UKCLE networking

UKCLE works with a number of associations, networks and interest groups. Our targets for networking include:

• development of links within the UK and internationally
• development of expertise/groups around priority areas
• support for cognate organisations and networks

Development of UK links

UKCLE works with law teachers in every UK nation and has set up a Nations Fund to support activities in the context of the devolved nations.

We are developing mini-sites for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, while our Directory of legal education gives details of how to qualify as a lawyer and lists institutions offering legal education throughout the UK.

We work closely with the Higher Education Academy and its network of subject centres, as well as with several Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETLs).

Development of international links

As part of the overall objective of promoting awareness of developments in legal education outside the UK UKCLE is developing links with the Faculty of Law at the University of Technology Sydney (host of the Australian Centre for Legal Education), the Institute for Law School Teaching, based at Gonzaga University, USA, and the Association of American Law Schools (AALS).

We support the work of the Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA) and intend to strengthen links with the European Law Faculties Association (ELFA).

In March 2003 UKCLE was involved in organising an international seminar on Developing Legal Expertise on behalf of the British Council, followed by a conference on Global Challenges for Legal Education and Human Rights teaching.

Development of expertise/groups around priority areas

UKCLE is working to raise awareness in the priority areas of widening participation, retention and teaching excellence, and is seeking examples of good practice in the form of case studies. The Fund for the Development of Teaching Resources (FDTR) supports this activity.

The Access to Law seminar in November 2002 brought together heads of departments and others interested in widening participation issues, and generated an accessibility mini-site.

UKCLE has also supported up working groups on personal development planning (PDP) and problem-based learning (PBL).

Support for cognate organisations and networks

UKCLE provides support services to BILETA (the British & Irish Law, Education and Technology Association) and works closely with the Committee of Heads of University Law Schools (CHULS), organising their annual residential and maintaining the CHULS/UKCLE Register of external examiners.

We have awarded £500 to the Academy Criminology SIG to support their activities during 2009-10.

We host webpages for the Clinical Legal Education Organisation (CLEO). From 2000-06 we hosted the website of the Copyright in Higher Education Workgroup (CHEW), set up to campaign for the repeal or reform of the Higher Education Copying Accord (HECA). CHEW is no longer in operation.

Last Modified: 4 June 2010