An Oxford jurisprudence graduate, who sued the Oxford Institute of Legal Practice (OXILP) after she failed the final exams necessary to become a solicitor, lost her case in the High Court last week.
Maria Abramova, a former student of Oriel College and OXILP, now part of Oxford Brookes University, attempted to claim £100,000 in damages. She insisted that the reason she failed to qualify as a solicitor was because the law college was \”clearly negligent\”, as it only provided what her lawyer, Oliver Hyams, described as \”tuition in exam techniques.\”
Abramova also alleged that OXILP was indirectly responsible for her subsequent failure to pass the New York Bar Exam, as she had \”found it psychologically difficult to take legal examinations following my experiences on the Course and subsequently, at OXILP\”.
In the High Court ruling, the judge, Mr Justice Burnett, rejected Abramova\’s claims, adding \”she was ready to blame anyone but herself for her misfortunes.\”
Julie Brannan, the director of OXILP, said, \”We are extremely pleased with this judgment, which finds in favour of the OXILP on every point.
\”I have always had total confidence in the quality of the course. The continuing success of the vast majority of our students is testimony to the exceptional calibre of the teaching.\”
This \”success\” was substantiated by a spokesperson for OXILP, who told Cherwell before the case was brought that of the 357 other students who studied in the same year as Abramova, more than 99% went on to pass the paper over which Abramova attempted to sue the college.
When the case was brought earlier this year, questions were raised over the extent to which the increase in tuition fees will further the emergence of a \”consumer culture\” in higher education.
David Barclay, President of OUSU, warned, \”We need to give students the opportunity to solve their own problems, otherwise this will not be the last time we see [establishments] in court.\”
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