In this article, the authors analyse quantitative and qualitative data compiled from a large‐
scale postal survey of legal academics concerning the United Kingdom's Research
Assessment Exercise. The purpose of the study was to measure the attitudes of academic
lawyers affected by the RAE rating process and institutional responses to that process. The
study reveals that a substantial number of respondents lack faith in the objectivity of the
rating process, believe institutional responses to the RAE have caused damage to academic …