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The teaching of jurisprudence and legal theory in British universities and polytechnics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Hilaire A. Barnett  and
Dianna M. Yach
Hilaire A. Barnett
Affiliation:
Queen Mary College, London
Dianna M. Yach
Affiliation:
Queen Mary College, London
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Extract

‘Whatever the future of the subject, the content of the present courses suggests that jurisprudence has a capacity for self-renewal and an elasticity which enables it to interpret ideas from philosophy and the social sciences to law students in a way which stresses their modern relevance to the social and theoretical problems which an intelligent and critical study of law should suggest.’ So concludes the last survey of jurisprudence teaching in British universities carried out in 1972/73 by Cotterrell and Woodliffe. To what extent could their sentiments be echoed in 1983/84?

Ten years have elapsed since the previous survey was completed during which time important changes have occurred in legal education and its environment.

Type
Research Article
Information
Legal Studies , Volume 5 , Issue 2 , July 1985 , pp. 151 - 171
Copyright
Copyright © Society of Legal Scholars 1985

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References

1. R. B. M. Cotterrell and J. C. Woodliffe, ‘ The Teaching of Jurisprudence in British Universities’, JSPTL, July, 1974, 89

2. Cotterrell, and Woodliffe, , op cit n 1 above, p 87 Google Scholar.

3. Ibid p 88.

4. Ibid p 89.

5. The discrepancy in figures is partly due to fact that some replies indicated that the institution did not offer Jurisprudence.

List of Respondent Universities and Polytechnics:

Universities: Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Brunei, Cambridge, Dundee, Durham, East Anglia, Edinburgh, Essex, Exeter, Glasgow, Hull, Keele, Lancaster, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London—University College, Kings College, London School of Economics; Queen Mary College (dealt with as separate institutions), Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, Reading, Sheffield, Southampton, Strathclyde, Surrey, Sussex, University College Cardiff, UWIST, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, Warwick.

Polytechnics: Bristol, Central London, Chelmer/Essex Institute for Higher Education, City of London, Coventry/Lanchester, Ealing, Hatfield, Kingston, Leeds, Liverpool, Middlesex, Newcastle, North East London, North Londn, North Staffordshire, Preston, South Bank, Trent, Wales, Wolverhampton.

6. Note that at Sussex all options available to all years; University College Cardiff: Juristic Techniques first year, Sociology of Law and Legal Philosophy second or third year; Belfast: Legal Process first year, Sociology second year, Philosophy third year, optional courses third and fourth years; Hull: Jurisprudence I years one and two, Jurisprudence 2 year three; London LSE: Social Theory and Institutions of Law years two or three, Law and Social Theory year one (from 1980 compulsory as part of existing English Legal System course), Economic Analysis of Law second or third years, Jurisprudence third year.

7. Wolverhampton Polytechnic indicated that many degrees have law inputs. Middlesex Polytechnic offers a BA Hons Degree; North London offers a Modern Studies degree and City of London offers a modular degree and diploma scheme.

8. W. L. Twining additional observations.

9. Table II & III.

10. Cotterrell, and Woodliffe, op cit n 1 above, p 86 Google Scholar.

11. Cotterrell, and Woodliffe, op cit n 1 above, p 86 Google Scholar.

12. Professor N. MacCormick (University of Edinburgh).

13. Twining Ibid at 81 and see British Journal of Law & Society Vol 1–2 1974/75 at 149.

14. R. B. M. Cotterrell (1983) 46 MLR 681

15. See, for example, inter alia, Graveson [1951) 4JLE 127; Fielding [Brit J of Law & Soc Vol 10 No 2 Winter 1981 at 1811; Tur [SPTL 1976]; Twining [op cit]; Campbell [1974) Brit J of Law & Soc at 241; Sheldrake [JSPTL Vol XIII (1975) at 342]; Smith WSPTL Vol XII (1972/73) at 41; Wilson J. F. [1966 JSPTL Vol IX No 1, June].

16. See infra p 166.

17. See para 9.3.

18. JSPTL 1976 at 38.