SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Justice and Violence Studies@Exeter Network

Justice and Violence Studies @Exeter Network brings together researchers, students and experts across all career stages, from different backgrounds, with the aim to change and challenge inequality and injustice. With expertise and interests spanning disciplines, such as geography, history, psychology, political science and forensic science, the Network is perfectly placed to help create a fair, socially just and inclusive society.

University of Exeter Community Law Clinic

The University of Exeter Community Law Clinic opened its doors in September 2017.  We assist individuals who are not eligible for legal aid or are otherwise unable to afford private legal advice.

We recognise and seek to fill the gaps left by legal aid cuts and help individuals access justice in a system which often appears overly complex, confusing and expensive.

Third year law students, as part of the LAW3167 Access to Justice module, under supervision from qualified legal professionals, provide free legal advice and information to members of the public in a variety of areas of law.

Their partnership with Citizens Advice Teignbridge has elevated their student-led clinical offering in a new area of law to meet increasing demand.

Free Specialist Immigration Clinic

The availability of immigration advice and assistance in the southwest is very limited. In response to this the university has set up a service for individuals in need of immigration advice, information or assistance. We also connect with local organisations to support those working with individuals who require immigration advice. Our specialist Immigration Clinic, which is completely free of charge, covers initial leave to remain, entry clearance applications, further leave to remain, settlement applications, refugee family reunion, nationality naturalisation, EU settlement scheme and travel document applications.

The Exeter Centre for Environmental Law

The Exeter Centre for Environmental Law (ExCEL) was established at the end of 2021 to stimulate interdisciplinary internal partnerships with centres within the University. The purpose of ExCEL is to provide an intellectual environment to create a Worldwide Environmental Law and Policy Research Network with international academic partners, such as Duke, QUEX and CUHK. In parallel, it is aimed to engage with international, national and local stakeholders. In addition to being an attraction centre for law researchers wishing to conduct their research in the South West of England (Exeter and Cornwall), it is also one of the goals of ExCEL to support members with achieving impact through policy workshops and training, as well as PR and marketing.

Our research will focus on:

• promoting the study and development of environmental, climate, and marine law and policy;
• stimulate debate, collaboration, and networks in response to the most pressing needs of international, European, and local environmental matters; and
• support teaching and training in the fields of environmental, climate and marine law.

Members of the Centre conduct research for a future-proof environmental governance. We aim to contribute to the solution of international, national, and local environmental issues.

Universities of Sanctuary

The University of Exeter is committed to engaging with sanctuary seekers throughout its activities. This commitment builds on its institutional values, including the emphasis we put on building community at the heart of our mission statement. This involves working to ensure that our community, both within the university and outside it, is inclusive and diverse, and that we are working collaboratively and ambitiously in the service of others.

As a recognised University of Sanctuary, the University of Exeter’s work includes offering sanctuary scholarships, actively research asylum issues, are embedding teaching on asylum and refugee matters across the institution and have active student groups such as Exeter Student Action for Refugees (STAR) working on sanctuary issue.