ONLINE LAW FELLOWSHIP WITH GAVIN RIDLEY
A Two-Week Interactive Exploration of International Law
(Except 12th and 13th)
GST
What Is the Online Law Fellowship?
The Law Fellowship with Gavin Ridley, is an interactive two-week introduction to legal thinking and a range of legal disciplines.
This eight-session programme introduces students to a range of legal disciplines through a common question: how do legal systems balance competing interests? Sessions explore the principles, institutions and practical dilemmas of law, using historical and contemporary examples to encourage analysis, comparison and debate.
At the heart of the fellowship is a group research project comparing ancient and modern legal systems. Law Through the Ages.
OVERARCHING PROJECT
Law Through the Ages: Balancing Competing Interests
Each student group selects one area of law studied during the programme and investigates how legal systems have addressed a particular conflict between competing interests. The group project brings together legal history, comparative law and critical evaluation.
RESEARCH AND PRESENTATION EXPECTATIONS
- Identify a specific legal issue and explain the interests or values in tension.
- Investigate the approach of at least one ancient legal system, drawing on relevant historical legal evidence.
- Compare approaches in at least two modern legal systems, identifying similarities and differences.
- Consider how social, political, cultural and economic contexts have shaped legal responses over time.
- Offer a reasoned group evaluation of the different approaches and explain which balance of interests is most persuasive.
WHAT STUDENTS CAN EXPECT
Sessions combine accessible introductions to legal concepts with illustrative examples, discussion and opportunities to question how law operates in practice. Student groups will be encouraged to develop a research question early, apply ideas from the sessions to their chosen topic and prepare a concise, evidence-based presentation.
FINAL SESSION
On Wednesday 18 November, student groups present their findings to the group, respond to questions and take part in a concluding discussion about whether legal systems can achieve a fair balance between competing interests.
Meet Your Mentor
Gavin graduated with a law degree from Magdalen College, Oxford and was called to the Bar in 2007.
He has since worked as a legal representative in immigration and human rights law and is currently dual-qualifying as a solicitor. Alongside his legal practice, he has completed postgraduate study across law-related areas including criminal psychology, international human rights, social policy and animal welfare law.
His professional and academic interests include:
- International human rights law
- Immigration law
- Criminal justice
- Animal rights law
- Social policy
- Space law
His combination of practical legal experience and academic study gives students the opportunity to understand how legal principles operate in practice.
Who Should Join?
This programme is designed for Grades 8–12 students who are:
- Interested in Law, Politics or International Relations
- Curious about Legal Systems and Competing Interests
- Considering law as a Future Degree or Career
- Interested in diplomacy or Model United Nations
- Passionate about Global Affairs and Public Policy
- Looking to Strengthen Research and Critical Thinking Skills
- Interested in Public Speaking and Debate
- Preparing for Competitive University Applications
No prior legal knowledge is required.
PROGRAMME CURRICULUM
Introduction: What Is Law and Whose Interests Does It Serve?
Introduces the purpose and functions of law, the competing interests it must reconcile, and the group comparative research project
Criminal Law: Crime and Punishment
Explores criminal responsibility and the competing aims of public protection, punishment, deterrence, rehabilitation and individual liberty.
Contract Law: Freedom and Fairness
Considers how agreements become enforceable and how the law balances freedom of contract with fairness and protection against exploitation.
Constitutional Law: Power and Accountability
Examines the distribution and limits of state power, including the tension between effective government, accountability and individual rights.
Family Law: Rights and Responsibilities
Explores the relationships between parental autonomy, children’s welfare, family responsibilities and state intervention.
Guest Q&A Session
Engage with an experienced guest to gain valuable insights, ask questions, and explore real-world experiences. Get your doubts clarified and discover new perspectives to guide your academic and career journey.
Animal Welfare Law: Human Interests and Animal Protection
Examines the legal treatment of animals and the balance between welfare and human interests in farming, research, entertainment and cultural practices.
Academic Interview Skills session
Build confidence and make a lasting impression with practical strategies for academic interviews. Learn to communicate your strengths, answer questions effectively, and present yourself with clarity and confidence.
Environmental Law: Development and Protection
Considers environmental regulation and the tension between economic development, resource use, conservation and responsibilities to future generations.
Project Presentations: Law Through the Ages
Student groups present their comparative research, defend their conclusions and discuss how different legal systems balance competing interests.
READY TO EXPLORE LAW FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME?
Become a Global Citizen and Future Leader
Explore law, public policy and legal reasoning while developing the skills to analyse competing interests and communicate with confidence.
Learn to analyze global challenges, build persuasive arguments, and advocate for positive change.