Are you curious about the origins, formation and development of different societies? Do you wonder about the role of the law in these processes? Our joint honours programme Law & Social Anthropology explores these questions in detail and offers you a pathway to obtain a Qualifying Law Degree

Kent Law School is renowned for its world-leading research and its distinctive ‘critical approach’ that places the law within the wider context of society. Our popular mooting programme gives you the chance to get hands-on experience as you develop advocacy skills in a simulated courtroom setting before a bench comprised of local judges, practising barristers, solicitors and lecturers.

Kent’s School of Anthropology and Conservation has a range of experts working on social anthropology in regions as diverse as the Middle East, Europe, China and Amazonia.

You learn to understand and address the challenges of our time and are given skills to contribute to society in a wide range of exciting careers after you graduate.

Our degree programme

In your first year, you take introductory modules to public and private law and explore the foundational principles of social anthropology.

You then continue to study the details of the law as well as its history. You analyse judgements and legal developments while taking into account the political, ethical and social dimensions of the law. As part of the social anthropology component of your programme, you explore economic and political institutions as well as systems of belief in a cross-cultural context.

In your third year, you can choose from a range of optional modules in both subject areas on specialist topics like arts and cultural heritage law, society and justice, international human rights law or visual anthropology. You also have the opportunity to complete a dissertation on a subject of your choice. This allows you to focus in detail on an area you are particularly passionate about.

Study resources

Kent Law Clinic is based within our new, purpose-built building. It is ideal for developing your practical skills and has a replica courtroom for mooting.

Through Kent’s Templeman Library you have access to a wide range of materials and topical journals and books in hard copy and digital format including:  

• collections of legislation and case law in UK, European and international law
• Lawlinks, our award-winning gateway to online legal resources
• major legal databases that are used on a daily basis in the legal profession.

Kent’s School of Anthropology and Conservation has a number of excellent subject-specific facilities to help your learning. These include:

• a state-of-the-art visual anthropology room with a suite of computers equipped for editing film and cameras made available for student use
• an ethnobiology lab for studying human-related plant material
• a teaching laboratory with first-rate equipment.

Your designated academic advisor provides guidance for your studies and academic development. At our Law Skills Hub you can receive tailored support for your studies during term time.

Kent’s Student Learning Advisory Service also offers useful workshops on topics like essay writing and academic referencing.

Extra activities

There are a number of student-led societies which you may want to join such as:

• Kent Critical Law Society
• Kent International Law Society
• Kent Student Law Society
• Anthropology Society
• Kent Amnesty International
• Kent European Law Students Association.

Kent Law School regularly holds careers talks given by practising lawyers (many of whom are Kent alumni) and hosts guest lectures by some of the leading legal figures of our time.

The School of Anthropology and Conservation also runs a number of events throughout the year that you are welcome to attend such as public lectures.

Professional network

We have approximately 100 legal professionals registered on our Professional Mentoring Scheme, and leading law firms visit the campus to attend the annual Kent Law Fair, offer mock interviews, or run workshops.