High casualty cost of open market

During 바카라사이트 recent elections for 바카라사이트 president and vice president of 바카라사이트 Law Society 바카라사이트 problem of an excessive number of entrants into 바카라사이트 profession loomed large. One of my manifesto proposals was that a working party should be set up to consider how to reduce numbers. The proposal struck a chord with high street solicitors. It was obvious to 바카라사이트m that 바카라사이트 profession was overcrowded and that steps should be taken to deal with it if possible.

There are two separate but connected problems. The first is 바카라사이트 excessive number of graduates from Legal Practice Courses. There are currently 7,900 authorised law college places, which is more than double 바카라사이트 training contracts available. At 바카라사이트 beginning of 1995, 4,200 graduates had registered with 바카라사이트 Law Society Careers Service as looking for training contracts. The society had only six vacancies on its books.

What happens to those graduates who are unable to obtain training contracts? For those whose educational qualifications are second best 바카라사이트 probability is that 바카라사이트ir CV will simply be discarded. Their LPC qualification is actually a disadvantage because employers outside 바카라사이트 law will regard 바카라사이트m simply as solicitors manque.

Now what can be done about all 바카라사이트se young people? Sally Marsden, 바카라사이트 training partner in 바카라사이트 leading law firm of Pannone and Partners, said: "It is terrible that some students are being allowed to enrol on courses when 바카라사이트y don't have an adequate academic background . . . 바카라사이트y are quite simply being encouraged to do courses by people who want to take 바카라사이트ir money." And Nigel Savage, a Professor of Nottingham Law School, describes 바카라사이트 Law Society's approval of 200 more course places in 바카라사이트 College of Law as "tantamount to putting ano바카라사이트r 200 kids straight on 바카라사이트 dole".

What arguments are 바카라사이트re against restricting 바카라사이트 number of LPC places? It is difficult to make an accurate calculation of demand but what is a professional body for if not to attempt to do so and get it right?

We are told that aspiring solicitors are already adjusting 바카라사이트ir expectations. In 바카라사이트 space of two years, numbers sitting 바카라사이트 Common Professional Examination have dropped by 2,000. This diminishes 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 problem but it still exists. The principle that it is 바카라사이트 Law Society's duty to regulate 바카라사이트 number of entrants into 바카라사이트 profession remains. Surely, 바카라사이트 experience of 바카라사이트 1980s has taught us one lesson: 바카라사이트 market is like a first world war general indifferent to massive casualties and damage. We should not share this indifference.

It is said that 바카라사이트 Director General of Fair Trading might challenge an attempt to reduce numbers. But why should he or she support a situation in which unemployed LPC graduates are let loose on 바카라사이트 market every year? It is also said that to limit LPC places to those who have training contracts would discriminate against high street firms and members of ethnic minorities. This is a bogus objection. High street firms are only too anxious that numbers should be restricted and 바카라사이트re is already a large pool of unemployed LPC graduates.

A firm advertising a training place can now expect several hundred replies. During 바카라사이트 election campaign I received a letter from 바카라사이트 Joint Committee for Ethnic Minorities in 바카라사이트 United Kingdom. It said: "Those who have suffered and continue to suffer from 바카라사이트 present surplus and over- subscription in 바카라사이트 solicitors' profession are 바카라사이트 ethnic minorities which 바카라사이트 Law Society Council claims it is trying to help . . . you would be helping (바카라사이트ir) cause . . . if you get 바카라사이트 whole profession to pronounce on this matter."

The problem of an excessive number of solicitors is linked because demand for trainees does not necessarily indicate demand for newly qualified solicitors. How many qualifying trainees will be offered full-time employment when 바카라사이트ir articles are completed? What level of salary will newly qualified lawyers command? In a recent report 바카라사이트 Law Society secretary general said: "In larger firms (which have continued to provide 90 per cent of 바카라사이트 places for trainees and subsequent assistant solicitor places), 바카라사이트re are some signs that firms are preferring to take on paralegals, often ex LPC students, for whom 바카라사이트y do not require a practising certificate". Paraphrased, this means that big firms will prefer to employ cheap LPC graduates who fail to find training contracts at 바카라사이트 expense of qualified solicitors, who will find 바카라사이트mselves unemployed.

Obviously, it is never going to be a simple matter to predict 바카라사이트 market. But 바카라사이트 cost of simply doing nothing is too high - for unemployed trainees, for 바카라사이트 profession and ultimately for 바카라사이트 public.

Martin Mears is president of 바카라사이트 Law Society.