Proposals to tighten the regulation of collaborative arrangements between law schools in the UK and overseas are ‘unfortunate’ in an increasingly global market, and will encourage box-ticking rather than an evaluative approach, academics have warned.

Collaborative arrangements for Qualifying Law Degrees (QLD) allow the delivery of UK law school programmes under franchise to overseas providers.

They can also allow overseas students to complete their studies with a year at the collaborating UK law school or university. Such arrangements have been in place for more than 30 years, and are subject to quality assurance both in the UK and in partner countries.

The Joint Academic Stage Board (JASB), a joint committee of the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board, recently published a consultation proposing higher levels of scrutiny.

The paper seeks views on measures to reflect the ‘level of risk’ involved, including: requiring that assessments are set and marked by the awarding institution; giving visiting panels from the UK copies of the CVs, contract details, person specifications and job descriptions of all academic staff at the overseas institution; requiring everyone teaching and assessing a QLD to have qualifications and experience in UK legal education at university level; and delivering and assessing all collaborative arrangements in English.

Professor Clive Walker, head of law at Leeds University, said: ‘We are concerned by JASB’s approach and attitude, given that we have successfully operated collaborative arrangements for many years. We put great store by our reputation for delivering high ethical standards, and reject any implication that we permit lower quality arrangements.’

College of Law chief executive Nigel Savage said: ‘The tone of much of the document is unfortunate, with its implication that proper standards cannot be achieved through overseas partners. This is inappropriate for a profession whose business is increasingly global.

‘Many of the consultation questions address, in isolation, matters which ought to form part of a coherent set of validation criteria. This piecemeal approach will result in a burdensome process, characterised by a box-ticking rather than evaluative approach.’

Responses are invited by Monday 10 January 2011. Copies of the consultation can be downloaded from the Bar Standards Board website.