Posted by The Law School
1 December 2025In a new study of what defines outstanding law teaching in the UK university law school, the University of Exeter’s Dr Louise Loder and Professor Greta Bosch are exploring best practices, personal qualities and the creative, innovative pedagogies that law teachers embed into their teaching in lecture theatres, workshop rooms and online. The aim of this study is to better understand how excellent teaching in law develops and is sustained through practice, continued professional development and training, and community-driven networking, mentorship and collaboration.
The Great Law Teachers Project, funded by The Association of Law Teachers, was inspired by Schwartz et al’s ‘What the Best Law Teachers Do’ (2013), a study of the personality traits, skills, approaches and capabilities of 26 of the ‘best’ law teachers in the United States, and builds on Fiona Cownie’s seminal study, ‘Legal Academics: Culture and Identities’ (2004), on the ‘culture of legal academia and the professional identities of law teachers’.
The survey is designed to explore how law teachers inspire, support and challenge students; how they navigate change and the impact of technology, wellbeing, funding and working culture; and how their professional identities and life experiences have led them to academia and shaped their teaching persona and practice. The research will be captured in a project report to be published jointly by the University of Exeter Law School and the Association of Law Teachers at the ALT Annual Conference in Exeter in April 2026.
Find out more and participate in the survey here: http://tinyurl.com/greatlawteachers