Law
The Course The B.A. in Law consists of three years, known as Parts IA, IB, and Part II of the Law Tripos. There are four mandatory subjects in the first year, but in the second and third years, there is an extensive range of options. The contents of the course are explained in the Law Faculty’s handbook. Further information about the details of the Law Tripos is contained in the Law Faculty's Prospectus.
Studying Law at Clare First and foremost, the Law Fellows at Clare like to think that they encourage their students to adopt a broad and critical approach to the study of legal subjects. We think that it is not enough to learn what the law is: students also need to know why it is like that and whether and how it might be changed. In other words, we aim to place the law in its broader social, historical, economic and political context. One measure of the success of this approach is that a good proportion of Clare lawyers (much higher than the University average) choose the optional dissertation in Part II of the Law Tripos. This gives students the opportunity to submit an extended essay in place of one examination. A significant proportion of Clare Law graduates go on to take a further degree, whether in Cambridge or elsewhere. It is worth noting that Clare Law students have recently gained excellent results in Tripos, including prestigious University Prizes. Several have studied at European Universities or have been awarded the College's Mellon Fellowship to study Law at Yale University for two years. Many papers of the Law Tripos (notably three of the four papers in Part IA) are supervised within Clare. For the other papers, students are sent to various supervisors in other Colleges, under reciprocal arrangements within Clare. What else distinguishes Law at Clare? We have an excellent Law Reading Room in Clare (called the Lipstein Law Reading Room). It is one of the best such facilities in Cambridge and it includes a computer section. The reading room is very well stocked with student text-books, law reports and periodicals. It is also where Law students at Clare discourse with each other and where a great deal of lively discussion (often on legal topics!) takes place. Other students within Clare and Law students in other colleges would also recognise that Clare lawyers have a good social life. We hold regular lively parties, at the beginning of the academic year, at Christmas, in the Lent Term, and in May Week. We also have an Annual Dinner with a visiting speaker (usually a leading judge or practitioner). In recent years, a number of Clare lawyers have been involved as office-holders in the University Law Society, and have been very active in organising speaker meetings, prison visits, the student magazine etc. There has also been a healthy tradition of participation in University Mooting competitions. The Clare Law Fellows are also willing to accept into Part IB of the Law Tripos committed students who wish to change from other Tripos subjects after their first or second years. However, the current professional exemption subjects require a minimum of two years to be devoted to Law in Cambridge. Admissions Requirements The College is keen to attract applicants with a strong interest in the academic and intellectual challenge of Law. At recent admissions rounds, bright candidates displaying genuine excitement at the prospect of reading this subject have tended to stand out.
Interviews In addition, applicants will be asked to take a further 90-minute college test on the day of interview. Further details can be found at: http://www.cam.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/tests/lnat.html and the LNAT homepage Fellows in Law The College enjoys strong and valuable teaching links with other Law Fellows in the University: there are three former Clare law students holding teaching Fellowships in other Cambridge Colleges. |
National Admissions Test for Law
Mr Neil Andrews Dr Isabelle Van Damme
Mr Colin Turpin
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