The University of London was asked to provide information regarding the case notes submitted by LLB students via the VLE by the due date of March 7 2024. The questions are shown below followed by the response of the University in italics:
1 What checks, if any, were carried out to ensure that the work submitted by each candidate was, indeed, a note on the set case – R (on the application of United Trade Action Group Ltd) v Transport for London [2022] EWCA Civ 1026?
We receive the student list (who submitted the case note from UG Laws Programme Office), then, we will cross check with the students who sit their LSM exam and ensure who sat the exam but did not submit a case note will be discounted Q1 marks.
As to the content, checks are not made on the content of the submitted case notes, but please read this information for context: It is important to note that the purpose is not to satisfy ourselves that the casenote has been written, not does it constitute any form of assessment. It is simply a light form of assurance and encouragement but one designed to provide a strong incentive for students to prepare properly for Part 1 of the examination thereby enhancing their chances of success. Guidance on how to write a casenote is provided on our VLE along with an example of a casenote and suggested format.
2. What percentage of the total ‘case notes’ submitted in the required manner were checked or considered by a member of the LSM marking / examining team?
As above, we check all students that submitted a case note against the list of all students that sat the LSM exam, to determine which did/didn’t submit a case note. Checks are not made as to the content (please see above).
3. (a) Provided a document was submitted in the required manner via the VLE by March 7 2024 would it amount to a valid submission irrespective of its content? (b) Is submission of a document in the required manner on the VLE regarded as conclusive that a valid case note was submitted?
Yes, to a) and b), if a submission is made via the VLE submission tool as a document file (.doc .docx .epub .gdoc .odt .oth .ott .pdf .rtf) we note it as the student has completed the task and eligible for the marks in Part 1 of the LSM exam.
4. (a) Is there a minimum word limit? (b) Might a submission of any length, however short, amount to a valid submission of a note on the set case? (c) Does the University undertake a word count of each submitted case note? (d) Is it conceivable that an entirely blank submission would be accepted and regarded as a valid submission?
a) There is no word limit
b) Yes, there is no word limit to be a valid submission
c) No word count is undertaken
d) This is conceivable however this would not help the student when sitting the exam as if no case note has been written they will not be able to answer questions on Part One of the LSM exam.
5. What percentage of case note submissions which were submitted in the required manner on the VLE by the due date of March 7 2024 were rejected (for a reason other than an examination offence) with the result that the relevant candidates were not eligible for the 25 marks in Part A of the exam.
No submissions which were submitted in the normal manner (via the VLE) by the due date were rejected, because if these are submitted in the normal manner that fulfils the requirement, and therefore makes them eligible for the marks in Part 1 of the LSM exam.