Law Society acts to ensure students not impacted by marking boycott

The Law Society of Scotland has moved to support law students by advising universities that a marking and assessment boycott should not impede progress from undergraduate studies to the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice (DPLP).

The Society’s Education and Training (Standard Setting) Sub-Committee met recently and discussed the boycott at some Scottish universities by members of the University and College Union.

The Law Society through its oversight of the qualifications process for Scottish solicitors usually requires universities to ensure LLB students have met the requirements set by the Society during their degree before being accepted onto the Diploma.

An accredited LLB degree and successfully completing the DPLP are pre-requisites for students wishing to take up a workplace traineeship to qualify as a Scottish solicitor.

The committee has contacted universities to advise that the accreditation standards will be relaxed in the circumstances to allow progress to the DPLP before final grades are available. Those who subsequently find they have failed a necessary assessment on their LLB will need to pass before progressing to their traineeship.

Education and Training (Standard Setting) Sub-Committee Convener Val Pitt said: “We understand that this boycott may be causing concern for a number of students ready to graduate from their LLBs and move onto the Diploma.

“The guidance we’re issuing to universities makes it clear that students need not be unfairly impeded from progressing to the next stage of the route to qualification by making them wait for their final grades to be available before progressing onto the Diploma.

“We will continue to liaise with universities and respond to any student concerns so they can focus on their studies and their path to becoming Scottish solicitors.”