Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (IALS)
Description
The Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (IALS) is a national resource for legal researchers, providing support and facilitating research for students at universities across the UK and the University of London.
The IALS Library extends a warm welcome to LLM students from the University of London, as well as PhD/MPhil students, researchers, and academics from all universities. The Institute has established and emerging research strengths and interests in various fields. It serves as a neutral space that promotes and facilitates research and researchers, fosters disciplinary development, and encourages engagement with practitioners, policymakers, and other stakeholders. Moreover, it offers a welcoming environment for visiting fellows, scholars, and students, with an average of 50-80 PhD students at any given time.
In 2018, the Institute hosted a panel discussion to explore the significant contributions that IALS has made to legal scholarship over the past 70 years since its establishment.
The Institute's research areas cover a wide range of topics, including Company Law, Comparative Law, Criminal Law and Evidence, Energy Law, European Criminal Law, Financial Crime, Financial Services and Regulation Law, Gender, Sexuality, and Law, Information Law and Policy Centre, Law and Society, Legal Education, Legislative Studies/Law Reform, and Public Law and Regulation.
IALS boasts an exceptional scholarly community, with students and staff earning numerous honours, awards, and achievements. The research conducted at the Institute encompasses diverse legal subjects. The postgraduate student community plays a central role in scholarly research, with an average of 50-75 research students each year, in addition to a substantial LLM cohort enrolled in internationally esteemed legislative drafting programs. The Institute prides itself on delivering a student-centred learning environment facilitated by leading experts in their respective fields. Furthermore, it offers annual training courses to PhD students from any institution on 'How to Obtain a PhD in Law' and 'Legal Research Methods.'
IALS has had the privilege of welcoming and collaborating with exceptional lawyers, judges, and influential leaders from both public and private sectors, academia, and beyond. Many individuals have visited the institution to access its outstanding library. The Institute operates an active visiting fellows scheme alongside a well-established research fellows scheme.
The library serves as the heart of IALS, holding the distinction of being one of Europe's largest legal research libraries. Its vast collection encompasses UK and international materials. The library provides a welcoming space for conducting research, attending conferences, workshops, and colloquia, or engaging in research discussions in the downstairs café area. A newsletter is published three times a year, featuring updates on the library, events, publications, staff news, and more.
Since its establishment in 1947, IALS has played a significant role as a national research institution, promoting, facilitating, and disseminating high-quality legal research. The Institute maintains close collaborations with colleagues in other schools across the UK and internationally, fostering excellent connections with leading law schools in various jurisdictions. The Institute's original objectives were to prosecute and promote legal research and provide graduate students with training in its principles and methods.
IALS has a commendable track record of producing high-quality graduates who maintain regular contact with the Institute. Many former students continue to visit long after graduation, even delivering guest lectures on the LLM programs or participating in the PhD Masterclass series. As research students at IALS, individuals have the opportunity to engage with and learn from esteemed academics and legal practitioners. They become part of a truly international community of scholars and have access to a world-class library, along with other resources, facilities, and a highly experienced professional student support team. Beyond these benefits, students are challenged to critically engage with contemporary legal issues, develop as independent researchers and scholars, and cultivate their own thoughts and perspectives on the role of the law.
Offers funding
No, this infrastructure does not provide funding.
Founding year
1947
Contact details
Charles Clore House
17 Russell Square
London
WC1B 5DR
United Kingdom
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Type
Project Tags
Parent infrastructure(s)
School of Advanced Study (SAS)
The School of Advanced Study (SAS) plays a unique role in fostering collaborative, innovative, and distinctive research in the humanities. It also aims to equip researchers with the skills necessary t… read more about School of Advanced Study (SAS)
University Of London
Senate House
Senate House
London
WC1E 7HU
United Kingdom
University affiliation(s)
University of London
Senate House
Malet St
London
WC1E 7HU
Last modified:
2023-09-20 15:00:19