Scholarly input

I noted with interest the letter from Brenda Thain (see [2002] Gazette, 21 March, 19) with regard to the issue of where legal executives stand in the hierarchy of the legal profession.

It is understandable that legal executives crave recognition of their contribution to the law.

But in my experience several legal executives, although well organised in their work and the procedures of a particular area of law, do not fully understand the reasoning behind court/tribunal judgments and Acts.

Barristers and solicitors are, in my opinion, fully trained.

By that I mean they have graduated with either a law degree or a degree in any other discipline, following that with a CPE qualification.

When I came to study law at degree level, I did not know the first thing about it.

The teaching and the discipline of having lists of books to read at university are what makes me a well-rounded solicitor able to advise a client should the advice contain areas of law that overlap.

The training on the legal practice course enables me to put into practice my knowledge and follow office/court procedures correctly.

I commend legal executives on their ability to assist senior solicitors/partners in their work, but they need to realise that the first two branches of the profession have been scholars of the law and therefore have a deeper understanding of it.

Corinne Dias, Copley Clark & Bennett, Sutton, Surrey