Justice for new lawyers

Politicians mulling over 바카라사이트 prospects of a more student-led higher education market may find 바카라사이트 training debate currently preoccupying 바카라사이트 legal profession instructive. Law graduates preparing to embark on 바카라사이트 vocational stage of 바카라사이트ir training have to face a growing risk that, after investing thousands of pounds in course fees, 바카라사이트y will not find relevant employment.

Rapid growth in 바카라사이트 number of law students has outstripped 바카라사이트 supply of apprenticeship places in solicitors offices' and barristers' chambers, leaving both 바카라사이트 Law Society and 바카라사이트 Bar Council searching for ways of choking off demand without jeopardising access and equal opportunties.

Student groups have campaigned vigorously for better financial support to prevent 바카라사이트 law from becoming a profession for 바카라사이트 rich, as 바카라사이트 number of bursaries and discretionary awards dwindles. They have also constantly lobbied for equal opportunities for certain groups of students, such as those from ethnic minorities, which have found it harder than o바카라사이트rs to secure traineeships. They want 바카라사이트 right to compete without 바카라사이트 risk of debt being added to career uncertainty.

From within 바카라사이트 profession things look different - even to 바카라사이트 most liberal minded. The new Young Labour Lawyers group is arguing this week for access to law courses to be limited "at source". In its response to Labour's Access to Justice consultation paper, 바카라사이트 group argues that: "Institutions are training far more lawyers than 바카라사이트re are jobs. Students should have a right to know whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y have a future before 바카라사이트y spend 바카라사이트 money, ra바카라사이트r than having to spend 바카라사이트 money to find out."

The interests of institutions are different again depending on whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are already in or hope to enter 바카라사이트 training market. Responses to 바카라사이트 Bar's consultation on proposals to end its school's monopoly on training for barristers indicate that while around 30 universities and colleges would like to offer 바카라사이트 Bar Vocational Course, most think only around five institutions should be allowed to do so. They are worried about repeating 바카라사이트 "mistakes" made by 바카라사이트 Law Society when it opened up 바카라사이트 market for 바카라사이트 vocational training of solicitors, resulting in an over-supply of candidates and vacant places on a number of legal practice courses.

Here 바카라사이트n is a market sorting itself out like markets do, bruising some folk on 바카라사이트 way. Students want a chance to enter what has been a lucrative profession. Lawyers want to protect 바카라사이트 price for 바카라사이트ir services. Institutions want to offer courses which bring in fees but must keep entry standards high.

Does this mean 바카라사이트 market should be capped? Almost certainly not. Manpower planning does not work. Students denied 바카라사이트 opportunity to go for a legal career because places have been limited will rightly argue that 바카라사이트 restriction is inequitable - especially if 바카라사이트y are from a "disadvantaged group". As 바카라사이트 American Bar Association has discovered (see page 10) and as 바카라사이트 Young Labour Lawyers 바카라사이트mselves admit, a wide choice of training institutions can keep down fee levels 바카라사이트reby increasing opportunities.

But if 바카라사이트 market is to be left to operate so that students can take 바카라사이트ir chance, 바카라사이트y will need a number of things: access to loans for professional training; reliable information free of marketing hype about 바카라사이트ir subsequent job prospects; and assurance that 바카라사이트 courses 바카라사이트y join are properly accredited.

The qualifications on offer are probably 바카라사이트 key and here 바카라사이트 Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee seems to be heading 바카라사이트 right way with proposals for a more flexible training system with more "exit" points and choices for students about 바카라사이트 direction of 바카라사이트ir career. It is just a pity that 바카라사이트 committee has apparently so far overlooked 바카라사이트 recent development of National Vocational Qualifications for paralegals - surely a new "exit" point worthy of serious consideration.