Accusations of plagiarism can be hugely upsetting and stressful for the student involved. However, the costs of such an accusation can be even greater if you happen to be studying for one of the regulated professions.
In the UK, the regulated professions are usually those that fall under the umbrella of health, social care and law. They include medicine, all areas of nursing, dentistry, chiropractic, optometry, osteopathy, pharmacy, social work and social services in general and, of course, law. In these areas particularly, a finding of plagiarism could mean exclusion from professional registration and can ultimately destroy a student's chances of making a living in their chosen field. Indeed, such accusations can be life-changing.
Accusations of plagiarism are on the rise, but is plagiarism itself?
In recent years, with the information revolution heralded by the advent of the internet, plagiarism accusations have risen rapidly. Obviously, this is connected to the ease of access to academic information. The internet is now so ubiquitous that it is the first port of call for any requirement of knowledge or further study.
However, simply because more students are being accused of plagiarism does not mean that more students are actually guilty of plagiarism. In a great many cases, what has been labelled plagiarism is in fact a simple and perfectly innocent mistake. Either failing to properly reference external sources or not following the university or college's guidelines on how to quote existing works.
If you are studying for a regulated profession and are facing unfounded accusations of plagiarism, your most likely course of action is to defend your case before an Academic Misconduct Panel. Before you do this, it is essential that you do the necessary research and develop a keen understanding of the precise allegations against you, as well as the exact details of your defence.
Plagiarism law in the UK is a contentious area and if you are being unfairly accused, it is certainly worth your while to have a professional on your side. Being represented by someone who can put your arguments forward in a clear, concise and professional manner could make all the difference to your case. For this reason, we would recommend you seek the counsel of a team of specialist education lawyers such as those at Match Solicitors, who will be able to help steer you through the process.
The difference between human error and plagiarism
We understand that accidents happen and that failures in correct paraphrasing techniques or strict accreditation are common human errors rather than intentional attempts to pass off someone else's work as your own. There are also many cases where students have submitted the wrong drafts of papers or where computer glitches have resulted in poor referencing.
At Match Solicitors, we know that poor attention to detail doesn’t mean a student has cheated to gain an unfair advantage and we regularly act on behalf of students at Academic Misconduct hearings, where we pride ourselves on our rigorous defence of unjustly accused students. Indeed, we have successfully overturned a great many plagiarism allegations, allowing students to return to their courses and continue onwards to a successful professional career.
If you are having difficulties surrounding plagiarism accusations, contact us today to discuss your case in complete confidence on 020 7353 6881.
