Suing the university..

[anonymous-user]

Just saw on the bbc news site.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-4...

Seems to be having 'sour grapes' at how his career turned out and going after the univesity to fix the earnings gap between reality and his expectations.

[voyds9]

Mr Siddiqui seems to be suggesting that his medical conditions (clinical depressions and insomnia) should have been passed to the examiners, presumable to have some grade inflation.
I presume he has also disclosed this information at interview so his job can be adapted for his problems.

Yes it does seem like a case of sour grapes.

At least he can take solace in that he didn't take a course in the theory of lesbian dance

[revvingit]

voyds9 said:

Mr Siddiqui seems to be suggesting that his medical conditions (clinical depressions and insomnia) should have been passed to the examiners, presumable to have some grade inflation.
I presume he has also disclosed this information at interview so his job can be adapted for his problems.

Yes it does seem like a case of sour grapes.

At least he can take solace in that he didn't take a course in the theory of lesbian dance

You don't any grade inflation for depression; at best you get an extension on your work, or the opportunity to re-sit your year (which you are required to fund). As someone who dropped out due to depression; this guy has serious fking sour grapes. It's not the university's fault if you drop out; it may not be yours either depending on how st things are; but that's fking life. I actually pissed myself at this headline this morning; the first time I've laughed in a while. I'm amazed he got into university with such a lack of rational thinking to be honest, especially as back when he went you actually still needed that to get in.

[Mr Tidy]

revvingit said:

You don't any grade inflation for depression; at best you get an extension on your work, or the opportunity to re-sit your year (which you are required to fund). As someone who dropped out due to depression; this guy has serious fking sour grapes. It's not the university's fault if you drop out; it may not be yours either depending on how st things are; but that's fking life. I actually pissed myself at this headline this morning; the first time I've laughed in a while. I'm amazed he got into university with such a lack of rational thinking to be honest, especially as back when he went you actually still needed that to get in.

I'm amazed he got a place, but even more amazed that he got the degree he was given (positive discrimination in action maybe)?

Sometimes you need to realise your limitations!

If there is any justice in this world costs will be awarded against him when he loses! (But sadly the world as it is now doesn't work that way).

[scarble]

While I do think this guy is a tool, there is a serious question of how universities are held to account.

Anecdotally, I probably lost a few credits way back when because..
Somehow the university ended up creating two email accounts for me but of course I only got credentials and only ever used one. One day I found out, despite having attended every lecture for the module, that there was an essay due the next day. On querying this I found the assignment had been emailed out. I was told that as the school had sent it out I must have got it and tough st. The "school office" refused to make any effort to check and just insisted that I'd got it.
Looking back I should have pushed harder but being young and shy I didn't. With the benefit of hind sight yada yada yada

There was also generally a lack of teaching quality on some modules, but then others were fantastic and hey I've got an alright job now.

I'm sure there were some examples of uni fkups that made the news in the past few years too.

[Flibble]

I'm amazed he found a law firm willing to act for him on such a tenuous case!

[pavarotti1980]

Clearly he has a massive chip on his shoulder and an over inflated ego with a great sense of entitlement if he thinks he can blame the university 17 years later for his career not being what he wanted.

I think the phrase is "thats life sunshine"

[anonymous-user]

The claim looks ambitious, to say the least, and is way out of time. IIRC the claim against the university has been dropped and now the claim is just against Brasenose College, as at Oxford the university examines but the colleges teach. EDIT:
Other way around - claim against Brasenose discontinued, claim against the university continues. Costs will follow the event, so if the claimant loses he will get a six figure bill. Whether he can pay it is another matter.

I add that possession of a first isn't a guarantee of sparkling success in the law anyway, although it does certainly help open doors.

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 22 November 09:04

[essayer]

If he can’t get jobs with a 2:1 from Oxford he’s the one with the problem, not the university

[anonymous-user]

Rubbish decision by rubbish judge Tim Kerr declining to strike case out last year -

http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/QB/2016/3150.h...


The Dr Roberston mentioned in the judgment taught me in the mid 80s when he was a JRF. He is now Professor Robertson at Cambridge and is a cool dude.

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 22 November 09:07

[Derek Smith]

scarble said:

While I do think this guy is a tool, there is a serious question of how universities are held to account.

