The student matters team at Veale Wasbrough Vizards is led by Karen Stephenson who has ten years of experience as in-house counsel at London South Bank University, in addition to six prior years experience as an academic.
The lawyers within the student matters team acutely aware of the many and varied issues that can arise and understand the importance of providing a first class student experience, and that the relationship is a complex one. Our clients include institutions across the sector from higher education institutions through further education colleges; independent schools; special schools; maintained sector schools; academies and trust schools; to nurseries and early years providers.
We recognise that institutions must have regard not only to student bodies as a whole but also to particular groups such as international students, post-graduate students and those under the age of 18 (whether students or others with whom universities come into contact, for example, outreach activities).
As far as student matters are concerned the team can provide advice on:
- The resolution of disputes and critical incident management, including liaising with the press and relevant professional or regulatory bodies. Such cases may involve student complaints or academic misconduct, violence on campus, personal injury, discrimination, child protection, sexual or drugs offences, and cyber-bullying all of which can be extremely resource intensive for the institution.
- Student complaints, academic misconduct and appeals as well as 'general misconduct'. Including resolving student related disputes, dealing with the Office of the Independent Adjudicator, court and tribunal based litigation, formal mediation and Judicial Review.
- The student contract, contracts for the delivery of education are among the widest in scope, most complex in content, and least specific in what is promised and quantifiable. In an era where students regard themselves as consumers, we recognise the need for more transparency and certainty. We have experience of drafting tenancy agreements for student halls, including those for wardens, as well as taking action against students who infringe those agreements.
- Student regulations. Our team has extensive experience of drafting and defending regulations dealing with academic matters (such admission, appeals, assessment and assessment offences, ethics), regulatory matters (such as data protection, freedom of information, use of technology) and pastoral matters (such as disabilities, discipline, health and safety, drugs and alcohol, smoking).
- We also provide bespoke and niche advice on all aspects of: admissions; discipline and expulsions; disability discrimination - including preparation of complex disability discrimination defences; regulation and inspection; and human rights.
- Relationships with the students union, including matters of governance and discipline of executive officers.
- Student immigration issues, by way of referral from universities.
For almost 25 years the team has continually developed specialist template agreements, policies and procedures which pave the way for models of best practice and excellence. Complementary policies cover drugs and substance misuse, the use and abuse of information technology, and data protection.
To discuss any of your student matters, please contact Karen Stephenson.
