Universities face ‘fair treatment’ requirement beyond consumer law under new OfS proposal – OUT-LAW.com

Posted March 12th, 2025 in consumer protection, news, universities by Lily

‘A new Office for Students (OfS) proposal means that consumer law requirements for new higher education providers in England go above and beyond what is required by consumer law, an expert has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 11th March 2025

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

‘I’ve lost my work and been ostracised’: Oxford University accused of failing to act after ruling on ‘sham’ contracts – The Guardian

Posted March 10th, 2025 in contract of employment, news, sham transactions, universities by tracey

‘An academic who won a landmark court battle last year against Oxford University for employing her and her colleague on “sham” gig economy contracts has criticised the university for trying to brush their case under the carpet.’

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The Guardian, 8th March 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Top university loses court battle to stop Israel-Palestine protests on campus – The Independent

Posted February 28th, 2025 in demonstrations, freedom of expression, injunctions, news, universities by Lily

‘The University of Cambridge has failed in an attempt to secure a five-year High Court injunction against Israel and Palestine-related protests on some of its sites.’

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The Independent, 28th February 2025

Source: www.independent.co.uk

African history students awarded compensation after master’s axed – The Guardian

Posted February 21st, 2025 in compensation, education, news, redundancy, universities by Lily

‘An independent adjudicator has ruled partly in favour of students who challenged the University of Chichester after their African history course was abruptly terminated in 2023.’

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The Guardian, 20th February 2025

Source: www.theguardian.com

Law professor with ‘profound sense of grievance’ banned from courts – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted February 19th, 2025 in disciplinary procedures, news, striking out, universities, vexatious litigants by tracey

‘A law professor who “grossly misused the procedures of the courts” in a campaign of meritless claims against the University of Warwick has been hit with an extended civil restraint order (ECRO) by a High Court judge.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 18th February 2025

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Judicial review set to begin over new bridge – BBC News

Posted February 4th, 2025 in environmental protection, judicial review, news, parks, planning, universities by tracey

‘A row over plans for a new bridge over the Thames is due to go to judicial review later.’

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BBC News, 4th February 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

What qualifies a law degree: surveying elective module provision in undergraduate legal education across England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2023–2024 – The Law Teacher

Posted January 23rd, 2025 in examinations, legal education, news, solicitors, statistics, universities by sally

‘This paper explores the contemporary elective module provision in undergraduate English law degrees. The demise of the qualifying law degree as a requirement to pursue qualification as a solicitor in England and Wales means that providers of undergraduate English law degrees now have increasing flexibility over the structure and content of courses. This paper reviews elective modules offered at providers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland in the academic year 2023–2024 and finds that while there is increasing diversity among elective provision when compared to historic provision, there is also a degree of standardisation among degree providers. It discusses the significance of this standardisation in the post-qualifying law degree world and develops seven themes based on current elective provision to highlight the broader trends in elective provision. It then concludes by arguing that the legacy of the qualifying law degree is clearly influencing the new normal and suggests several questions which this raises for undergraduate legal education going forward.’

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The Law Teacher, 22nd January 2025

Source: www.tandfonline.com

Key provisions of Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act to be brought into force, but “burdensome” provisions scrapped, Education Secretary vows – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has promised that key provisions of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 will be brought into force, whilst “burdensome” provisions will be scrapped.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 16th January 2025

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Government to implement university free speech law – BBC News

‘The government is expected to reactivate a piece of legislation aimed at protecting free speech on university campuses. The Higher Education Freedom of Speech Act, which could have seen universities fined for failing to uphold freedom of speech, was passed under the previous, Conservative government in 2023. But its implementation was stopped shortly after Labour’s election win last summer over concerns the law was potentially damaging to student welfare. A government source has said the legislation is now being recommenced to make it workable.’

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BBC news, 15th January 2025

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Palestinian student stripped of UK visa after Gaza remarks wins human rights appeal – The Guardian

‘A Palestinian student who was stripped of her student visa after remarks she made about the Israel-Gaza war has won a human rights appeal against the Home Office’s decision.’

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The Guardian, 30th October 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Coventry student who hid baby in cereal box convicted of murder – The Guardian

Posted October 25th, 2024 in birth, children, families, murder, news, pregnancy, universities by sally

‘A Coventry University student who concealed her newborn baby in a cereal box hidden inside a suitcase after giving birth on her bathroom floor has been convicted of murder.’

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The Guardian, 24th October 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

UN rapporteur challenges LSE over action against pro-Palestine protesters – The Guardian

‘The London School of Economics has been criticised by a UN rapporteur and accused of Islamophobia after reportedly raising an allegation that students behind a pro-Palestine demonstration in July had prompted fears of a repeat of the 7/7 terrorist attacks.’

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The Guardian, 20th October 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

Anti-Zionism as a protected belief: final judgment in Miller v University of Bristol – Law & Religion UK

‘In February, we posted Anti-Zionism as a protected belief: Miller, which commented on the case of Dr David Miller v University of Bristol [2024] ET 1400780/2022. Dr Miller had been appointed Professor of Political Sociology at the University from 1 September 2018, but in 2019 there were complaints about his conduct, including what was said to be his use of antisemitic language. The Community Security Trust charity said that a lecture he had given had been a “false, vile, anti-Semitic slur”. The University appointed an independent barrister to investigate this as part of its internal complaints procedure, who concluded on 4 December 2020 that there was no formal case to answer in connection with any of the matters investigated.’

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Law & Religion UK, 16th October 2024

Source: lawandreligionuk.com

Lord Leggatt The Free Sea – Supreme Court

Posted October 15th, 2024 in judges, news, speeches, Supreme Court, universities by tracey

‘Address at the Opening Ceremony for the Advanced LLM Programme, University of Leiden, September 2024.’

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Supreme Court, 11th October 2024

Source: www.supremecourt.uk

Failings before woman killed in home by student – BBC News

‘A safeguarding review concluded that opportunities had been missed and made a number of recommendations, while Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board apologised and accepted the recommendations.’

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BBC News, 7th October 2024

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Protests, human rights and criminal activity – Law Society’s Gazette

‘When are university and other protests impermissible? When ‘a protest turns into a base camp for criminal activity’, said Ritchie J on 19 June 2024, giving judgment in University of Birmingham v Persons Unknown (1) and Mariyah Ali (2) [2024] EWHC 1529 (KB). And while concerning a university, this is also relevant to local government.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 19th September 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Recent orders for possession in University protest camp claims – implications for academic institutions – Local Government Lawyer

‘Joe Walker and Fred Groves provide an update on unauthorised pro-Palestinian protest encampments on university premises where many have refused to comply with demands to vacate.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th September 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Recent orders for possession in University protest camp claims – implications for academic institutions – Local Government Lawyer

‘Joe Walker and Fred Groves provide an update on unauthorised pro-Palestinian protest encampments on university premises where many have refused to comply with demands to vacate.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th September 2024

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Rats, mould, damp: UK’s biggest student homes provider faces legal action over poor accommodation – The Guardian

Posted September 9th, 2024 in complaints, health, health & safety, housing, landlord & tenant, news, rent, universities by tracey

‘A tenants’ rights group is fighting for justice for residents of university halls who claim health affected by conditions.’

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The Guardian, 7th September 2024

Source: www.theguardian.com

‘It was so painful’: Diversity officer on suing University of Arts for discrimination – The Independent

‘An equality and diversity officer who successfully sued her university employer for discrimination has criticised the sector’s failures to tackle racism in an exclusive interview with The Independent.’

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The Independent, 26th August 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk