Spotlight on game-based learning: Dr Steve Montagu-Cairns
Dr Montagu-Cairns is immersed in game-based learning in legal education.
In 2022, Dr Montagu-Cairns, alongside co-founder Professor Craig Newbery-Jones (Birmingham City University), developed a network for the development and promotion of game-based learning in legal education.
LEGEND
The network is called LEGEND (legal educational games: evaluation, network, dissemination) and aims to: disseminate and promote innovation; evaluate, showcase and document good practice; and build a collaborative community.
Dr Montagu-Cairns says:
“The motivation behind LEGEND came from a recognition of a growing number of legal educators experimenting with game-based learning.”
We wanted to create a supportive, dedicated space where colleagues could share ideas, showcase practice, discuss evidence, and critically evaluate what works within legal education specifically.
LEGEND now has a new website, which hosts the LEGEND network, a blog and substack, and LEGEND Hangouts, which are recorded online presentations by network members. It also features a dynamic research repository to showcase evidence-based examples, resources, and best practices.
How To Apply Game-Based Learning in Legal Education
Emerging from the LEGEND network, Dr Montagu-Cairns’ co-edited book How To Apply Game-Based Learning in Legal Education (Edward Elgar, 2026) brings together pioneering educators to explore the integration of gaming into the law classroom, focusing on actionable insights and best practices using both academically designed and commercially available games.
Dr Montagu-Cairns adds:
“One of the most interesting things to emerge from the book was the sheer diversity of ways in which game-based learning is being used within legal education internationally.”
Game-based learning isn't just adding 'fun', but supporting extremely sophisticated forms of learning, including ethical reasoning, negotiation, collaboration, professional identity formation, and complex problem solving.
“There is now a growing international community of scholars producing rigorous pedagogic research and building evidence-informed approaches to innovation within the law classroom.”
Looking forward: ‘Clients & Courtrooms: The Gamification of Legal Problem Solving in a Tabletop RPG’
Dr Montagu-Cairns' new Association of Law Teachers-funded project (alongside Dr Josh Warburton and Prof. Newbery-Jones) aims to evaluate the viability of pen-and-paper Role-Playing Games (RPG) as a tool for legal education. The principal objective is to design, develop, and appraise a tabletop RPG specifically for use in legal education, integrating core legal principles, case studies, and procedural scenarios. This RPG will provide an innovative method to enhance students' critical thinking, legal reasoning, and collaborative problem-solving skills.
Dr Montagu-Cairns says:
“The project is currently in the design and development phase, where we are exploring how tabletop role-playing game mechanics can be adapted to support authentic legal problem-solving scenarios.”
The aim is to create an experience where students are required to engage with legal reasoning, ethical dilemmas, client interaction, negotiation, and procedural decision-making in a highly collaborative environment.
“The project is still at an early stage, but the initial response from colleagues and students has been incredibly encouraging.”
Dr Montagu-Cairns’ leadership of LEGEND and his ongoing projects exemplify the creativity, collaboration and research excellence that define colleagues across the School of Law. His work not only advances innovative approaches to teaching, but also reflects a wider culture of vibrant, evidence-led practice that continues to shape the future of legal education.
Dr Montagu-Cairns is a member of both the Centre for Innovation and Research in Criminological and Legal Education and the Centre for Business Law and Practice. He can be found on LinkedIn here.
