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Law School Bulletin March 2026
Welcome to the March edition of our newsletter.
The end of Term 2 is already approaching, and we very much encourage you to enjoy this last week of term. Keep engaging with your modules, continue to attend all your classes, and stay involved in the life of the Law School. But don’t forget to make the most of every ray of sunshine. Although it may feel a little later than usual this year, the sun is beginning to make more regular appearances and the campus is blossoming. In between classes, take breaks from your books and/or computer screens and go for a walk along the scenic paths and through the flowery gardens. It can be both relaxing and inspiring!
In this edition you will find other wellbeing advice, Module Fair guidance and study tips to support you during the University break. If you are staying on campus during this period, the Spring on Campus webpages have useful information for you.
Whether you are staying here, heading home or travelling around during this busy period we wish you all a very happy April.
Best wishes,
Caroline
Professor Caroline Fournet, Head of Exeter Law School
Education Matters with David Yuratich
Hello, and welcome to the last newsletter of the term.
Firstly, I want to wish 'Good Luck' to all our mooters and supporters heading to the Supreme Court this week for the final of the All Exeter Moot. A wonderful setting for the event and I'm sure it will be a great experience, enjoy the day.
What a busy time it has been, but now we are entering what will be – for many of you – the last term at Exeter. You will have attained a great deal of skill and experience in planning for assessment but remember that it's never too late to reflect and refine your assessment skills, and we encourage you to continue consulting the ELE Gateway and Study Skills resources.
Many final year students will have a mixture of both coursework and exams, depending on which optional modules you chose. Think carefully about how you should prepare for each: coursework provides the time and opportunity to really reflect (deeply) on what the question is getting at, and for you to evaluate and analyse (critically) the material relevant to the question. Try and show the examiner this careful, deep and reflective engagement with those relevant sources.
Exams are somewhat different: the added time pressure means we need to prepare notes and materials that can support us during the exam, but to always be responsive to the question set, rather than deploying pre-prepared material. In exams, we might need to be more economical (but still precise) in the materials we use, and make sure they make an impact in supporting claims we make in pursuit of the question.
Finally, if it helps, Law School staff have created a revision ideas page for students. We wish you well in your final assessments.
EXAMS:
I would also like to clarify expectations around referencing in exams.
You can read the referencing requirements in exams in full by clicking here. This document may be familiar to you because it is also on the ELE Gateway, and it is directly linked on every assessment rubric.
The two key points are:
- Do not use footnotes in exams. All text in your answer will count to the word limit, with the exception of the title and bibliography. Cite in-text, as per the examples in the document I just linked.
- Do include a bibliography in exams. This is a new requirement for this year, and I want to make sure you all realise this (I have previously explained it in the Welcome Back and Welcome talks and it is also explained in the word count document linked above). The bibliography needs to provide the full citation, using OSCOLA, of any source you have cited in the exam (but only those sources). We have introduced this in order to promote fairness and rigour between students. We want to be able to check that ’Smith, 2005’ did actually say what you say they did (and indeed that Smith did write that in 2005!). This is particularly important in light of the possible misuses of AI. This only applies to online exams.
As well as this, please can you note that all exams are classed as AI-minimal. This means you can only use AI during the exam for spelling and grammar checking purposes. This will also be stated very clearly on the exam paper itself. Full University guidance can be found here.
Best wishes,
David
Dr David Yuratich, Co-Director of Education and Student Experience
Spotlight on Module Choices
The online Module Fair is now underway and we have resources to help you make your choices.
Go to this Law ELE Gateway page to see video explainers from some of the module convenors, links to module descriptors and details of 'Drop-ins' when you can meet module convenors and ask questions.
We have also created a Padlet for you to look at the Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs). You can also add your own questions.
📣Your Voice Matters 📣
Race Equality Survey: Until 27 March
The survey is open to all students and staff, and we would very much appreciate your involvement. Survey responses will inform our refreshed Race Equality Action Plan so we’re keen to hear from as many members of our community as possible to ensure this reflects a variety of views and perspectives.
