The Quality Assurance Agency Law Subject Benchmark Statement 2023

In March 2023, the UK Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) published the latest Subject Benchmark Statement (SBS) for Law. It was one of nine new subject benchmark statements published in that round with 15 published the previous March and a further three published in September 2023. This document provides the most recent attempt to set out what a law student can expect from studying an undergraduate degree of law in the United Kingdom. It provides, or at least seeks to provide, a sense of what the subject of law is and how it is approached and understood by law schools. The Advisory Board that has shaped the development of this statement has been drawn from across the UK higher education system and the statement went out for consultation with the sector and stakeholders. The final document reflects that complete process. As Chair of the 2023 Law SBS Advisory Board I am inevitably somewhat biased in my views about the statement, so my reflections here are an attempt to explain a little more about what the statement is seeking to achieve and to take the opportunity provided by the passing of a year since publication to reflect on the process itself rather than a comprehensive evaluation of the SBS.

Two documents were simultaneously published in March 2023 – the full Law Subject Benchmark Statement and alongside it a short “the basics” document providing a brief summary of the main document.Footnote1 The full Statement was the product of almost a year-long process of development while the Summary is drawn from that larger document and is intended to provide a brief overview, particularly for non-specialists.