LEARNING CURVE

Professor Nigel Savage's recent comment article (see [2001] Gazette, 8 November, 14) struck a chord with me in the light of integration work which I have been doing in connection with Linklaters' mergers with continental law firms.In his article, Prof Savage questioned the appropriateness of the current legal education and training system to prepare would-be solicitors for a career in the international arena.

He argues for a separation of the academic stage of qualification and the entitlement to practise.

The introduction of a City legal practice course (LPC) reflects some of the concern at large City law firms that increasingly have to meet the demands of the international market, but in many ways it represents only a tinkering with the existing LPC.What is now required at the academic stage of professional qualification is a significant upgrade of the depth of legal knowledge required, coupled with the imbuing of a far deeper understanding of the world of business.

Entitlement to practise would recognise the nature of the practice of individual firms and be regulated on a more flexible basis than the training contract allows.

An interesting statistic in this connection is that some 80% of our trainees acquire part of their practical training in an office outside the UK.Contrast our system with some of those in continental Europe, where once the academic stage of legal training is completed young lawyers practise law straight away as associates under the supervision and direction of partners.

The concept of a 'trainee' in the English sense does not exist, though local bars still regulate entry into the profession.

So the Law Society should be encouraged to consider seizing the opportunity to create, in Prof Savage's words, a 'global foundation qualification', which is decoupled from the required experience to practise, thereby recognising that today a solicitor may work in an enormous range of practices.G F May, director of human resources, Linklaters &Alliance