GLOBAL STUDYGF May endorses the view of Professor Nigel Savage that legal practice course students should be able to use the title solicitor upon graduation, and he goes on to suggest that this would put us in line with continental and overseas jurisdictions (see [2001] Gazette, 6 December, 16).Most continental law students and indeed those from the US will spend a minimum of six years in study.

Our students will only have four years under their belts.

In our jurisdiction, we have placed emphasis on the value of practical experience in a structured training environment prior to qualification.Our two-year training contract has brought our qualification time in line with the US and Europe.

To suggest that our solicitor qualification will be taken seriously after only four years' study without a period of practical training is misguided.Prof Savage takes a slightly different line.

He would have solicitors (non-practising) becoming solicitors (practising) after two years' practical training, a period which may or may not be called a training contract.

It is difficult to see how the value of the term solicitor could be maintained if firms are comprised of practising and non- practising solicitors doing the same work.Having said that, the international dimension of this debate needs examination.

An internationally recognised English legal qualification, for example one gained after the LPC, may be attractive both to international law firms and the Law Society.

The Society is at present revisiting the area of qualification of foreign lawyers both from regulated and unregulated jurisdictions and this debate is relevant to that.Andrew Holroyd, chairman, the Law Society's training committee