A new Research Assistantship Scheme enabling undergraduate and postgraduate students to gain valuable research-related work experience has been successfully piloted by Kent Law School.

The scheme ran over the course of three weeks in September, with 18 students selected from a large pool of applicants to work on 12 short-term research projects. Research assistants (RAs) were paid and received training before conducting desk based legal and socio-legal research under the close supervision of academic staff from the School.

Students were also tasked with producing a final report summarising their research findings, which they shared with staff and students on a day of presentations at the culmination of the scheme.

Law Lecturer Dr Sinead Ring said:’The presentation day was an excellent opportunity for RAs to share their research journeys, ideas and enthusiasm and for all of us to celebrate our strong research community.’

Dr Ring led the Research Assistantship team in collaboration with Scheme Coordinator Serena Natile and the Law School’s Employability and Career Development Officer, Jayne Instone.

Dr Ring said: ‘The pilot RA Scheme brought students and academics together to work on staff research projects. Staff were delighted to have such motivated students and students learned lots about what exactly is involved in doing legal research. We hope to expand the Scheme next year.’

Research Assistant Oliver Hartland said: ‘The project is something that I have been delighted to be involved in and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to have taken part. I feel that personally, academically and professionally I have benefited enormously from this scheme and, hopefully it is one that will continue next year.’