Considering alternative routes into the profession is part of the remit of the large scale review of legal education and training that is being conducted by the three major legal regulators - the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and ILEX Professional Services (IPS). It is essential for the profession, and for current and prospective students, that the Law Society contributes to that debate.
Find out more about the review at www.letr.org.uk.
We need your views
The recent move to outcomes-focused regulation raises questions about the application of outcomes to other regulatory areas. The last few years have seen a move to outcomes for the Legal Practice Course, and the SRA has also been piloting the use of outcomes as part of its Work Based Learning Scheme. There is an argument that the use of outcomes should extend to encompass the knowledge that is generally required to be gained at the academic stage. Focus should be placed on the fact that these knowledge outcomes and competencies are met, rather than how they are met.
The solicitors' profession needs to be open to change and to a greater diversity in where the solicitors of the future are coming from.
The necessity of a degree for entry into the profession is one of many issues that the Law Society is exploring in relation to the review. The Society is also considering the skills and knowledge that are necessary for practice as a solicitor; the need for more effective quality assurance mechanisms for the various stages of the education and training system; and how to make the post-qualification requirements for continuing professional development more effective.
It is essential that these policies are representative of the views of the profession. The Society encourages solicitors to share their thoughts on the current legal education and training system and submit proposals for change by emailing educationandtraining@lawsociety.org.uk.
Visit our current issue page on education and training