MAJOR DEVELOPMENT ON LEGAL QUALIFICATION ROUTES
Finally and long overdue, it now appears there will be a new system to enable a slightly faster, less fragmented and crucially potentially cheaper method of becoming a lawyer. In addition, this course seem designed to avoid the huge problem for those wanting to become lawyers, namely the scarcity of training contracts as a proportion of those wanting them. Rather than the standard University, Law School and then training contract route, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has sanctioned plans for a new course and Northumbria University is the first to offer the five-year course, starting with a small pilot programme this year.
Critics of the new course argue that it will not help those who wish to pursue a career as a solicitor in a bif city practice since large firms will still cherry pick and have their own method of law school training and training contracts. The other major criticism is that solicitors will qualify with even less practical experience. Students would still have to compete for placements, but would be guaranteed a place working in the Law School’s own pro bono service.
Cost savings
One obvious and major advantage of the new scheme is that it will exempt students from the LPC, which costs some £9,000.