On applying for a place at the College of Law at Chancery lane in 1991, I was one of around 5,000 or so prospective entrants to the profession. It is probably fair to say that around half of those who commenced the course eventually found their way into a training contract and, from there, went on to qualify as solicitors.

At the time there were around 60,000 practising solicitors in England and Wales. On a simple calculation, this would have required the profession to be completely refreshed every 24 years or so, or for there to be a substantial increase in work for the number of trainees to be absorbed into the profession.


With the opening of new locations when the legal practice course first came on track, I suspect the 'refresh rate' for the profession is now much less than 24 years.


This raises two questions:


what is the maximum number of solicitors our economy will profitably support, and what percentage of trainees could hope to receive a training contract?


It may be that a reform of training per se is required, but the number of places offered within that training should also be addressed.


Derek Griffiths, solicitor, Rotherham Borough Council