A group of law students from Oxford Brookes University have written to management to express their dismay over this week’s discontinuation of the LPC at the university.
An open letter to:
Meryll Dean, Head of Law School
Anne-Marie Kilday, Dean of the Law Faculty
Janet Beer, Vice Chancellor, Oxford Brookes University
“Having had the privilege to study at the Oxford Institute of Legal Practice, we were saddened this week to hear of the sudden discontinuation of the Legal Practice Course. This is a course of immense practical value, taught by passionate and committed staff, which brings prestige to Oxford Brookes as it seeks to establish a reputation as a centre for academic and vocational excellence.
The postgraduate law faculty has brought great accolades to Oxford Brookes as its GDL Mooting team last year won the ESU/Essex Court national mooting competition and are currently representing the UK on an international stage. Furthermore, students completing postgraduate legal study at Oxford Brookes have the opportunity to take part in an outstanding pro bono scheme, participants of which have twice been shortlisted for the Attorney General’s pro bono award in the last three years. The sudden discontinuation of the LPC will both cripple the pro bono scheme, and adversely affect the quality of the postgraduate law provision.
However, of most concern is the way in which Oxford Brookes has made this decision without regard to the welfare of students who took up its two-year part time LPC. Due to the SRA requirement that relevant modules be undertaken at the same establishment these students have been left in limbo over the validity of their partially complete courses. Furthermore, those with families or employment in the Oxford area are suddenly faced with the prospect of relocating or commuting long distances to complete their study. Many of those who have already planned to take up places promised on the LPC at OXILP after their GDL or LLB are similarly affected.
This decision to discontinue an outstanding course at such abrupt notice is thus not only saddening, but irresponsible. For an academic provider to let its students and staff down in this manner is not in the spirit of the reputation Oxford Brookes intends to foster, as a serious academic institution. Therefore, we the undersigned, urge the management of Oxford Brookes University to consider running the course for an additional year to allow those who had relied on its provision to complete their study, and giving all others fair notice of its closure.
On behalf of the Oxford Brookes law students who have expressed their views.”
Readers' comments (17)
Anonymous | 7-Mar-2013 3:39 pm
Nail in the coffin for Law at Oxford Brookes
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Anonymous | 7-Mar-2013 8:30 pm
A truly shocking way to treat both students and staff alike. Education is not just about business - it is about teaching, and learning. Whipping away a course mid-flow with no regard for the welfare of the students involved goes against the entire spirit of education. Some students will have incurred huge costs to study law - are they expected to pay for their degree twice? Outrageous. Shame on you Brookes.
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Mags Lightbody | 7-Mar-2013 10:15 pm
How can you expect students, who are keen, willing and prepared to work, learn and study hard under the direction of a supposedly first class institution have any faith in their future when their institution of choice treats them like this. Laughable, that this course is meant to teach people about respect for society when the people running it obviously show so little regard. Shame on them.
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Terry Messenger | 7-Mar-2013 10:20 pm
Might this not be a breach of contract? How could a university do this to its own people? Sounds very wrong to me.
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Anonymous | 7-Mar-2013 10:33 pm
This is totally unfair for people half way through the two year course. These people have invested a year of their life in this, you need to give them the chance to finish their course at the same location.
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Anonymous | 7-Mar-2013 11:15 pm
why aren't the comments showing? Loads of people have commented - but none appearing... What's up?!
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Editor's reply
Apologies, comments are posted manually. So, unfortunately, overnight comments don't show until the following morning.
Neil | 8-Mar-2013 0:08 am
Unthinkable that a leading university could halt its teaching, mid-course. Doesn't feel like they've thought this one through. Either way, a big blow to Brookes' reputation. Prospective students for other courses will think twice before applying.
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Anonymous | 8-Mar-2013 3:11 am
Yeah law. Who needs it?
The Brookes degree course in International Hospitality is the "bums on seats" money earner!
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Anonymous | 8-Mar-2013 9:43 am
Utterly disgraceful. Can the regulatory body not step in and require them to run the course for an extra year to allow the students half way through the course to complete it (and also give the staff a year to find alternative employment)? It's not as if the entire university has gone under. Failing that, can the SRA at least waive the requirement for the affected students to take the relevant modules at the same institution?
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Anonymous | 8-Mar-2013 10:27 am
Oxford Brookes, what are you playing at? Breaching a contract with law students is both moral and legal suicide, and an exercise in idiocy. What could possibly motivate such a catastrophic abandonment of duty if care and a wanton attitude to the contract to fulfil the course for those already on its books, or those assured a place. Cuts are being made at many universities, but other institutions find means to cost-save without blatantly sacrificing their students futures- shame on you. Your reputation is worthless.
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