The price of raising fees

Fee hikes could force even more future solicitors into training at big commercial law firms

Modern higher education is expensive.

And the state - even with Labour at the tiller - is ever more disinclined to help students with the bills.This week's Gazette survey into the rising levels of legal practice course fees shows the obstacles students - especially those from less advantaged backgrounds - face to becoming lawyers.Fee rises of up to 11% - well above inflation - can only add to a perception of the law as being open only to the middle classes and above.For several years the Law Society's cohort study has shown law students labouring under heavy debt.

LPC fee hikes could force even more future solicitors towards training contracts at large commercial firms.Many large firms pay LPC fees, a living allowance and salaries well above the minimum required for the training contract.

But these fee rises could exacerbate the recruitment crisis at legal aid and other high street practices.Not all students can train at major commercial practices.

Social exclusion in education could deny access to justice, with fewer young people prepared to train and practise in deprived areas.