Education Law. It is an area of law not familiar to most. Thanks to television most have heard of criminal law, but a lot of people have not heard about Education Law, however that is starting to change.
Last year Blossom Lawyers’ Principal Holly Mylne, was awarded Education Lawyer of the Year by Lawyer Monthly. Students are traditionally under-represented in the legal space; most believe the university itself will assist them when challenging decisions made against them, however students and their parents are increasingly contacting Blossom Lawyers to discuss their rights and options regarding adverse decisions made against them by their university. Considering an undergraduate degree in Australia can cost anywhere from approximately $20,000 to $55,000 (and that is not taking into account honours or masters degrees, private school and international student fees) it is worthwhile getting some independent assistance when challenging your university.
Most universities are regulated by their policies and procedures when addressing misconduct or a student’s progression through their course, however unfortunately a lot do not stick to their policies and procedures when making decisions and that is when Blossom Lawyers steps in.
Holly Mylne, principal of Blossom Lawyers says “we are enormously proud of the service that we provide to university and school students. Students can come to us when they are in need of some help challenging or overturning adverse decisions that left unchallenged, can have a significant impact on their lives.”
Blossom Lawyers assists students in understanding where they stand under the university’s policies and procedures, and drafting their reviews, appeals, complaints and other submissions. This helps students put their best foot forward when responding to allegations or when requesting a review or appeal of an adverse decision during their study.
Some examples of success Blossom Lawyers have had include:
- A university dropping its case against a former student whose medical degree was in danger of being revoked due to a declared policy infraction. Blossom Lawyers found the relevant policy did not exist at the time their client was a student and submitted an appeal resulting in the university dropping its case.
- During a COVID-19 lockdown, a university student was advised if they did not return to Queensland for exams they would need to repeat the entire course year. Blossom Lawyers examined the university’s policy and found their COVID-19 procedure allowed for deferral, which had been overlooked. Thanks to Blossom Lawyers’ intervention the student was able to defer and sit the exam, not the entire course year.
- Overturning a decision to exclude a student who was the subject of misconduct proceedings surrounding drug use on campus.
- Successfully challenging allegations of plagiarism and contract cheating.
- Successfully challenging assessment outcomes and progress status.
Holly Mylne and her team at Blossom Lawyers are committed to providing personalised, technical, empathetic, and cost-effective legal representation to their students. They understand that their clients can feel overwhelmed when an adverse decision is taken against them. The team at Blossom Lawyers works closely with their clients to ensure they understand their position, so they can make informed choices on what could have large impacts on their lives and future career.
If you are grappling with a university decision, contact Blossom Lawyers today for a confidential chat about how we can assist you.
