The Law Society’s consultation paper, which outlines a proposed new framework for work-based learning, was published in August. This paper, however, is a consultation about a consultation – a full consultation is planned for October, followed by a pilot project for September 2007. It is highly likely that much of the detail will change during this period, however it seems clear that some change in the process of qualifying to become a solicitor will be the result.
The proposal’s stated aims are to “introduce a more objective assessment of an individual’s readiness for admission as a solicitor” and to “pro-vide a route to qualification for LPC graduates who have not secured a training contract”. What it does not seek to do, in its present draft, is to abandon the concept of a structured period of training within a law firm.
