SLAP!
SLAP! is an informal reading and discussion group for all undergraduate students in the Law School. It is run by two lecturers, Isobel Roele and Elen Stokes, who both have research interests in legal, political and social theory.
We meet every three to four weeks to talk about a short text. Previous texts have included:
- An excerpt from J.S. Mill’s On Liberty
- A chapter from H.L.A Hart’s The Concept of Law
- An article by J Rawls, “Justice and Fairness”
- A short story by F. Kafka, “In the Penal Colony”
- An excerpt from M. Foucault’s Discipline and Punish
There are no requirements for attending a SLAP! meeting: You don’t have to sign up, you don’t have to have come before, you don’t have to know anything about theory already, you don’t even have to have read the text…
The purpose of SLAP! is to get students talking about aspects of the law they may not have considered, to think about its place in society and to become used to approaching it from different, perhaps unexpected, angles. It’s also about getting to know other people in the Law School and feeling part of the community.
Being a member of SLAP! has many benefits:
- Academically: It can help students develop the higher level “critical thinking” skills that are necessary to achieve the highest grades. In an informal way, we are teaching you to ask questions and construct arguments.
- Personally: SLAP! has been important for many students in building their confidence and has improved their ability to participate in tutorials and other more formal settings.
- Socially: It is a great place to meet people from other years and with different interests. It’s also a must for anyone with a sweet tooth: SLAP! meetings are always fuelled by biscuits and cake…
If you are a current student interested in coming along, please contact Dr Isobel Roele or Dr Elen Stokes. You can access the reading materials on Learning Central.
"SLAP is like the best bits from a seminar without the pressure. You can turn up and say nothing, in fact you can turn up having done no reading and just get stuck into a debate. Most SLAP sessions end up spiralling off topic to whatever the people in the room on that day fancy discussing. It's great fun and it’s what university’s all about - getting into an argument and coming across new people and new ideas. Plus there's free food." |
Damien Drury |
“SLAP isn't just amazing fun, it is a necessary liberal arts style inquiry into justice and society that is essential to critical legal thinking. Students should expect challenging readings shared in a group of thoughtful and insightful volunteers. |
James Bowie |
