Law and Business Cornwall (LAB/C)
What is LAB/C?
Law and Business Cornwall (LAB/C) is an interdisciplinary collective of students, educators, researchers and practitioners who share the same interest in combining legal knowledge and business acumen to boost social justice, wellbeing and environmental growth. LAB/C is not a research centre but a space for applied learning. As we started to work together across the University of Exeter Law and Business Schools, we soon realised that we were better together – we started to generate new exciting ideas and initiatives. However, we needed a ‘place’ to house these ideas and transform them into actions. LAB/C is this place.
Our actions are inspired by the following principles:
- We are open to undergraduate students and to practitioners. Indeed, we aim to be a nest for education and learning, in which our brilliant students can work with practitioners, educators and researchers, aiding to create more well-rounded graduates that have already made positive impacts in the wider world.
- LAB/C is a laboratory: a creative place of experiments and elaboration. It is a lab for testing concepts and exploring new paradigms and synergies between Law and Business. It is an opportunity for new business solutions and legal innovation.
- LAB/C is grounded in the place we are and we love: Cornwall. Because of its social and geographical configuration, Cornwall is a natural laboratory where we can test innovative concepts and cutting-edge ideas in a specific and unique reality, aiming at creating greater social justice, wellbeing and environmental growth.
Our focus areas
Education & Research
We aim to offer world-leading interdisciplinary education at all levels including undergraduate, short courses, and PhDs. We promote applied and active learning in a friendly and exciting environment. Research in LAB/C is dedicated to legal and business innovation and developing ideas that create a positive impact on society in collaborations with law firms, civil society, legal and environmental activists as well as social enterprises and business organisations. While LAB/C research is open to different opportunities, our areas of expertise include sustainability and circular economy; start-ups and innovation; Blue and Green law and business, rights in all their forms and intellectual property.
Impact & Application
In conversation with colleagues from other disciplines such as renewable energies and marine conservation, we aim to develop a number of initiatives to accelerate the transition towards a more just society and sustainable economy, fostering changes in public policy and business practices. LAB/C engages the community and encourages partners to establish a relationship with us that develops the opportunities and enables them to come to LAB/C and the University with projects, research initiatives and potentially internship opportunities.
What we do
BLISS – This is a series of seminars that are co-organised by the University of Exeter Business School and Law School/HaSS Cornwall and open to all students. BLISS aims to host some of the most influential and innovative thinkers and personalities who are currently working at the junction between Law and Business.
IMPACT – is a week-long series of activities for our students to combine their specialisms within Law and Business to address a real problem faced by businesses in the South West. It is designed to benefit organisations by offering access to current innovative thinking tailored to their industry, whilst networking with excelling soon-to-be graduates in the South West, and other local enterprises.