e Full Committee meeting that took place on 24th Feb 2023 at College Court, University of Leicester, the CHULS constitution was revised as follows.

1.The aims and purposes of the Committee of Heads of University Law Schools are:

(i) to represent and advocate for Law Schools in the UK and their interests;

(ii) to promote mutual respect and active cooperation between Law Schools regionally, nationally and internationally;

(iii) to provide a collegiate forum for discussion and to foster co-operation amongst Heads of Law Schools;

(iv) to consider and advise relevant bodies of the structure, development and resourcing of legal education and research;

(v) to disseminate relevant information and good practice;

(vi) to assist in the promotion of good leadership in Law Schools;

(vii) to liaise with the learned subject associations of law and other bodies on matters of mutual interest.

2. Membership

2.1    Membership of the CHULS is for designated Heads of Law Schools (which normally connotes someone with line management responsibility) from Higher Education Institutions in the United Kingdom with degree awarding powers. Nomenclature is inconsistent in the HEI sector, but may include:

        (a) Heads of Department;

        (b) Heads of Subject Area;

        (c) Heads of Unit;

        (d) Deans of Law,

        (e) or equivalent.

2.2    An Institution in membership of the CHULS should be represented by the Head of its Law School (see 2.1), who may nominate a substitute subject to approval of the Executive.

2.3    Higher Education Institutions outside of the United Kingdom who would meet the criteria referred to in 2.1 above in their own country, are eligible to apply for International Membership of the CHULS. International Membership will carry all the rights and privileges of full membership, save for voting rights and Executive Committee membership.  An organisation’s International Membership will be reviewed on an annual basis.

2.4    Organisations that do not meet the requirements of paragraph 2.1 but would like to become a member of the CHULS may apply for, and at the discretion of the Executive Committee be granted, Associate Membership. Associate Membership carries all rights and privileges of full membership save for voting rights and Executive Committee membership. An organisation’s Associate Membership will be reviewed on an annual basis.

2.5 Any person who has been engaged in leadership of legal education in the United Kingdom, or elsewhere or who is recognised by the CHULS as providing outstanding service, contributions, support and impact to legal education, may be considered by the CHULS for Honorary Membership. Honorary Membership carries no rights or privileges of full membership. Honorary Membership can be awarded by vote at the Committee’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) and will be reviewed annually.

2.6    Subscription rates for membership of the CHULS are charged at a flat rate determined each year at the AGM to ensure the financial viability of the Committee. A law school in arrears with their membership subscription has all rights and privileges suspended.

2.7    All matters relating to membership will be determined by the Executive Committee whose decision will be final.

3. Structure

Powers of the Executive Committee:

3.1    The Executive Committee shall have the power to manage the affairs of the CHULS between AGMs, except that the subscription may not be increased by decision of the Executive Committee. 

3.2     The work of the CHULS, and the Executive Committee, is supported by paid administrators with the recruitment and rate determined by the Executive Committee and reviewed on an annual basis.

4. The Officers and Executive

4.1    The Committee’s Officers will consist of a Chair, a Vice-Chair and an Honorary Treasurer. The Officers and Executive will be elected by the membership of the CHULS. Candidates with the highest number of votes for the number of vacancies on the Executive will be elected following calls for Expressions of Interest. Any member, other than International, Associate and Honorary members, of the CHULS or the Executive is eligible to cast a vote.

4.2 Roles of the Officers:

The Chair will:

   – Preside over all meetings of the CHULS and the Executive Committee.

   – Represent the CHULS in all official capacities.

   – Ensure the implementation of the Committee’s policies and decisions.

   – Oversee the work of other Officers and committees and will carry the casting vote in the event of any tied vote/decision.

The Vice-Chair will:

   – Assist the Chair in their duties and act in their absence.

   – Coordinate the activities of the sub-group committees and any ad hoc committees.

   – Perform other duties as assigned by the Chair or the Executive Committee.

The Honorary Treasurer will:

   – Manage the financial affairs of the CHULS, including the collection of dues and other revenues.

   – Maintain accurate financial records and prepare financial reports for the AGM and Executive Committee meetings.