Anecdotally, I probably lost a few credits way back when because..
Somehow the university ended up creating two email accounts for me but of course I only got credentials and only ever used one. One day I found out, despite having attended every lecture for the module, that there was an essay due the next day. On querying this I found the assignment had been emailed out. I was told that as the school had sent it out I must have got it and tough st. The "school office" refused to make any effort to check and just insisted that I'd got it.
Looking back I should have pushed harder but being young and shy I didn't. With the benefit of hind sight yada yada yada

There was also generally a lack of teaching quality on some modules, but then others were fantastic and hey I've got an alright job now.

I'm sure there were some examples of uni fkups that made the news in the past few years too.

I agree.

Opting for a degree course will be the biggest purchase of someone's life, unless they buy a house of course, but that's even less likely with the repayments. It is a product, in the same way as a KitKat is. You pay your money, you get something. If you bought a car for £27k - let's ignore all the on-costs - and, for reasons not of your making, it came without the rear facing camera that you specified and paid for, you'd create a fuss.

I can see this being something that the universities will have to plan for from now on. As you say, the rather inexcusable mistakes that some universities make are all but laughed off. I can see that changing.

Mind you, this one looks a bit hail mary.

[Jobbo]

This was a story a year ago, after the hearing Breadvan linked to above.

I still think that no matter whether there were failings in his teaching, the fact that he went to Clifford Chance for a training contract is sufficient evidence that his degree didn't harm his career. Having a first on your CV will do no more than get your foot in the door for a first interview. He passed that stage, but failed to progress when exposed to a magic circle training contract. Can't be down to the teaching.

[anonymous-user]

I agree. The first bags you the first or second job. Thereafter it is not relevant. Some people in my chambers who have upper seconds have outperformed me in their careers. I have a first but am no more than mid ranking (because lazy and/or stupid)

[anonymous-user]

I add that in 2000 a first alone got you a magic circle chambers gig. Nowadays you may need an Oxbridge or London first plus a BCL or maybe an LLM from Harvard etc.

[jesta1865]

essayer said:

If he can’t get jobs with a 2:1 from Oxford he’s the one with the problem, not the university

i take it that no one in his class got a first then, as obviously, the poor teaching would have affected all of his fellow students and other classes as well?

tongue firmly in cheek.

I'm off to sue Camelot, I've done the lottery for years, and I haven't won as much as I think I should have

[AyBee]

Jobbo said:

This was a story a year ago, after the hearing Breadvan linked to above.

I still think that no matter whether there were failings in his teaching, the fact that he went to Clifford Chance for a training contract is sufficient evidence that his degree didn't harm his career. Having a first on your CV will do no more than get your foot in the door for a first interview. He passed that stage, but failed to progress when exposed to a magic circle training contract. Can't be down to the teaching.

How does a case like this get to this stage? Surely he's going to have a hard time proving a link between History teaching at University and not progressing from CC?

[northwest monkey]

voyds9 said:

course in the theory of lesbian dance

You know what, I've never been that fussed about not going to University, but that sounds fun for 3 years*. In this modern day of equal opportunities, I take it being a 44 year old straight bloke won't be a barrier to entry?

• only if it's the fit lezzers you see in the movies / xhamster on the same course. I don't want to see any of the ugly militant ones dancing.

[Jobbo]

AyBee said:

Jobbo said:

This was a story a year ago, after the hearing Breadvan linked to above.

I still think that no matter whether there were failings in his teaching, the fact that he went to Clifford Chance for a training contract is sufficient evidence that his degree didn't harm his career. Having a first on your CV will do no more than get your foot in the door for a first interview. He passed that stage, but failed to progress when exposed to a magic circle training contract. Can't be down to the teaching.

How does a case like this get to this stage? Surely he's going to have a hard time proving a link between History teaching at University and not progressing from CC?

Have a read of the BAILII link of Breadvan's for the previous court hearing; there's also a summary down the bottom of the comments on the Legalcheek article I posted. Tenuous, but sufficient grounds not to throw it out straight away at the hearing last November.

[anonymous-user]

Kerr is a weak Judge. A more robust Judge would have binned the case a year ago.

[Hol]

Breadvan72 said:

Rubbish decision by rubbish judge Tim Kerr declining to strike case out last year -

http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/QB/2016/3150.h...


The Dr Roberston mentioned in the judgment taught me in the mid 80s when he was a JRF. He is now Professor Robertson at Cambridge and is a cool dude.

Edited by Breadvan72 on Wednesday 22 November 09:07

JRF.

Jolly Round Fellow??