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100 Years of Law

100 Years of Law

In 2023, we celebrate the remarkable achievement of 100 years of teaching law in Newcastle. 

The 100 years celebrations will take place throughout 2023, reflecting on our past, present and future as a school and community. You can find out more about the celebrations and how to get involved below. 

Get involved

Arts & Law Projects

Newcastle Law School is developing a number of arts commissions to improve its built environment and enhance the student experience. Our first exhibition is on display in the reception area and we have held a poetry competition to be added to the school's rose garden.

Poster competitions, February 2023

We have three poster competitions launching in February 2023. The Newcastle Law School competition, sponsored by Sweeney Miller, is open to current students of Newcastle Law School. We are also hosting two competitions for primary and secondary schools in Newcastle and the wider region.

100 years of Law at Newcastle: Anniversary celebrations

Alumni are invited to join us for a drinks reception in London to celebrate 100 years of teaching Law in Newcastle

Our history

Law was taught first at the Armstrong College as part of the federal University of Durham. In 1935 the Armstrong College and the Newcastle upon Tyne Medical school combined becoming ‘Kings College’ and in 1963 Kings College became the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. Known originally as the Faculty of Law, then the Department of Law, and finally, in 1994, Newcastle Law School.   

Originally the Law School was based in Eldon Place, between Claremont Road and King’s Walk, and a redundant church on King’s Walk was used for teaching until it was demolished in mid-1960s. The Law Faculty and a small seminar Law Library first relocated to Kensington Terrace. Then as a Department, the Law School was relocated again to the Percy Building for a short time before being moved to floors 9 and 10 of Claremont Tower in 1968. The move to 21-24 Windsor Terrace took place in 1977, with an agreement to take 90 students per year, and the Seminar Law Library transformed into the brilliant Law Library we have today.

Today, we are still located in Windsor Terrace but have continued to grow, expanding to 18-24 Windsor Terrace. Our student community has also grown with a first year intake of 225 students and a total cohort of around 900 across undergraduate, postgraduate taught and research programmes. With 59 staff with specialisms across law, and regional, national and global approaches, our school thrives due to the diversity and collegiality of our community.