Former BVC student wins four-year legal battle over exam grades
A former Bar Vocational Course (BVC) student has won a long-running legal battle against Cardiff University to have her exam marks increased. A High Court decision last week (19 August) saw Mr Justice Wyn Williams uphold claimant Alice Clarke's case against Cardiff University to increase her BVC marks, bringing to an end her four-year struggle against the university.
August 28, 2009 at 10:38 AM
2 minute read
A former Bar Vocational Course (BVC) student has won a long-running legal battle against Cardiff University to have her exam marks increased.
A High Court decision last week (19 August) saw Mr Justice Wyn Williams uphold claimant Alice Clarke's case against Cardiff University to increase her BVC marks, bringing to an end her four-year struggle against the university.
Clarke was advised by Henderson Chambers' Patrick Green, who was instructed by the Bar Pro Bono Unit.
Eversheds was instructed by Cardiff University, with 11KBW's Clive Lewis QC instructed as counsel.
The case began after Cardiff Uni failed Clarke in two papers, grading her advanced criminal law assessment at 40% and a negotiation paper at 46%. However, an independent assessment increased the criminal law mark to 71%, while Clarke resat the negotiation paper and achieved 62%.
Clarke had argued she had been awarded low marks following disagreements with some of her tutors.
The High Court decision comes after years of uneasiness surrounding access to the Bar. Providers of the BVC have been criticised for consistently accepting large numbers of students who have no realistic prospect of going on to practice as barristers. BVC fees are high – more than £14,000 at some providers – while pupillage numbers have been declining.
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