University of Aberdeen School of Law

The School of Law at the University of Aberdeen dates back to the University's foundation in 1495.^[1] Today, it is one of the largest law schools in Scotland, admitting some two hundred and fifty students each year, as well as over forty international exchange students.^[1] The School offers both undergraduate and taught and research postgraduate degrees, as well as the Diploma in Legal Practice and Professional Competence Course.^[2]

The Head of the School of Law is Mrs. Margaret Ross.^[3]

History

The history of the School of Law began with the establishment in 1495 of King's College, Aberdeen, the original university in Aberdeen, by William Elphinstone, then Bishop of Aberdeen and himself a former lawyer. In 1860, King's merged with Aberdeen's other university, Marischal College, to form the current University.

Today

Today, the School of Law has around one thousand students studying undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, and houses two research centres: the Centre for Property Law and the Civil Law Centre. The School was rated the eighth best department in the UK, and first in Scotland, in The Times' Good University Guide 2010,^[4] although it placed nineteenth in the UK and second in Scotland in The Guardian's table the same year.^[5] In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), the School submitted 35.7 FTE staff, the third-highest number of legal research staff in Scotland, after Glasgow (37.95) and Edinburgh (48.74). Five of the School's research submissions were rated the highest 4*, the same number as Dundee and Stirling, but behind Glasgow's fifteen, Strathclyde's twenty and Edinburgh's thirty. The School achieved thirty 3*, forty-five 2* and twenty 1* submissions.^[6]

Courses

Undergraduate

• Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.): available as a two-year accelerated degree for graduates in other disciplines, and as an honours degree, including options for joint honours with French, German, Spanish or Gaelic language, Accountancy, Economics, Management or Music.^[7]

Postgraduate
Taught degrees^[8]

Research degrees^[9]

• LL.M. by research
• Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.)
• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Aberdeen Summer Program
In addition, the School of Law plays host to the annual Aberdeen Summer Program in co-operation with the University of Baltimore School of Law and University of Maryland School of Law. The course examines comparison of U.S. and U.K. law, and is taught by Scottish and American tutors. Twenty American law students participated in the 2008 program, and thirty-two American law students are enrolled in the 2009 program.^[10]

International Exchange

In the final year of the LLB course, students are given the opportunity to spend time studying in another country, learning its respective legal system and possibly its language. Current options open to students include the Université Libre de Bruxelles and Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium, Aarhus Universitet in Denmark, the University of Helsinki in Finland, the University of Auvergne, Pierre Mendès-France University and Lumière University Lyon 2 in France, the Universities of Freiburg, Marburg and Regensburg in Germany, Maastricht University in the Netherlands, the University of Bergen in Norway, Universidad de Deusto and Universidad de Sevilla in Spain, and the Universities of Stellenbosch and Cape Town in South Africa.

Notable alumni

• Alistair Carmichael: Liberal Democrat Spokesman on Northern Ireland and Scotland (2007-), and Member of Parliament for Orkney and Shetland (2001-)
• Alistair Darling:Chancellor of the Exchequer until 2010
• The Hon. Lady Dorian: Senator of the College of Justice (2005-)
• Murdo Fraser: Deputy Leader of the Scottish Conservatives in the Scottish Parliament and MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife (2003-)
• George Grub: Professor of Law at the University (1881–91)
• The Rt Hon. Lord Marnoch: Senator of the College of Justice (1990–2005)
• Frank Mulholland QC: Lord Advocate (2011-), Solicitor General (2007-2011)
• Nicol Stephen: Former leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats
• John West: Depute Provost of Aberdeen (2007-)
• The Hon. Lord Woolman: Senator of the College of Justice (2008-)

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "About the School of Law". University of Aberdeen School of Law. http://www.abdn.ac.uk/law/about.shtml. Retrieved 22 June 2009. 
2. ^ "Prospective Students". University of Aberdeen School of Law. http://www.abdn.ac.uk/law/prospective.shtml. Retrieved 22 June 2009. 
3. ^ "Staff Administrative Roles". University of Aberdeen School of Law. http://abdn.ac.uk/law/admin.shtml. Retrieved 22 June 2009. 
4. ^ Watson, Roland; Elliott, Francis; Foster, Patrick. "University Rankings League Table 2010". London: The Times. http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/tol_gug/gooduniversityguide.php?AC_sub=Law&sub=38&x=29&y=11. Retrieved 22 June 2009. 
5. ^ "University guide 2010: Law". London: The Guardian. 12 May 2009. http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/table/2009/may/12/university-guide-law. Retrieved 22 June 2009. 
6. ^ "RAE 2008 : Quality profiles - Law". Research Assessment Exercise. http://submissions.rae.ac.uk/results/qualityProfile.aspx?id=38&type=uoa. Retrieved 22 June 2009. 
7. ^ "Prospective Undergraduates". University of Aberdeen School of Law. http://www.abdn.ac.uk/law/pros.shtml. Retrieved 22 June 2009. 
8. ^ "The Taught Master of Laws Degree". University of Aberdeen School of Law. http://www.abdn.ac.uk/law/graduate/gradtau.php. Retrieved 22 June 2009. 
9. ^ "Research Degrees in Law". University of Aberdeen School of Law. http://www.abdn.ac.uk/law/research/degrees.shtml. Retrieved 22 June 2009. 
10. ^ "University of Baltimore School of Law » Aberdeen Summer Program". University of Baltimore School of Law. http://law.ubalt.edu/template.cfm?page=96. Retrieved 22 June 2009. 

External links

• Official website