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Draft:Exploring Law Conference

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Exploring Law Conference
TypeStudent-run conference and society
Established1975 (50 years ago) (1975)
FounderStudents of the University of Cambridge
Academic affiliation
University of Cambridge
Students250 delegates
Undergraduates7 student committee members
Location,
United Kingdom
CampusDavid Williams Building
Websitewww.law.cam.ac.uk/access-outreach/exploring-law-conference

The Exploring Law Conference (formerly the Cambridge Sixth Form Law Conference (CSFLC)) is an annual four-day access and widening participation conference. It is organized by undergraduate students of the University of Cambridge in collaboration with the Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge.[1]

The conference, established in 1975, typically hosts approximately 250 Year 12 (Y13 NI/S5 Scotland) students in Cambridge. Its purpose is to provide participants with an experience of studying law at the University of Cambridge and offer insights into the legal profession.[1][2]

Structure and Organisation

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The conference generally takes place in late March or early April. Of the approximately 250 student participants, 150 receive fully funded places based on various widening participation criteria, covering the entire cost of attendance. The remaining 100 students attend on paid places. Applications usually open in early November and close by the end of December.[3]. In 2024, the Conference recieved approximately 1,250 applications for the 250 places. Over 50% of those who attended were eligible for Free School Meals and 88% were from state schools.[3]

The conference is co-managed by seven undergraduate students and the Faculty's Outreach, Widening Participation, and Communications Coordinator.[3] The student committee includes a President, Vice President and Treasurer, Lectures Officer, Accommodation Officer, two Applications Officers (one for funded places, one for non-funded), and a Logistics Officer.[4]

Various law firms and barristers' chambers sponsor the conference. Their involvement includes providing Q&A sessions, career talks, and attending a networking dinner with students.[3][5] Previous sponsors have included Clifford Chance, Hogan Lovells, Slaughter and May, Maitland Chambers, and One Essex Court.[3][5]

Schedule and Activities

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Corpus Christi College
Corpus Christi College

The delegates stay in regular student accomodation and are spread across a number of the colleges of the University of Cambridge; past colleges in which delegates have stayed include St Catharine's College, Corpus Christi College, Selwyn College, Trinity Hall College, Downing College, Emmanuel College, and Magdalene College.[3][5]

The schedule includes academic lectures, university application workshops, and Q&A sessions with practising lawyers. Previous lecture topics have included Roman law, Land law, Contract Law, International law, Criminology, EU law, Family law, Tort law, and Constitutional law.[5][6] The main aim of these lectures are to provide students with a better insight into what studying law at university is like. [3][7] There is also typically a lecture on Legal Problems; this lecture involves a discussion of different problem questions to try and replicate the supervision style of teaching experienced by undergraduates at the University of Cambridge.[2]

St John's College, where many of the evening social activities are held.
St John's College, where many of the evening social events are held.[5]

The Faculty's admissions team delivers a talk focused on the Cambridge application process, interview preparation, and exam stress management. The student committee also typically hosts a "life as a student" Q&A session, providing delegates with information on successful applications and general student life.[5][8]

Each evening, the committee runs social activities for the delegates. These have included icebreaker sessions, quiz nights, and student-led tours around Cambridge and the University. The Conference has also hosted a debate between academics from the Faculty on topics such as capital punishment and assisted dying. They have also hosted a mock trial in the Cambridge Union, the university's debating society.[2][7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Exploring Law Conference". www.law.cam.ac.uk. Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "Top Tips from the Cambridge Law Conference". thelawyerportal.com. The Lawyer Portal. 24 May 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Faculty hosts 50th Cambridge Exploring Law Conference". www.law.cam.ac.uk. Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  4. ^ "Contact Us". www.law.cam.ac.uk. Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Tasnin: Attending a Law conference at University of Cambridge". www.cfgs.co.uk. Central Foundation Girls' School. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  6. ^ Elliott, Mark (19 March 2014). "Cambridge Sixth Form Law Conference talk: The UK's (unusual) constitution". www.publiclawforeveryone.com. Public Law for Everyone. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Inside the Cambridge Sixth Form Law Conference". www.medium.com. Think Cambridge Law. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  8. ^ "Attending the Conference". www.law.cam.ac.uk. Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge. Retrieved 3 July 2025.