External examining in law

For many years the external examiner has held a central position in the quality assurance systems in UK universities, but recent research and discussions have raised questions about the appropriate role of the external examiner in law.

In a panel discussion at Learning in Law Annual Conference 2009 entitled Transforming the external experience: collaboration and external examining the case was made for a new system with standards set across institutions. The external examiners survey undertaken in 2001-02 by the Association of Law Teachers (ALT) found substantial diversity amongst law schools, but also identified a number of common issues, including academic standards, fairness and consistency in the operation of assessment regimes – plus remuneration. A tension was detected between a ‘hands-on’ role for the external as a member of the marking team, and a ‘quality assurance’ role, requiring a more objective, distanced stance.

Resources on external examining in law:

• External Examiners Database
  UKCLE developed a database of external examiners in collaboration with the Committee of Heads of University Law Schools (CHULS). UKCLE maintained it for several years, before transferring it to CHULS.

• External examining: closing the feedback loop – article by Vera Bermingham (Kingston University) from the Autumn 2004 issue of Directions
• The experience of external examiners – report of the 2001-02 ALT survey by Phil Harris (Sheffield Hallam University) and Alison Bone (University of Brighton) in the The Law Teacher 36(2) 2002:68-183
• papers from the UKCLE/ALT workshop on 6 June 2003:
  • The external examiner: how did we get here? Where did we start from? – Mike Cuthbert (University College Northampton)
  • External examining: a view from the profession – Nigel Bastin (Bar Council)
  • New developments in external examining – Richard Blackwell (LTSN Generic Centre)

The Higher Education Academy is leading a programme of research and development work to support external examiners and maintains an external examiners discussion list.

Last Modified: 4 June 2010