IN-PERSON MADRID FOCUS ON PEDAGOGY. SECTION B
Abstract
In legal education, the integration of innovative teaching methodologies has become imperative for preparing aspiring legal professionals to navigate the complexities of contemporary legal practice. This paper explores the potential of tabletop role-playing games (TRPGs) as a dynamic and immersive pedagogical tool within the context of legal education and argues for the potential of designed litiverses for engaging with a broad range of themes, skills and subject matter. By drawing upon the theoretical framework of experiential learning and cognitive engagement, this study investigates the impact of TRPGs in enhancing critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills among law students. Through a comprehensive analysis of existing literature, we elucidate how the incorporation of TRPGs can simulate real-world legal scenarios in a TRPG litiverse, thereby fostering a deeper understanding of legal procedures, ethical dilemmas, and effective communication strategies within the courtroom. Furthermore, this paper highlights the unique potential of TRPGs in promoting teamwork, negotiation, and the development of legal advocacy skills crucial for effective client representation. By examining the implications of TRPG-based learning in legal education, this research contributes to the ongoing discourse on the transformative role of experiential and simulation-based approaches in preparing law students for the multifaceted challenges of contemporary legal practice. Finally, drawing upon previous work in the space of the jurisprudence of video games, this paper will argue that engagement with games in legal education allow a space for experimentation with oft abstract themes such as justice (broadly conceived), inequality, and socio-legal themes.
Dr Steve Montagu-Cairns is a multi-award-winning academic and higher education strategic leader. Steve is currently the Deputy Pro-Dean: Student Education within the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Leeds. He has a passion for innovative pedagogy, game based learning and the use of digital technology within legal education. He is committed to liberating legal pedagogy from outdated methods that have led to an impersonal, uninspiring and disjointed learning experience for the modern student.
Prof Craig Newbery-Jones is dedicated to improving the student learning experience and has a keen interest in pedagogical theory, research and innovation. He has led numerous projects during his career based around Experiential Learning, Technology Enhanced Learning and Problem Based Learning. He is also interested in how law programmes can better embed employability skills in the undergraduate curriculum and has worked on numerous projects that have focused on this specific area of pedagogical practice.
Dr. Joshua Warburton is a Lecturer in Law at the University of Leeds. Notable areas of his work include the legal and ethical implications of non-therapeutic medical interventions on children and the regulation of digital contracts in the EU. His scholarship has been published in journals such as Bioethics and Medical Law International. He is also a recognized innovator in legal education. He serves as the Deputy Director of the Centre for Innovation and Research in Legal Education (CIRLE). He is particularly known for developing creative pedagogical tools, including “Prudence Juris,” a video game designed to help students engage with complex concepts in European Union law. He leads modules on PG Legal Research Skills, EU Law, and Postgraduate Dissertations.
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Wednesday 24th June, 2026