How many centuries of legal minds have passed through this very spot? We are standing before the Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge. It is more than just a building. It’s a living testament to legal education.
The Faculty of Law has a rich history. Legal study began here in the thirteenth century. Imagine scholars poring over ancient texts. They debated the nuances of Roman and Canon law. Cambridge has been a center for legal thought for nearly a thousand years.
King Henry VIII closed the Faculty of Canon Law in 1535. However, he established the Regius Professorship of Civil Law around 1540. This professorship still exists today. The Crown selects its holder.
English law joined the curriculum in 1800. The Downing Professorship of the Laws of England was established. Examinations in law started in 1858. The Faculty expanded its range of interests ever since.
The Faculty building we see now opened in 1995. Lord Foster designed it. It brought together the Squire Law Library and other facilities. The building fosters faculty activities. There are meetings and gatherings here.
The building was officially named the David Williams Building on 15 October 2016. It honors the late Professor Sir David Williams. The Squire Law Library is a key part of the Faculty of Law. It houses one of the largest legal collections in the UK. The library has over 180000 volumes.
The Cambridge Law Journal is published here. The Faculty’s research centers produce other publications too. LLM students contribute to the Cambridge International Law Journal.
The Cambridge LLM program attracts students from around the world. About a third come from top British universities. The Faculty of Law maintains an international environment.
Graduates from the Faculty are prominent in many fields. They can be found in academic life and in the judiciary. They also work in legal professions. Cambridge judicial alumni serve on international courts.
The Faculty hosts various research centers. These include centers for international law and European legal studies. There are also centers for public law and tax law. The Faculty is associated with the Institute of Criminology.
The Faculty of Law is located on the Sidgwick Site. A further building for the Institute of Criminology was completed in 2005. The Faculty continues to evolve. It adapts to meet the changing needs of legal education.
The Faculty of Law is consistently ranked as the best law school in the UK. It holds top positions in national and global rankings. The Faculty of Law maintains a tradition of excellence. It provides intellectual challenges. It prepares students for legal careers. As you leave, consider the legacy of legal scholarship. The Faculty of Law helps to shape the future of law.