Disabled Commitment Survey
How accessible is campus, and in what ways could the University improve its access to resources and buildings? You can help create a more inclusive campus and application process by sharing your experiences in the Disabled Student Commitment Survey.
🗓️ News, Opportunities and Events 🗒️
Thank you for attending the various Law School events this term including our first annual human rights careers workshop with Vicki Prais (pictured), human rights lawyer which was attended by over 60 law students.
The first session introduced our students to the human rights employment landscape and gave students the chance to examine the skills, personal attributes, and professional values most valued by employers. The next session provided an intensive CV and cover letter masterclass tailored to the social impact sector, and the final session of the day addressed personal branding strategies for aspiring human rights professionals.
International Arbitration Event
It was great to welcome back three alumni to the Law School for our International Arbitration event. Ben Ainsley Gill, Duncan Gorst and Ellie Scogings were excited to meet and speak to their former lecturers and our current students.
In their lecture, Ben, Ellie and Duncan explained the procedural rules for arbitration with current examples from their expansive careers, for example, the issues enforcing arbitral awards in foreign jurisdictions and what are agreements to arbitrate. The best part of their lecture was their practical insights into this prestigious legal career. It was great fun to hear about the real-life problem-solving (outside of the legal rules that we learn/teach about!) For example, in a dispute around good faith in contract law, they highlighted that a strategic decision would be to choose an arbitrator who is from a civil law jurisdiction so that there would be more sympathy relating to good faith! After all, a KC who rigidly asserts that there is no doctrine of good faith in English Contract Law would not be very beneficial for their claim!
Some of the key points to take away from the day were:
- Arbitration is lucrative!
- Arbitration is fun, if you enjoy problem-solving, which also requires a degree of non-law strategy and ‘acting’ in oral hearings;
- Exeter Law School is a great community;
- There are opportunities at LCIA in London (where Ellie works), which Exeter students would be very welcome to apply for!
Please keep an eye on our Instagram and on the Opportunities page for forthcoming Law School events and activities. Here are some of the ones currently on the website.⬇️⬇️⬇️
Students from Exeter Law School were recently nominated to attend the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn University Information Afternoon and Dinner, a chance for university students to learn more about the Inns of Court, Training for the Bar and life as a Barrister. Read a reflection of the event by LLB student Phoebe Blakeborough.
💷Still time to apply to the Alumni Annual Fund💷
This is the last week when students and staff can apply for funds through the Alumni Annual Fund to support inclusive, student‑focused projects. Forms must be in by Friday 27 March.
One of the events taking place this week has been funded in this way and organised by the Law Society. On Tuesday 24 March they welcome the Right Honorable Lady Rose of Colmworth, Justice of the Supreme Court to an event in Reed Hall. Full details on the society’s Instagram post.
The National Student Survey ☎️ IPSOS calling ☎️
Thank you to all of you that have completed the National Student Survey so far. The Survey is open until Thursday 30 April and you can complete it using this link. If you haven't yet had the chance to complete it, the agency which runs the 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.
💷Paid Opportunity: Telethon ☎️
The University is now recruiting students to work on the next telephone fundraising campaign, running for three weeks in June. We are looking for students with excellent communication skills and a passion for the University. Full training will be provided - no previous experience necessary.
Calling takes place during evenings and weekends - partially at Streatham Campus, and partially remotely. Calls are made via an App so you will not incur any charges to your phone bill.
Pay is £15.07 per hour. Apply by Friday 10 April.
Pastoral Mentors
Our Pastoral Mentors, Sarah and Jay, wish you a restful break. If you would like to get in touch please use their shared email address: law-pastoral@exeter.ac.uk rather than their personal ones. This enables them to pick up your requests if one of them is on leave.
Our Socials
Employability Support for Law Students
A reminder of 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.
Visit this Law School webpage to find out other ways you can get careers support.
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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