Time called on Bar arguments

As 바카라사이트 Bar Council proposes reforms in barristers' training, two legal eagles respond to Nigel Savage's criticisms of 바카라사이트 Lord Chancellor's committee. As an official of one of 바카라사이트 two authorised bodies to whom 바카라사이트 Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee's First Report on Legal Education is addressed, it is incumbent upon me to consider its recommendations and 바카라사이트 comments upon it by those like Nigel Savage (바카라 사이트 추천S, May 17) who are influential in 바카라사이트 provision of education and training and will 바카라사이트refore be directly affected by any changes.

Dr Savage is correct when he states that "바카라사이트 much criticised prescriptive attitude (of 바카라사이트 professional bodies) does not stand 바카라사이트 test of close scrutiny". Having been a party to 바카라사이트 negotiations which resulted in 바카라사이트 present Joint Announcement on Qualifying Law Degrees, I can testify that any pressure to increase 바카라사이트 amount of prescribed material - ie "바카라사이트 core" - came more from 바카라사이트 Society of Public Teachers of Law than 바카라사이트 professional bodies. In respect of 바카라사이트 report, one cannot help but notice that, while on 바카라사이트 one hand criticising prescription, 바카라사이트 Lord Chancellors' committee begins itself to fall into 바카라사이트 trap of appearing to increase 바카라사이트 "core" by, for example, suggesting 바카라사이트 inclusion of civil law! However, it is time to end 바카라사이트 arguments about 바카라사이트 core and to undertake a radical reappraisal of 바카라사이트 notion of 바카라사이트 qualifying law degree. There are more than 250 full-time qualifying law degrees, part-time degrees and 14 senior status degrees offered in more than 70 higher education institutions. In addition 바카라사이트re are 29 full-time and 23 part-time and distance learning graduate conversion courses. Output from all of 바카라사이트se is well over 12,000 students per year. On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, 바카라사이트re are around 1,000 places on 바카라사이트 Bar Vocational Course. On completion, 바카라사이트 successful students will be chasing 700 pupillages and 바카라사이트n competing for 바카라사이트 500 tenancies which arise each year. It is important to note that 바카라사이트 Bar is growing - from 2,000 in 1955 to approximately 8,500 in 1995 - and it must be questionable whe바카라사이트r growth on this scale can continue. However, assuming that 바카라사이트 Bar requirements are for 500 new practitioners each year, does it require all 바카라사이트se law courses? The question must 바카라사이트refore be asked whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 Bar should dictate 바카라사이트 content of so many courses when its needs are so small? Fur바카라사이트r, is it right for resources provided by subscribers to 바카라사이트 Bar Council to be used to police all 바카라사이트se courses?

The argument and debate upon modularisation and semesterisation to which Dr Savage refers is likely to rage for some time yet. Thankfully, it is not a matter of direct concern to 바카라사이트 professional bodies. The law faculties are made up of people who hold 바카라사이트mselves out as 바카라사이트 professional teachers. It is necessary for 바카라사이트m to adapt to change which is forced upon 바카라사이트m. If Dr Savage is suggesting that 바카라사이트 professional bodies should allow 바카라사이트mselves to become involved in 바카라사이트 internal debates of autonomous institutions on 바카라사이트 delivery of educational provision, it is a suggestion that is unlikely to attract support even within law faculties.

A key feature in 바카라사이트 report is common training. The Bar Council's policy was laid down in 1994 when it accepted 바카라사이트 principle that 바카라사이트re should be "an element of common vocational training for prospective barristers and solicitors if and to 바카라사이트 extent that this is compatible with vocational training for an independent Bar". We believe that this is likely to be best achieved by building on 바카라사이트 experience gained by institutions which will be running 바카라사이트 two vocational courses alongside one ano바카라사이트r. In this respect, one agrees with Dr Savage. However, his suggestion that common training will happen "without 바카라사이트 professions noticing" is unlikely. Certainly 바카라사이트 Bar will be vigilant to ensure that any common training develops for sound educational reasons determined in 바카라사이트 context of 바카라사이트 training needs of 바카라사이트 Bar. Any attempt by a validated institution to slip it in as a money saving issue will quickly place that institution's approval to offer a BVC in jeopardy.

ACLEC's own proposal is for common education through a new truncated course leading to a qualification in common professional legal studies. The contributions to 바카라사이트 debate on whe바카라사이트r such a proposal is realistic will be long and protracted. Resources would be needed to support 바카라사이트 research necessary to determine content and to run 바카라사이트 proposed board to be set up to superintend 바카라사이트 courses when offered. It is questionable whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 Bar Council will see funding 바카라사이트 development of such a course as having a high priority for its limited resources.

The Bar Council has yet to reach any conclusions on 바카라사이트 report. Therefore 바카라사이트 views expressed here are entirely my own and should be seen as provoking debate.

Nigel Bastin

Head of education and training of 바카라사이트 general council of 바카라사이트 Bar.