Law School Given Degree-Awarding Powers

Mon, May 08, 2006

Source: Guardian Unlimited

The College of Law today becomes the first non-university to be given the power to award degrees in England and Wales.

The College of Law today becomes the first non-university to be given the power to award degrees in England and Wales.
 
The move - under government reforms to enable a wider range of colleges to achieve university status - will appeal particularly to lawyers who want to practise in New York and other jurisdictions abroad.

The college is hoping to tap increased demand from international students. The College of Law's chief executive, Nigel Savage, said there was "huge potential for us to operate in a global qualifications and training market".

The college says it is not competing with universities to offer first degrees in law.

The privy council has agreed to approve the grant of degree-awarding powers to the college, which teaches and awards a postgraduate diploma in law. At present many students take a conversion course in law, which usually lasts two years, after doing a first degree in another subject.

This means they qualify to practice law in England and Wales, but do not have a law degree, which is required to practice in places like New York. From now on they will gain an LLB degree as well as a diploma.

The privy council decision followed a full scale review by the universities watchdog, the Quality Assessment Agency (QAA) and a positive recommendation to the Department for Education and Skills.

Senior academics investigated organisation, governance and management, quality assurance and academic standards and support for students and staff at the college.

Prof Savage said: "Our application for the power to award degrees came with the clear rationale that the reform of the legal professions demanded increased portability for qualifications.

"This is compounded by initiatives in Europe, the impact of the World Trade Organisation's requirement for the liberalisation of trade in legal services and the huge potential for us to operate in a global qualifications and training market."

He added: "The move will make a career in law more attractive and will widen the talent pool available to the legal services market. There are particular benefits for those students converting from a non-law degree through the graduate diploma in law, as they will now be awarded a degree following completion of their vocational qualification with us.

"This increased flexibility will promote access to the profession for graduates from a broader variety of backgrounds."

The higher education minister, Bill Rammell, congratulated the college on being the first private higher education institution to be granted degree awarding powers under the government's new arrangements. "It has a powerful regional, national and international presence. Its strong links with the profession, and law firms in particular, are good examples of employer-led education and training."

The College of Law is the largest provider of vocational legal education and training in Europe, with centres in Birmingham, Chester, Guildford, London and York. The college employs more than 550 staff, including 235 teaching staff made up of solicitors and barristers, and offers distance learning and continuing professional development.

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