TC getting pulled?

[Outrageous-Ask2294]

I am a future trainee. I have to come back next year, do my exams, and start my TC.

However, I am concerned about potential plagiarism regarding a piece of coursework I submitted last year. I didn't get to finish it, and it was very poorly referenced. I checked on a Turnitin-powered plagiarism checker, and the rate of 3-4% plagiarised material.

In the event I do get convicted of plagiarism, what is the possibility of my TC being rescinded? Are there any steps I can take to mitigate this possibility? For example, I am sure my tutor would write me a good reference when applying for an early assessment by the SRA.

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

I am a future trainee. I am also still in University - took a year out during my final year. I have to come back next year, do my exams, and start my TC.

However, I am concerned about potential plagiarism regarding a piece of coursework I submitted last year. I didn't get to finish it, and it was very poorly referenced. I checked on a Turnitin-powered plagiarism checker, and the rate of 3-4% plagiarised material. I did try and complete and reference this work as best as I could, but I did have extenuating circumstances - lived in an unsafe and unstable home at the time, had a family member hospitalised for a crime-related incident, was on medication which made it hard for me to even gather my thoughts).

In the event I do get convicted of plagiarism, what is the possibility of my TC being rescinded? Are there any steps I can take to mitigate this possibility? For example, I am sure my tutor would write me a good reference when applying for an early assessment by the SRA. I am currently working as a paralegal and my supervisor is very impressed by my work and I believe would also write me a good reference.

You won’t be “convicted” for plagiarism - it is not a criminal offence.

Has the coursework been marked/assessed? If so, I think it’s unlikely a plagiarism check would subsequently be done. Even if it is, it’s only 3-4% - I suspect that could easily be within a margin of error calculation.

Until your university states it is going to investigate you for plagiarism, I think you are jumping a “very pessimistic” gun here even just on the plagiarism aspect, let alone how that could then impact your TC.

I would only really expect it to impact your TC if you didn’t pass the SRA’s suitability test. But until your university investigates or states they expect you have plagiarised work, I don’t think it is worthwhile getting worked up over.

 

[laurabeaumont]

You won’t be “convicted” for plagiarism - it is not a criminal offence.

Has the coursework been marked/assessed? If so, I think it’s unlikely a plagiarism check would subsequently be done. Even if it is, it’s only 3-4% - I suspect that could easily be within a margin of error calculation.

Until your university states it is going to investigate you for plagiarism, I think you are jumping a “very pessimistic” gun here even just on the plagiarism aspect, let alone how that could then impact your TC.

I would only really expect it to impact your TC if you didn’t pass the SRA’s suitability test. But until your university investigates or states they expect you have plagiarised work, I don’t think it is worthwhile getting worked up over.

I am a future trainee. I have to come back next year, do my exams, and start my TC.

However, I am concerned about potential plagiarism regarding a piece of coursework I submitted last year. I didn't get to finish it, and it was very poorly referenced. I checked on a Turnitin-powered plagiarism checker, and the rate of 3-4% plagiarised material.

In the event I do get convicted of plagiarism, what is the possibility of my TC being rescinded? Are there any steps I can take to mitigate this possibility? For example, I am sure my tutor would write me a good reference when applying for an early assessment by the SRA.

I know how anxiety-inducing your situation is and how it is easier said than done to stop worrying about it, but realistically it is not a problem right now. I’m always doing the same (jumping the gun), but there is no need to make a problem where there isn’t one. If the issue does materialise, we can deal with it then

 

[RANDOTRON]

I am a future trainee. I have to come back next year, do my exams, and start my TC.

However, I am concerned about potential plagiarism regarding a piece of coursework I submitted last year. I didn't get to finish it, and it was very poorly referenced. I checked on a Turnitin-powered plagiarism checker, and the rate of 3-4% plagiarised material.

In the event I do get convicted of plagiarism, what is the possibility of my TC being rescinded? Are there any steps I can take to mitigate this possibility? For example, I am sure my tutor would write me a good reference when applying for an early assessment by the SRA.

Hi there! Just thought I'd give my two-cents on this. I get why you might be concerned about this, but in my past experience with coursework, even where I've referenced properly, I still get like 5% plagiarism – I think I even had 14% once or something. Most of what Turnitin claims I plagiarised were like a segment of a very generic sentences or even citations, so the system's not completely accurate. I've never been investigated about it by the university, so I honestly would not worry about your 3-4% plagiarism popping up as an investigation.

Hope this eases your concern!

Also side note, this handy graph has helped to ease my mind whenever I worry about a problem – maybe it can help you too:

 

[laurabeaumont]

Hi there! Just thought I'd give my two-cents on this. I get why you might be concerned about this, but in my past experience with coursework, even where I've referenced properly, I still get like 5% plagiarism – I think I even had 14% once or something. Most of what Turnitin claims I plagiarised were like a segment of a very generic sentences or even citations, so the system's not completely accurate. I've never been investigated about it by the university, so I honestly would not worry about your 3-4% plagiarism popping up as an investigation.

Hope this eases your concern!

Also side note, this handy graph has helped to ease my mind whenever I worry about a problem – maybe it can help you too:

View attachment 5066

Agreed - anything below 20% is usually not flagged anyway!