Research

The Law School’s research addresses contemporary societal challenges with the aim of driving positive change. We are committed to supporting individuals to produce outstanding research in pursuit of their passions.

We foster interdisciplinary and inclusive research, embracing a wide range of methodologies, including socio-legal, theoretical, doctrinal, comparative, feminist, historical, visual, empirical and critical approaches. Our research has considerable reach and external impact on national and international themes and reflects the university’s distinctive social justice mission and unique position as geographically situated across all four nations of the United Kingdom.

Our growing research community produces innovative research, notably in the areas of law and society, human rights, international law, gender and law, legal history, and law and humanities. Our ground-breaking research into legal education in an online environment is built on the foundation of The Open University’s world-leading reputation in online distance learning education.

Research outputs

The Law School produces world-leading research publications every year on issues of local, national and international interest.

Research impact

Research at the Law School has real-world impact, with the majority of our research output aligning with the University’s wider mission of social justice.

Research projects

The Open University Law School academics are engaged in a wide range of projects, many in partnership with commercial, public and voluntary organisations.

Research clusters

The Law School is home to several research clusters, which provide structured communities for collaboration, facilitating engagement between researchers, both internal and external, including PhD students.

Centre for Protecting Women Online

Led by Olga Jurasz, Professor of Law, The Centre for Protecting Women Online is funded by a £7.7 million grant from Research England. It aims to inform law, policy, technology development and practice to reduce online harms suffered by women and girls; minimise anti-social behaviours online whilst promoting pro-social behaviours and help build tech/software that helps ensure accountability, credibility and help facilitate justice.

Centre for Protecting Women Online

Open Justice Centre

The vision and strategy of the Open Justice Centre is to empower law students to deliver the social justice mission of the University by inculcating a commitment to public service. This is underpinned by pioneering cutting edge research that informs the curriculum and showcases technology enhanced experiential learning.

Open Justice Centre

Informal learning

We are also engaged in several informal learning activities to increase public understanding of law related issues and access to legal knowledge.