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A Legal ‘Dweller On The Threshold'

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

E-pub ahead of print

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A Legal ‘Dweller On The Threshold'. / Carlin, Niall; Vincent, Jonathan.
In: The Law Teacher, 28.07.2025.

Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review

Harvard

Carlin, N & Vincent, J 2025, 'A Legal ‘Dweller On The Threshold'', The Law Teacher. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069400.2025.2510181

APA

Carlin, N., & Vincent, J. (2025). A Legal ‘Dweller On The Threshold'. The Law Teacher. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069400.2025.2510181

Vancouver

Carlin N, Vincent J. A Legal ‘Dweller On The Threshold'. The Law Teacher. 2025 Jul 28. Epub 2025 Jul 28. doi: 10.1080/03069400.2025.2510181

Author

Carlin, Niall ; Vincent, Jonathan. / A Legal ‘Dweller On The Threshold'. In: The Law Teacher. 2025.

Bibtex

@article{a33e71416991431fa78ff285c99e8b3e,
title = "A Legal {\textquoteleft}Dweller On The Threshold'",
abstract = "A case study was conducted at one of the largest providers of legal education in the UK to seek to ascertain what, if any, threshold concepts there may be in legal education. An online survey gathered data from 212 students across undergraduate and postgraduate law programmes. Findings indicated {\textquoteleft}thinking like a lawyer{\textquoteright} was a possible threshold concept. A more unexpected development was the idea of a contract being identified as a possible threshold concept. This potential threshold concept had not been found or even raised in speculation in literature previously. Possible developments in light of findings include increased legal skills activities and assessments in Contract Law studies across legal education. The practical focus of such a step would hopefully assist students to {\textquoteleft}think like a lawyer{\textquoteright} as per the other apparent threshold concept identified. It is hoped such a step would also serve to aid student understanding in this apparently particularly troublesome and valuable area, while also being consistent with increased use of authentic assessment methods in legal training and across higher education. It could be argued efforts in this regard are particularly timely, given the recent, significant changes to the solicitor training regime in England and Wales in 2021.",
author = "Niall Carlin and Jonathan Vincent",
year = "2025",
month = jul,
day = "28",
doi = "10.1080/03069400.2025.2510181",
language = "English",
journal = "The Law Teacher",
issn = "0306-9400",
publisher = "Sweet and Maxwell Ltd.",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - A Legal ‘Dweller On The Threshold'

AU - Carlin, Niall

AU - Vincent, Jonathan

PY - 2025/7/28

Y1 - 2025/7/28

N2 - A case study was conducted at one of the largest providers of legal education in the UK to seek to ascertain what, if any, threshold concepts there may be in legal education. An online survey gathered data from 212 students across undergraduate and postgraduate law programmes. Findings indicated ‘thinking like a lawyer’ was a possible threshold concept. A more unexpected development was the idea of a contract being identified as a possible threshold concept. This potential threshold concept had not been found or even raised in speculation in literature previously. Possible developments in light of findings include increased legal skills activities and assessments in Contract Law studies across legal education. The practical focus of such a step would hopefully assist students to ‘think like a lawyer’ as per the other apparent threshold concept identified. It is hoped such a step would also serve to aid student understanding in this apparently particularly troublesome and valuable area, while also being consistent with increased use of authentic assessment methods in legal training and across higher education. It could be argued efforts in this regard are particularly timely, given the recent, significant changes to the solicitor training regime in England and Wales in 2021.

AB - A case study was conducted at one of the largest providers of legal education in the UK to seek to ascertain what, if any, threshold concepts there may be in legal education. An online survey gathered data from 212 students across undergraduate and postgraduate law programmes. Findings indicated ‘thinking like a lawyer’ was a possible threshold concept. A more unexpected development was the idea of a contract being identified as a possible threshold concept. This potential threshold concept had not been found or even raised in speculation in literature previously. Possible developments in light of findings include increased legal skills activities and assessments in Contract Law studies across legal education. The practical focus of such a step would hopefully assist students to ‘think like a lawyer’ as per the other apparent threshold concept identified. It is hoped such a step would also serve to aid student understanding in this apparently particularly troublesome and valuable area, while also being consistent with increased use of authentic assessment methods in legal training and across higher education. It could be argued efforts in this regard are particularly timely, given the recent, significant changes to the solicitor training regime in England and Wales in 2021.

U2 - 10.1080/03069400.2025.2510181

DO - 10.1080/03069400.2025.2510181

M3 - Journal article

JO - The Law Teacher

JF - The Law Teacher

SN - 0306-9400

ER -