LETR: Graduates are not being prepared to find jobs, Law Soc warns

Universities and law schools must provide more and better information to aspiring lawyers before charging expensive course fees, the Law Society has insisted in response to the findings of the Legal Education and Training Review (LETR). 

The majority of the LETR's recommendations were welcomed by Law Society Chief Executive Desmond Hudson, but he also argued that the job market has been overcrowded by graduates who lack essential employability skills and who have not been sufficiently informed about the tough competition for training contracts and pupillages.

Hudson also echoed concerns raised by the LETR about the need to make sure that the profession does not become more socially exclusive, and pointed out that additional pathways to improve accessibility to the profession, such as legal apprenticeships, can be implemented without lowering standards.

In a statement, Hudson said: "The [LETR] contains a substantial number of detailed proposals, most of which are commendable and deserve the support of the profession. However a number of strategic themes deserve further debate and consideration. Educational establishments which are privileged to deliver qualifying law degrees are leaving quality assurance to the profession. The feedback we are getting from law firms shows that graduates are lacking the skills expected of them when they commence employment."

"Changes in society and, in particular, the costs of third level education mean that it is ever more important that the profession reflects the society from which it is drawn and serves, whilst at the same time ensuring the maintenance of high standards. Additional pathways to qualification need not pose a risk to standards."