"Radical" suggestions in LETR discussion paper

The Legal Education and Training Review (LETR), launched in February 2011, has issued its first discussion paper. It outlines a variety of options that are being considered by the review panel, and says some of them may be considered "radical".

The paper indicates that while the panel is happy to receive comments on all aspects of the proposals, it is particularly seeking views or analysis on the extent to which:

• the overarching structure of LET is or is not 'fit for purpose';
• there is willingness to consider radical change in the LET system; and
• the objectives and assumptions of the Legal Services Act may be creating new problems for the regulation of LET.

Summarised by Legal Futures, some of the "more radical" changes that are being proposed include:

• abolishing the concept of a qualifying law degree;
• introducing national assessments at the point of entry to the profession;
• removing some of the distinctions between vocational courses and work-based learning (as applied to the training contract, pupillage and paralegal experiences); and
• replacing the pupillage/training contract with a more flexible period of ‘supervised practice’.

The LETR is accepting responses to the paper until 10 May 2012.