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.’

Full Story

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.’

Full Story

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.’

Full Story

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.’

Full Story

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.’

Full Story

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.’

Full Story

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.’

Full Story

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.’

Full speech

Full Story

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.’

Full Story

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.’

Full Story

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.’

Full Story

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.’

Full Story

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.’

Full Story

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.’

Full Story

The Independent, 26th August 2024

Source: www.independent.co.uk

End of Term? University Protest Encampments and Possession Proceedings – St Philips Barristers

‘A number of protestors of the actions of the Israeli Defence Force in Palestine have occurred on university campuses both in this jurisdiction, as well as overseas. Such protests give rise to difficult balancing exercises between a university’s right to exercise their private property rights and the rights of others, particularly students to protest about causes that they are passionate about.’

Full Story

St Philips Barristers, 17th July 2024

Source: st-philips.com

Bringing decolonisation to law teaching: fulfilling the promise of legal pedagogy – OUP Blog

Posted August 21st, 2024 in colonies, education, equality, legal education, news, universities by sally

‘Decolonisation can be described as a collection of repudiatory and resistant responses to the multifaceted inauguration of colonial ways of thinking, being, and doing in the world—this inauguration is often dated to the fifteenth century.’

Full Story

OUP Blog, 16th August 2024

Source: blog.oup.com

Law student wins partial victory in court challenge to expulsion – Legal Futures

Posted August 20th, 2024 in bail, disciplinary procedures, judicial review, news, ombudsmen, universities by tracey

‘A law student has won a partial victory in a judicial review challenging the recommendations of the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA), an independent body which reviews student complaints about universities.’

Full Story

Legal Futures, 20th August 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Supreme Court dismisses appeal over transfer of management rights in student accommodation dispute – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted August 19th, 2024 in appeals, housing, landlord & tenant, news, universities by tracey

‘The Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed an appeal finding failure to serve a claim notice on a landlord did not invalidate the transfer of the right to take over management of a block of student flats.’

Full Story

Law Society's Gazette, 16th August 2024

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Universities must improve harassment protections ahead of OfS regulation – OUT-LAW.com

‘Higher education institutions across England will face a range of significant sanctions if they fail to comply with new harassment and sexual misconduct protection requirements set by the Office for Students (OfS).’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 2nd August 2024

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Number of Bar students continues to grow – Legal Futures

Posted July 19th, 2024 in barristers, legal education, news, statistics, universities by michael

‘The number of students on Bar vocational courses has continued to grow since the pandemic, new figures from the Bar Standards Board (BSB) have shown. The figures also highlighted large gaps in achievement between those with first-class university degrees and those with lower seconds, as well as between course providers.’

Full Report

Full Story

Legal Futures, 19th July 2024

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk