Law Brief University of Buckingham Law School Newsletter 2017 Issue 3 Greetings from the Dean of Law There is much good news to share with you all. It is a very exciting time for the University. Congratulations to all those students who performed so well in the June 2017 diet of examinations. We were delighted that the number of finalists achieving a 2:1 or First Class Degree continues to grow. A University of Buckingham degree is regarded as the Gold standard across the world in legal achievement. It is the gold key that will open up many professional doors, not only in legal practice. Your qualification will give you many opportunities that you had once dreamt of, but are now within your grasp. We always enjoy hearing from our alumni and how they have succeeded in their careers. May the wind of fortune bless you and carry you into your bright futures. Hard work and diligence will ensure that you achieve your goal and reach your horizon. Professor Susan Edwards, Dean of Law NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTS • Interview with Lord Scott of Foscote • Mooting in the Law School • International Alumni News University of Buckingham Law School Newsletter | Autumn 2017 Autumn 2017 | University of Buckingham Law School Newsletter Message from the Vice-Chancellor Master classes The University of Buckingham has continued to welcome distinguished outside speakers The University of Buckingham is a remarkable to deliver inspirational lectures: place and we are continually developing our stellar reputation for high-quality teaching. The Law School is going from strength to strength and the University is growing. In August the National Student Survey results “Judicial & Public Inquiries” were published and, once again, the University Lord Scott and Sir William Gage came top for Student Satisfaction (jointly with the 15 August 2016 University of St Andrews). Our overall satisfaction rating is 94% and we are joint top for Teaching Quality. This is a truly remarkable tribute. Pictured: Lord Scott and Sir WIlliam We welcome your continued interest in Gage the University and invite you to attend any alumni events. Sir Anthony Seldon, Vice-Chancellor “Magna Carta - A Living Myth?” The Rt Hon. the Lord Judge 26 January 2017 Pictured: Professor Susan Edwards Message from the new Chair of Council with the Lord Judge I am delighted to have joined the Council of the University of Buckingham. My commercial background has always been in “The Art of the Advocate” various disciplines of the banking industry, but I Sir Ivan Lawrence QC read Law at King’s College, London (1979-82). I was 9 February 2017 involved in the strategic re-think of the Law School at King’s in 2011, which resulted in the creation of the Dickson Poon School of Law. I look forward to Pictured: Sir Ivan Lawrence QC helping the University overall, but I am delighted to with LLB undergraduates Andrea be involved in the strategic thinking about the future Baronti, Joshua Cullen and development of the UoB Law School. Yashwanth Krishnan Rory Tapner 2 3 University of Buckingham Law School Newsletter | Autumn 2017 Autumn 2017 | University of Buckingham Law School Newsletter UBCEES Mooting in the Law School Nuclear Law and Policy: Post-Brexit I am delighted to report that mooting is standards of performance. I am glad to alive and well in the Law School in 2017, report that the next generation of mooters In May 2017, the University of Buckingham Centre for Extractive Energy Studies (UBCEES) including one notable success! is as keen as ever and I am hopeful that, hosted a conference on Nuclear Law and Safety: Post-Brexit. The conference brought From December 2016, the UoB Law with the support of new member of staff together a network of top-rank speakers who spoke on nuclear energy issues of crucial School team of Joshua Cullen, Yashwanth Kerry Usher, we will be able to run and importance to a post-Brexit world. Krishnan and Andrea Baronti between them coach teams to enter several mooting The first session of the conference featured papers by Professor William Nuttall (Open won their way to the National Final of the competitions with national reputations. University) and Ana Stanic (E&A Law). Both papers provided perspectives on the effect that OUP/BPP Mooting Competition. The Law Every year we award the Rachel Lawrence Brexit would have on European and British nuclear energy law. Will Morris (Nuclear Risks School was one of four teams in the final Prize to students for their outstanding Insurers) concluded the session with an illuminating paper on nuclear energy insurance, and Joshua and Yash won their particular performances in mooting, both in the post-Brexit. moot against the team from the University Legal Skills and Procedure Course and in The second session of the conference focused on nuclear safety, environmental of East Anglia. However, they were pipped competition. For their contributions to protection and energy security. Laurence Williams (Emeritus Professor, Nuclear Safety, at the winning post by one mark by the mooting in the Law School in 2016, last year’s Imperial College London) provided an insightful discourse on the consequences, if winners of the other final moot, the team prize was shared between Nkechi Ugwu and any, that the withdrawal from the EURATOM treaty would have on nuclear safety in the from Queen’s University, Belfast. It was Joshua Cullen. United Kingdom. The session also featured a paper on nuclear energy and environmental especially pleasing that the judge, HHJ Gavin Love, Master of Moots protection, presented by Professor Raphael Heffron (Queen Mary University of London). Gratwicke, commended the mooters on Malcolm Grimston delivered the final conference paper which considered the growing their very high standards, suggesting that role that nuclear energy plays in securing global energy supply. The paper highlighted the they were a good deal better than many lessons learned from the Japanese experience post-March 2011. (Jointly organised with the of the barristers appearing before him Open University and the University of Birmingham, the conference was chaired by Professor regularly in court! Robert Lee, Head, Birmingham Law School.) This was an excellent achievement for Dr Hephzibah Egede the team, who have all grown in stature, confidence and experience since the start For more information on upcoming UBCEES conferences, please visit our website of the competition. They had an unbeaten run of five consecutive wins against the University of Warwick, the University of the West of England, Cambridge University, Cardiff University and finally the University of East Anglia. The subject-matter of the moot problems was incredibly varied including contract, evidence, internet defamation, Gavin Love, Master of Moots and property. On every occasion the UoB team faced strong opposition but stepped up to the mark with fine and polished presentations. This augurs well for each of them in their intended careers as advocates. Over the last 12 months, we have also run two internal competitions, with very high 4 5 University of Buckingham Law School Newsletter | Autumn 2017 Autumn 2017 | University of Buckingham Law School Newsletter not fatal, but in combination they ended his life. The Coroner had to review the evidence in Our students the presence of the deceased’s visibly distressed family and partner, and did so with great skill and sensitivity. Court placement In summary, this was an outstanding placement in every way and we would strongly recommend it to any other students fortunate enough to be offered the same opportunity In July we attended a two-day placement through the StreetLegal scheme. at Oxford Coroner’s Court, shadowing Thomas Cottew and Miriam Chowdry, LLB undergraduates the Coroner, Mr Darren Salter, who took considerable pains to explain the workings of the Court and the facets of 11 cases. There are 90 Senior Coroners in England and Wales, usually supported by 3-6 StreetLegal Assistant Coroners and a small staff of Coroner’s Officers. They are employed by Directed by Professor Judith Bray and assisted by Julie O’Shea, the StreetLegal placement the relevant County Council, but operate scheme forms part of the Law School’s professional skills development programme. The independently. Thus, it is a local service, scheme is open to all law students and offers placements within various professional albeit there is a National Chief Coroner Mr D Salter, Coroner for Oxfordshire (right), settings both locally and nationally. whose remit is to promote standardisation with Thomas Cottew and Miriam Chowdry In 2016-2017 students have had a range of opportunities within the scheme. Students of processes and practices. have had placements shadowing Barristers and members of the judiciary as well as The Oxfordshire Coroner has 2,500 deaths reported to him on average every year. His placements within firms of Solicitors, giving them a chance to experience the legal Officers filter out the natural deaths, leaving about 300 which require an inquest because profession and to enhance legal skills. Placements often offer the opportunity to discuss the death is either not a natural one or is unexplained. These are then investigated by the career options and gain invaluable advice on future employability choices. Most of the Coroner’s Office to enable each inquest to come to a conclusion as to how, when and where placements have taken place during the vacations, although this is not always possible. the person in question died. Each placement lasts between one and five days. Although the families of the deceased and other interested parties can be represented, this There were over 40 placements during 2016 and already at least 20 have taken place in is not usual and the proceedings are very rarely adversarial - only about six require to be heard 2017.