The whole
process of educating lawyers of the future is currently under review. This
process is known as the Legal Education and Training Review or LETR in
this age of the acronym! As part of that process there was a conference in Manchester, last week, at
which a Canadian Academic described the profession here as frumpy and of failing
to reform itself in a modern society.
According to one definition, ‘frumpy’ describes ‘a person regarded as colourless and primly sedate.’ Now most lawyers I
know are neither colourless nor primly sedate. If you don’t believe me come to
the Liverpool Law Society Dinner in November! I have said here on numerous
occasions that lawyers need to modernize their way of working and that many are
in danger of being left behind.
But I have to disagree with Wesley Pue’s
comments in relation to legal education itself. He makes the bold statement
that lawyers are wrong to demand a Rolls Royce education when Tata Motors would
often suffice. I’m not sure whether that statement was intended to offend
lawyers or Tata Motors or both, but let’s not miss the point.
Is he saying that a lower standard of legal education is not
only acceptable but that it should be an aspiration?
This suggests a dumbing down of the profession which is certainly
not a good thing for society or for law students themselves. The learning of
law can occasionally appear be dry and unimaginative. But the best lawyers are
those who not only cram information but can adopt a creative approach to the
work. Society needs a strong legal profession to look after the rights of the
people and to hold authorities to account. This means that the study of law
requires the highest of standards.
The practice of law has changed beyond recognition over the
last 30 years and there is as much a need for good business grounding as there
is for pure legal knowledge. But that goes to the content not the quality of
the teaching. We really need both if we are avoid developing John Grisham type
characters –
“All students enter law school with a certain amount of
idealism and desire to serve the public, but after three years of brutal
competition we care for nothing but the right job with the right firm where we
can make partner in seven years and earn big bucks.” (Rainmaker).
This whole area does indeed need updating. But what should
not, ever, be compromised is quality. I would much rather hear of initiatives
that will make it easier for talented students from all areas of society to
qualify as lawyers without the spectre of huge debts and a derisory training
contract salary.
And if that makes me frumpy I'll wear the T Shirt with pride!!
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