Education, not more legislation, will help the public understand
—and respect—the law
Much lip service is paid to egalitarian access to legal education. The dean of the law faculty of the University of Oxford recently announced to graduate students at the start of their term that they may well be studying in lectures cheek by jowl with the general public, who would be able to walk in off the streets and be educated by Oxford’s finest minds. At first blush, one could be forgiven for thinking that the City of Oxford was on the threshold of becoming one of the most legally knowledgeable populations in the UK.
But, like all statements of intent, when it comes to legally educating the public there is less to this than meets the eye. On closer consideration of the university’s lecture admissions policy (available on its website and printed lecture sheets), a “lecture permit” must be obtained by the general public at least three working days in advance of their proposed attendance.
learning lessons
It is not acceptable, in a
