Legal advice sought as City LPC raises fears of 'elitism and discrimination'

CONSORTIUM BID: Law Society's legal practice course board concerned over move by top firms

The Law Society's legal practice course (LPC) board is taking legal advice after raising concerns about the City LPC proposed by eight top firms.Sources said the board decided to get legal advice on the consortium bid at a meeting last week.

It is concerned about charges of elitism and discrimination, and has informed the eight firms involved.A source close to the consortium said the discussions are now in 'crisis'.

Critics of the move include the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Woolf, who slated the move earlier this year for being elitist.

The law firms selected three course providers to work with last year, saying they were dissatisfied with the standard of training they are paying for.Nottingham Law School, BPP in London and the Oxford Institute have applied for Law Society accreditation for the proposed course, which is being developed with Slaughter and May, Freshfields,Linklaters, Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, Herbert Smith, Norton Rose and Lovells.

Ex-Clifford Chancepartner and former Law Society president Michael Mathews chairs the LPC board.The course is scheduled to start next September.

Assessment dates have been set for January and the providers can start offering places to students in February.

The eight firms have reserved a set number of places at the institutions for their trainees.

The remaining places will be left open for other students.The consortium's spokeswoman refused to comment.A Law Society spokeswoman said she could not comment at the moment: 'We are in a regulatory relationship with course providers that is confidential.'Meanwhile, the College of Law - which was snubbed by the consortium - has had its new approach to the LPC approved by the board.

The validation panel described it as 'radical and innovative'.Key features include: a choice of a corporate or general commercial pathway in business law and practice; a focus on delivering the LPC 'in context'; and a greater focus on black letter law.LINKS www.lawcol.org.ukAnne Mizzi