Currently, an agreement between the SRA and the Bar Standards Board dictates the mandatory content of the qualifying law degree. Six foundations of legal knowledge have been identified as compulsory subjects for the qualifying law degree. It is felt that these subjects will equip those who wish to go on to join the legal profession with the background knowledge necessary for practise as a solicitor or a barrister.
The Law Society strongly believes that legal ethics should be included in this list of foundation subjects.
A sound understanding of legal ethics is vital to ensure that the ethical reputation of the legal profession of England and Wales is maintained, both locally and internationally in the post-ABS world. Legal education in England and Wales is in danger of falling behind the rest of the common law world, where compulsory ethics training is generally standard.