Law research
NTU has a large, active, highly skilled and internationally recognised Law research culture centred in the Nottingham Law School.
Research at Nottingham Law School
Research is central to the School’s overall mission that enables our work to have an impact upon lives and society locally, nationally and globally. We enjoy a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable research environment, underpinned by a strong research infrastructure. NLS believes in symbiotic relationship between excellent academic research on the one hand, and professional practice and legal pedagogy on the other.
Many of our researchers produce innovative and impactful world-leading research, engaging with cross-disciplinary and cross-cutting developments relating to some of the most significant global challenges, such as the rights, safety and security of vulnerable groups, the accountability of public and private sector bodies, and the financial and environmental sustainability of the public, private and third sectors.
Recent examples include work to reform the policing of hate crime, overhauling approach to legal education in the UK and abroad, developing understanding of the models of the balance between ideological freedoms and society’s needs, developing new understandings of corporate social responsibility, and mapping the changing nature of advocacy in the criminal courts.
Our researchers have a strong track-record in attracting external research funding from a wide range of courses range of sources, including the ESRC, Nuffield Foundation, British Academy, British Arts Council, and the US Department of State as well as a range contract-based research commissioned by government bodies, regulators, charities, companies and professional societies. Staff have provided expert advice to governmental, legislative, regulatory and other organisations both nationally and internationally, including parliamentary committees and inquiries.
Our people
Our staff research across a range of disciplines, adopting a range of theoretical, doctrinal and socio-legal approaches. Alongside our traditional strengths in human rights, criminal justice, legal education and corporate / and insolvency law, we have emerging new areas of strength in corporate social responsibility, oil and gas regulation, medical law and ethics, refugee and asylum law, international environmental law, international security and humanitarian law, and intellectual property law.
Research degrees
PGR students are an integral part of our research community. We offer supervision for study of MPhil and PhD level as well as a professional doctorate (Doctor of Legal Practice).
Centres and groups
Our three research centres provide a range of activities for collaboration, promotion and dissemination of high quality research. All of our Centres have well-developed programmes of research activity and regularly host conferences, symposia and research seminars, which are also open to our students. Many are also open to external stakeholders and the wider public.
Further information and news on the activities of our research centres can be found through the links below:
Several specialist research hubs sit under our research centres. These include:
Peer-reviewed journals
For over four decades the School has been the home of the Nottingham Law Journal (NottLJ) (founded as the Trent Law Journal in 1977), a peer reviewed general law journal with an international circulation. The NottLJ is included on the indicative holding list of the Library Standard published by the Society of Legal Scholars. It publishes the work of notable external scholars, and established NTU researchers, but also has provided an outlet for ECRs, PhD, LLM and LLB students. We are proud to host two further peer reviewed e-journals:
Contact us
Associate Dean for Research: Professor Jonathan Doak, Associate Dean for Research
Research Administrator: kerri.gilbert@ntu.ac.uk