About the Centre
The Centre for Empirical Legal Studies (CELS) is a world leader of methodological innovation in empirical legal studies. It promotes and supports interdisciplinary and collaborative social science research in the legal domain, to help build empirical legal research capacity in the United Kingdom to better enable evidence led evolution of law and justice systems around the world.
The Centre is housed in a law faculty that increasingly draws on and undertakes empirical research. A 2025 census of faculty members indicated that no fewer than 30 have personally conducted empirical work, up from 25 in 2022. More still have been involved in projects with empirical elements.
Through its current membership, CELS is able to draw upon expertise in a variety of fields including law, sociology, criminology, psychology, social policy, statistics and political science, to bring new perspectives to bear upon the study of law and legal institutions.
