The need to promote social mobility and the likely demands of clients in 2010 will form part of a major review of legal education and training.
The need to promote social mobility and the likely demands of clients in 2010 will form part of a major review of legal education and training.
It is a joint initiative by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and the Institute of Legal Executives & ILEX Professional Standards (IPS).
An external research team will be appointed by the three regulators in February.
The review will examine the academic achievements required by prospective lawyers and their regulatory function; the requirement for education post-qualification, such as CPD, accreditation and quality assurance schemes; and the requirements placed on those delivering education.
It will look at: how the implementation of the Legal Services Act 2007 might affect legal education and training; whether the training of paralegals should be formally regulated; and the issue of career development and mobility between the different branches of the legal profession.
More specifically, it will ask what the contribution of legal education and training should be in delivering the requlatory objectives of the Legal Services Act 2007, taking account of:
The demands on legal services by 2020 in light of changing client demand, technological change and other factors.
The effect the shape of legal services may have upon the skills required of lawyers.
The need for high quality, competitive legal services and education and training providers and high ethical standards.
The need to promote social mobility and diversity.
Forthcoming changes to the education sector and how these may affect legal education and training.
SRA chief executive, Antony Townsend says: “Ensuring that solicitors and others delivering legal services are properly educated and trained is just as important as making sure that firms and individuals conduct their businesses properly.
“The two areas of regulatory work are complementary and inter-dependant. Much of the recent focus of regulatory activity has been on reforming the structures for regulating legal businesses.
“This review will ensure that serious thought, based on thorough research and comprehensive consultation with all interested parties, is now given to education and training. [It] is bound to produce a more holistic and informed outcome that takes account of the needs of clients and the perspectives of all regulated lawyers.”
