The UK Law Society Gazette writes
ore than 4,500 law students have now signed up to join a multi-million-pound group legal action against several universities over Covid and strike disruption, the Gazette has learned – as the High Court prepares to hear a request for a group litigation order to be made in relation to claims against University College London (UCL).
The UCL litigation is the first in a series of claims being brought by the ‘Student Group Claim’ against UK universities. The legal challenge is being led by law firms Asserson and Harcus Parker. When the Gazette spoke to Harcus Parker partner Ryan Dunleavy last November, the number of law students joining the claim was approaching 3,000.
On Thursday, lawyers for hundreds of current and former UCL students will ask the judge to grant a group litigation order. However, UCL will reportedly oppose the application, and argue that students should first be required to go through UCL’s internal complaints procedure and, if matters are not resolved, complain to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education.
Lawyers for the students are expected to argue that the students are not obliged to undertake such measures and that any delay would breach students’ right to a fair trial under article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Read more at The LAW SOC GAZETTE
