Britain’s biggest law school is to suspend face-to-face teaching and postpone assessments for a month in response to the developing coronavirus crisis. Where possible learning and teaching will be moved online, the University of Law said in a statement on Sunday. Thousands of law students will be affected. 

The statement reads: ’In the interests of the health, wellbeing and safety of all members of the University Community, the University has made the decision to temporarily suspend face to face teaching from Monday 23 March to Monday 20 April.

’During this period, wherever possible we will move learning and teaching online. Assessments scheduled during this period will be rearranged. With the exception of face to face teaching, the University will remain fully open and operational in line with current Government advice, apart from the planned University closure days around Easter.’

The statement adds: ’We understand some students may elect not at attend face-to-face classes in the week commencing 16 March. Wherever possible we will ensure materials are made available online to cover this period. There may be some delay as we focus on preparations for the transition to online learning and teaching.’

ULaw has nine campuses in the UK, including two in central London (Bloomsbury and Moorgate), together with international outposts in Berlin and Hong Kong. It also delivers law courses from four other UK universities.

City Law School confirmed today that face-to-face teaching will continue this week, but all teaching will move online from 23 March. The university’s premises, including libraries, will remain open.

The Gazette understands that City Law School has not cancelled a civil advocacy exam due to take place this week. The university said decisions relating to Legal Practice Course and Bar Professional Training Course assessments rest with the regulators, and not with individual course providers.

BPP Law School said its options for assessments ‘remain under review’ and 'will depend upon further restrictions the government may impose and any relaxation of rules the regulators may grant'.

 

 

*The Law Society is keeping the coronavirus situation under review and monitoring the advice it receives from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and Public Health England.
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