today. Our society explores not only AI regulation, but how artificial intelligence interacts with every area of law, from commercial practice to criminal justice. Members will gain insight into emerging legal developments, practical skills in using AI ethically and effectively, and opportunities to connect with academics and practitioners at the forefront of innovation.”
You can find details on the Students’ Guild webpage here and follow them on Instagram @exeterailawsoc.
Exeter Law Review - Submit an article
The Exeter Law Review is now in its 51st edition. It’s a peer-reviewed law journal of leading legal research from law students, academics and external researchers from around the world. Topics are broad, covering domestic and international law and legal theory.
The window is now open for papers and you are invited to submit.
Articles: No more than 8,000 words (excluding footnotes).
Marked summative essays are not acceptable but may inspire a freshly-written journal article based on the summative topic.
Previous dissertations are acceptable if turned into journal article format (i.e., sections instead of chapters) with updated research and a 250 word abstract.
Case Notes: No more than 3,500 words (excluding footnotes).
Please see the webpage for full submission criteria and send your article, case note or query to exeterlawreview@gmail.com which is monitored by the student editors.
From Dr Lisa Cherkassky, Staff Chief Editor (L.Cherkassky@exeter.ac.uk).
Our Socials
Employability Support for Law Students
Did you realise the scope of careers support available to you as a Law student now, and up to three years after graduation?
You have access to a law specialist Career Consultant, Tess Read whilst studying here and you continue to access Careers Service support when you graduate.
You can self-book 1:1 career guidance or advice appointments with Tess through My CareerZone. You can discuss any matters to do with career thinking:
- How to gain work experience
- Applying for summer jobs or graduate jobs
- Putting together a strong CV
- Any career topic you would like to talk about
You can also get advice at the Careers Drop-ins: Mondays in term time 1.30-2.30pm in the Career Zone. Drop in to chat about careers in law or other employment sectors.
Find out other ways you can get careers support on the webpage here.
UNIVERSITY OF EXETER LAW SCHOOL
If you would like to see previous editions of the bulletin, they sit on our website here. And if you have any suggestions for future editions, or would like to share a story with us, please email lawcomms@exeter.ac.uk. Fin
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