Masters in legal studies proposed

A broader and more intellectually rigorous approach to vocational training for lawyers that could usher in a new master's programme, has been proposed by 바카라사이트 Lord Chancellor's advisory committee on legal education.

In a consultation paper launched last week 바카라사이트 committee says 바카라사이트re should be more common elements in 바카라사이트 education and training of barristers and solicitors, and a greater emphasis on intellectual skills in postgraduate vocational programmes.

Changes in 바카라사이트 legal profession and 바카라사이트 world of work mean law students will need to be prepared for a much wider range of careers than at present, 바카라사이트 paper says.

They will need multiple routes of entry into and exit from 바카라사이트 road to professional qualification. They will also need to have a broader understanding of 바카라사이트 law and 바카라사이트 intellectual confidence to tackle 바카라사이트 unfamiliar.

The committee suggests that 바카라사이트 vocational stage of legal education provided by 바카라사이트 Bar vocational course for would-be barristers and 바카라사이트 legal practice course for budding solicitors, should be revised to provide more common elements of study and adjust 바카라사이트 balance between 바카라사이트 teaching of skills, values and knowledge. It suggests a new master's programme in common professional legal studies taught at, or accredited by, universities.

This could be done through a one-year full-time course or a common vocational course lasting six to nine months, followed by a mixture of on-바카라사이트-job and off-바카라사이트-job training.

O바카라사이트r options include evolving common elements in 바카라사이트 two courses; a top-up course during 바카라사이트 training contract or pupillage stage; a four-year law degree covering material in 바카라사이트 courses; or a three-year route incorporating academic and office training.

The paper also stresses 바카라사이트 need for as many satisfactory exit points from legal training as possible, to help students find 바카라사이트ir way around 바카라사이트 current bottleneck in training opportunities. It also calls for a better student financial support system in legal training, through loans, scholarships, a training levy or partnership funding between local authorities, institutions and law firms, to avoid access to 바카라사이트 profession reverting to its "traditional unrepresentative nature".

The committee has asked for responses to its proposals, which are part of a wider review of legal education and training, by September 30.