With the 'claimant culture' developing into areas such as
teaching standards and examination performance, HEIs are correctly
identifying the need to obtain risk mitigating advice as well as
the more obvious litigation support.
student issues, complaints, etc
Students are, increasingly, resourced and motivated to maintain
legal claims. We are well aware of the growth of the cultural
concept of the 'empowered student consumer', which is increasingly
shaping HEI approach.
Our team is well placed to help with both. Examples of some of
the recent issues we have dealt with are set out below.
- Acting in the 'prosecution' of student disciplinary cases
- Advising on the creation and implementation of procedures to
ensure that HEIs have robust and transparent procedures in place to
deal with student complaints
- Advice regarding disciplinary offences
- Training of and liaison with the Office of the Independent
Adjudicator in respect of complaints management
- Alternative dispute resolution and mediation mechanisms
- Advising on and dealing with civil actions - such as
contractual breach and personal injury claims
regulated courses and accreditation
Regulated courses bring their own sets of unique issues. Our
team has unique experience in this area and regularly assists HEIs
in relation to:
- advising on the obligations of students who are maintained on a
regulatory student register, involving: consideration as to the
regulatory process, professional obligations, rigour of the
university investigation, credibility of evidence provided, and
reputational risk
- accredited course issues (ie environmental health, medicine,
etc)
entrepreneurial and student services
We work closely with HEIs and students to enhance student's
practical skills built on our private sector experience. This has
included establishing and resourcing a student entrepreneurship
clinic.
View examples of recent work we have done
for other higher education institutions.
