Law graduates slam level of practical employment advice provided by universities
Universities are failing to provide law students with enough practical advice on finding employment, according to a survey of nearly 1,800 College of Law students.
Nearly nine out of 10 postgraduate law students say that, if they were starting university again, they would want their degree course to cover employability and professional skills rather than just academic knowledge. Forty per cent say they did not receive enough practical advice on employment.
Professor Nigel Savage, chief executive of the College of Law, says: “This mismatch between what students want and what they are actually getting should be a wake-up call for the traditional universities.”
Three-quarters of the students thought higher university tuition fees would deter those from less affluent backgrounds from applying to university. However, 65% said they would still have gone to university if fees had been at £9,000 per year. Nearly 60% would have considered doing a two-year degree, and two-thirds would have seriously considered an apprenticeship if one had been available.
In their first year, aspiring solicitors expect to earn, on average, £37,200 (compared with £38,200 last year) while barristers expect £33,300 (down from £34,100).
