Reimagining research-driven education
Birmingham Law School is proud to deliver a research-driven curriculum, across both LLB and LLM courses, in which the content is shaped by the research expertise of our academic staff.
From Advanced Criminal Law to Environmental Law, and Intellectual Properly Law to Legal Issues in Healthcare, the breadth of our academic expertise means that we offer a contemporary portfolio of optional modules that are designed, led and delivered by leading researchers in their fields. For example:
- Dr Alan Greene, convener of our Counter Terrorism Law module, was invited onto the BBC News, to provide expert commentary on the High Court’s decision to overturn the Government’s proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, a topic he teaches on the module.
- Drs Charlotte Bendall and Rehana Parveen, conveners of our Family Law module, coordinate the national Family Law Reform Now network, which brings together academics, practising lawyers and policymakers, to identify and address key areas of reform in family law. The Family Law module draws on similar approaches to invite students to critique the current law and develop informed opinions on its future.
It was clear that those teaching are passionate and knowledgeable in their fields of expertise: this is the sort of 'research led' teaching to which Russell Group institutions should aspire.
Just as the research expertise of our academics shapes the content of our modules, our commitment to using research-led and evidence-informed approaches to teaching and learning also shapes the way that content is delivered. Education-related professional development opportunities are a regular fixture in the School’s calendar, and our staff embrace a diversity of approaches to create a supported and engaged learning environment. These approaches are recognised and valued by our students.
We engage in topical debates on legal education and disseminate good practice through our published work. For example:
- Dr Audrey Cook’s work on interdisciplinary advocacy opportunities.
- Dr Lydia Morgan’s exploration of the potential to use object based learning to teach law.
- Dr Shahab Saquib’s co-authored work on ‘Teaching Contract Law Across Multiple Jurisdictions’
- Professor Linden’s Thomas’s contribution as editor of ‘The Clinical Legal Education Handbook’, a resource use in multiple jurisdictions to aid with the establishment of pro bono law clinics.
The lecturers…were clearly experts in their fields and clearly put a lot of effort into providing clear well-thought out engaging lectures.
Many of our academic staff are at the forefront of the legal education agenda, nationally and internationally. For example, Professor Paul McConnell, is Co-Chair of the International Bar Association’s Academic and Professional Development Committee.
In 2025, staff from our Pro Bono team hosted a ‘Training of the Trainers’ Workshop in collaboration with the UK and Ireland Street Law Best Practices Group and Professor Lorraine Talbot and Dr Andreas Kokkinis held a conference on ‘Research-led teaching in Company Law and the Limits of Pedagogy’.
We activate research and practice-driven innovation within the core curriculum and beyond through our Centre for Employability, Legal Education and Research’s (CEPLER) distinctive, annual programme of ‘Reimagining’ events, which bring together members staff, academics from other law schools, practitioners, regulators and policy makers to reflect on their subject area, the extent to which educational approaches to it remain fit for purpose and how their subject might be delivered differently.
These events have led to the establishment of national networks and the publication of edited collections. Recent subjects to have been ‘reimagined’ include criminal law, public law, and counter terrorism law, as well as assessment in an age of Generative AI. Accounts of many previous ‘reimagining’ workshops are available online.