Impact at the School of Law and Politics

Our research staff are embedded in UK, European and international networks.

Researchers are active in a variety of key international professional associations and regularly work with practitioners at a variety of levels.

In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF) our legal research was placed 5th for research environment and 6th for research impact. In the ‘law’ Unit of Assessment (UOA) we achieved an overall grade point average of 3.34 placing us 15th in the UK.

Research in Politics and International Relations scored the highest possible score of 4.0 for impact in the Politics and International Studies UOA and 80% of our submission to that UOA was considered world-leading or internationally excellent in terms of originality and significance.

Highlights

Improving democracy in Wales

Our work on reform of the Senedd, its franchise and electoral system, has led to votes for 16 and 17 year olds, and laid the ground for further substantial reforms to the Senedd’s size and electoral arrangements.

Strengthening rights and participation under mental capacity law

Dr Lucy Series and colleagues’ work on the Mental Capacity Act strengthened the rights and participation of people who may be considered to lack capacity to make or participate in decisions about their lives.

Forging greater Christian unity through Church law

Our Canon Law research has influenced church leaders, changed longstanding attitudes and enhanced approaches in ecumenical practice in the UK and Europe.

Securing a fairer framework for devolved powers in Wales

Following 2011’s referendum on the law-making powers of the National Assembly for Wales, the Wales Governance Centre, led by Professor Richard Wyn Jones, analysed constitutional design and identified improved pathways for implementation of devolved powers.