Employability as important as academics, say law students

A whopping 86% of postgraduate law students believe that university law courses should prioritise employability training and professional skills development over academic prowess, a survey conducted by The College of Law and The Times newspaper has revealed. Though the survey shows that academic quality still remains important to students, it was accompanied by employability training and the teaching of professional skills as one of the three most important course elements identified by students.

The survey was completed by approximately1,800 postgraduates enrolled on the CoL's GDL, LPC and BPTC courses. The survey also asked about tuition fees, with 73% of respondents stating that they felt fee rises would deter potential lawyers from less privileged backgrounds enrolling in higher education. While 65% of students surveyed still claimed that they would not be deterred by £9,000 per year fees if they were due to enrol now, 67% believe that the coalition government has not handled its higher educational reforms well. Nearly two-thirds of those surveyed had seriously considered entering law through an apprenticeship, which enables studying for legal qualifications while working at a law firm.

Questions about student debts revealed that the average level of debt per student on leaving university has risen by approximately £800 in a year, and 37% of postgraduates' debts were £20,000 or over. However, 73% were optimistic of better times ahead, stating their belief that the UK economy would be on the way to recovery within five years.

Professor Nigel Savage, CoL chief executive, said: "The results of this year's survey reveal the weight that today's students place on the teaching of employability skills in higher education…40% say that their university did not provide enough practical advice to help them in their careers. This mismatch between what students want and what they are actually getting should be a real wake up call for the traditional universities."