   – Oversee the preparation of the annual budget and ensure proper financial controls are in place.

   – Ensure compliance with all financial regulations and reporting requirements.

4.3    Where there is a vacancy for an Officer role, in the first instance Executive Committee members will be eligible to stand for election. If the Officer role remains vacant following this process then the vacancy will be opened up to all full members.

4.4    The term of office of Chair and Vice-Chair Officers will be fixed for two years. The Vice-Chair will be eligible to stand for election as Chair following the end of the Vice-Chair term. The term of office of the Honorary Treasurer officer will be two years in the first instance, with the possibility of re-election for a period not normally exceeding two years. In the event that an Officer is no longer the Head of a Law School (as per 2.1) when their initial term ends, they will not normally be eligible for re-election as an Executive Committee Officer.

4.5    In the event that the office of Chair becomes vacant prior to the completion of their term of office, the Chair will be assumed by the Vice-Chair on an interim basis pending the arrangement of an election.

4.6    In the event that the office of Vice-Chair becomes vacant prior to the completion of their term of office, the Chair will nominate a Vice-Chair from the membership of the Executive on an interim basis pending the arrangement of an election. The appointment of a Vice-Chair in these circumstances requires the ratification of the Executive membership at the earliest opportunity.

4.7   The Executive Committee will comprise the three Committee Officers and up to fifteen Ordinary Members. The terms of office of Ordinary Members will be three years and persons will be eligible for re-election for a further three years. In the event that an Ordinary Member is no longer the Head of a Law School (as per 2.1) when their term ends, they will not normally be eligible for re-election to the Executive.

4.8   The Executive Committee shall be constituted by election from among the full members of CHULS. A formal call for expressions of interest shall be issued to all members, providing a period of no less than fourteen days for responses. Should more than one eligible member submit an expression of interest for any given position, an election shall be conducted, and all eligible members shall be entitled to participate in the voting process.

4.9    Officers and Ordinary Members of the Executive Committee are members of the Executive Committee in a personal capacity. In the event that a member of the Executive Committee ceases to be the Head of a Law School during their term, they can continue to serve the remainder of their term.

4.10    Where a member of the Executive Committee ceases to be Head of the Law School, their successor as Head of that Law School is entitled to become a member of the CHULS, provided the subscription and other membership requirements of section 2 are met.

4.11    The Executive will act on behalf of the CHULS in all matters and, in particular, will

(i) coordinate representation on external bodies;

(ii) liaise with appropriate external bodies, including PSRBs;

(iii) promote the public profile of Law Schools;

(iv) prepare agendas and papers for meetings of the CHULS, including any suggested amendments to the Committee’s Constitution;

(v) assist in developing co-operation between institutions across the whole of the Higher Education sector within the United Kingdom and internationally.

(vi) Undertake any other tasks deemed appropriate under the terms of reference on behalf of the CHULS.

4.12   If following a majority decision of the Executive Committee a member or officer of the Executive Committee is deemed to have brought the reputation of the CHULS into disrepute or otherwise incapable of discharging the responsibilities of the role, they may be removed from office.

5. Annual General Meeting:

5.1     There shall be an Annual General Meeting of the CHULS to be held at least once a calendar year.  Each institutional member may send one voting representative.  The Executive Committee may invite other interested persons or bodies to send observers.

5.2     The business of the Annual General Meeting shall include:

(i) Receiving and considering minutes from the Annual General Meeting.

(ii) Receiving and considering reports and minutes from the Executive Committee.

(iii) Approving the election of the officers and members of the Executive Committee.

(iv) Receiving and considering presentations and to engage in discussion on matters of current concern to legal education, legal research or other related matters.

(v) Approving audited accounts and rates of subscription.

(vi) Making decisions on any resolutions of which one week’s notice has been given to the administrator.

5.3   The Executive Committee may call an extraordinary general meeting whenever they deem it advisable to do so.

6. Amending the Constitution

6.1    The constitution shall be amended only at an Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting. Notice of proposed constitutional changes will be given to members 21 days prior to the meeting at which they will be discussed.

6.2    Proposed constitutional changes require that at least two thirds of those present at the meeting vote in favour.

May 2025