A law student's guide to Freedom of Information requests
Who’s this guide for?
People who want to find out more information about:
a) the profile of students who already study law
b) the admissions process for law
c) the initiatives used by law faculties to promote e.g. social mobility
Part I: The Basics
What’s the Freedom of Information Act 2000?
From the Information Commissioner’s Office website:
“The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (‘FOIA 2000’) provides public access to information held by public authorities. It does this in two ways: public authorities are obliged to publish certain information about their activities, and members of the public are entitled to request information from public authorities. The Act covers any recorded information that is held by a public authority in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...”
How is this useful to me?
UK universities are public authorities for the purpose of the Act. ‘Recorded information’ is defined broadly and includes “printed documents, computer files, letters, emails, photographs, and sound or video recordings.” This means that you can request any recorded information about the course you’re interested in.
Ok, so how do I start?
I would recommend one of the following two methods to request information:
1. Send a (public) request through whatdotheyknow.com.
2. Send a (private) request using your personal email.
How should I pick between the two?
How do I send a request through whatdotheyknow.com?
How do I send a direct request via email?
What happens after I send the request?
Within a day or two, someone from the university will reply with a confirmation that they have received your request.
They will have 20 working days (i.e. up to a month in practice) to get back to you.
How do I view the university’s response?
Part II: The content of the request
Do you have any suggestions as to what I should ask about?
For law courses, you might want to request data on any of the following:
How can I request data about myself?
You need to submit a subject access request. These are a completely different beast and fall outside the scope of this guide. You can find two excellent introductions here:
How should I structure my request?
Do you have any examples of successful requests?
Part III: Refusal and how to deal with it
Grounds for refusal
If my request has been refused, what do I do?
My data’s been refused on the basis that its release would breach competition law - what do I do?
What should I write in response to a refusal on the basis of competition law?
How should I draft my own internal review request?
Sounds tough! Do you have any examples of successful and/or unsuccessful internal review requests?
Part IV: Tips and tricks
Part V: Useful links and further reading
People who want to find out more information about:
a) the profile of students who already study law
b) the admissions process for law
c) the initiatives used by law faculties to promote e.g. social mobility
Part I: The Basics
What’s the Freedom of Information Act 2000?
From the Information Commissioner’s Office website:
“The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (‘FOIA 2000’) provides public access to information held by public authorities. It does this in two ways: public authorities are obliged to publish certain information about their activities, and members of the public are entitled to request information from public authorities. The Act covers any recorded information that is held by a public authority in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...”
How is this useful to me?
UK universities are public authorities for the purpose of the Act. ‘Recorded information’ is defined broadly and includes “printed documents, computer files, letters, emails, photographs, and sound or video recordings.” This means that you can request any recorded information about the course you’re interested in.
Ok, so how do I start?
I would recommend one of the following two methods to request information:
1. Send a (public) request through whatdotheyknow.com.
2. Send a (private) request using your personal email.
How should I pick between the two?
Spoiler
How do I send a request through whatdotheyknow.com?
Spoiler
How do I send a direct request via email?
Spoiler
What happens after I send the request?
Within a day or two, someone from the university will reply with a confirmation that they have received your request.
They will have 20 working days (i.e. up to a month in practice) to get back to you.
How do I view the university’s response?
Spoiler
Part II: The content of the request
Do you have any suggestions as to what I should ask about?
For law courses, you might want to request data on any of the following:
Spoiler
How can I request data about myself?
You need to submit a subject access request. These are a completely different beast and fall outside the scope of this guide. You can find two excellent introductions here:
Spoiler
How should I structure my request?
Spoiler
Do you have any examples of successful requests?
Spoiler
Part III: Refusal and how to deal with it
Grounds for refusal
Spoiler
If my request has been refused, what do I do?
Spoiler
My data’s been refused on the basis that its release would breach competition law - what do I do?
Spoiler
What should I write in response to a refusal on the basis of competition law?
Spoiler
How should I draft my own internal review request?
Spoiler
Sounds tough! Do you have any examples of successful and/or unsuccessful internal review requests?
Spoiler
Part IV: Tips and tricks
Spoiler
Part V: Useful links and further reading
Spoiler
(edited 4 years ago)
Scroll to see replies
I found this so helpful and comprehensive.
Thank you for taking the time to write this
Thank you for taking the time to write this
(edited 3 years ago)
Since the sudden rise in the number of unis offering foundation years to applicants that would otherwise have been rejected, it might also be useful to ask how many people who get onto a Law or social sciences foundation year at a uni progress onto their LLB?
(I'm thinking about the OP in another thread who was finding SOAS very reticent on this issue).
(I'm thinking about the OP in another thread who was finding SOAS very reticent on this issue).
Thank you so much for this!
Very informative, nice one. 
Original post by Legally Jasmine
Hahah, me too.
I guess we could both benefit from some character development then hahaha
I can hear the silence in the Law forum already, it is painfully loud.
Right? Law forum is falling apart
First Noto, now Johan.
First Noto, now Johan.
Original post by Legally Jasmine
Right? Law forum is falling apart
First Noto, now Johan.
First Noto, now Johan.
I’m feeling nervous 😟
If you're gone next too I swear I'm leaving this site.
we'll all get banned together if Harrys goes, you in?
we'll all get banned together if Harrys goes, you in?
Original post by harrysbar
I’m feeling nervous 😟
(edited 4 years ago)
Original post by Legally Jasmine
Right? Law forum is falling apart
First Noto, now Johan.
First Noto, now Johan.
Lol, why were they both banned?
Original post by Legally Jasmine
If you're gone next too I swear I'm leaving this site.
@LostLioness we'll all get banned together if Harrys goes, you in?
@LostLioness we'll all get banned together if Harrys goes, you in?
It would be too easy for me to do that. I am in.
(edited 4 years ago)
Perfect.
(edited 4 years ago)
Original post by my_man_123
Lol, why were they both banned?
If a reported post or PM crosses the TSR guidelines you can (depending on what the issue is) receive a ban.
Original post by gjd800
Ha. John banned and a load of posts in here removed. Wow!
Hahaha, my same reaction.
The law forum and TSR will never be the same. :'(
Original post by Legally Jasmine
Hahaha, my same reaction.
The law forum and TSR will never be the same. :'(
The law forum and TSR will never be the same. :'(
Might not be a permaban. I see from his last post that he was engaged in an argument in a thread that has since been removed, that'll be it.
Be a shame if he and N are gone for good, especially for the law section (even with their abrasiveness and disdain for fools)
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