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24 September 2012 / Peter Breakey
Issue: 7530 / Categories: Features , Profession
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Never mind the quality!

Peter Breakey breaks his silence & exposes multiple regulatory malfunctions

If you discovered that a good command of English was an official expectation for law graduates, but that there was a danger that this standard was not being met, would you expect the body charged with maintaining university standards to do something about it?

The answer should of course be “Yes”, but given the multiple failings of regulatory bodies across almost the entire spectrum of British life, cautious readers might have little confidence in “The System’s” ability to ensure that proper standards are maintained.

Such lack of faith would be entirely justified. Despite research which shows that many universities do not have procedures in place to ensure that law graduates have an appropriate standard of English, QAA  (the Quality Assurance Agency) which, on its extensive (and no doubt very expensive) website proclaims that its aim is “to safeguard standards”, steadfastly refuses to investigate.

My research into the assessment of the use of English in Law degrees began in 2010. I had long been

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EIP—Stuart Malcolm

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EIP strengthens Commercial practice with a new partner

Ellisons—Francesca Brown

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Shakespeare Martineau—Marie Bourke

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Shakespeare Martineau strengthens Sheffield regulatory practice with new hires

NEWS
A wide-ranging Civil Way column highlights developments from insolvency procedure to employment law, but one case stands out for its lessons on bankruptcy, family homes and digital communications
A sprawling Intellectual Property Office battle between House of Fraser and Frasers Property has delivered a masterclass in modern trade mark law
Courts in England and Wales and Singapore are increasingly confronting complex disputes over international child relocation as families become more globally mobile
The government’s long-awaited family law reform consultation could mark a turning point for domestic abuse victims navigating financial remedy proceedings, but significant challenges remain
A new commercial court pilot giving the public access to documents used in hearings, including expert reports, is raising difficult questions about transparency and privacy
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