Training body to stamp out elitism

A group aiming to help university legal practice course (LPC) providers combat 'elitism' at other institutions was launched last week.The University Providers Association (UPA) has so far recruited nine members, with the aim of raising awareness of what university LPC providers are doing and giving them a collective voice.

UPA chairwoman Judith Willis - an LPC lecturer at London Guildhall University and former chairwoman of the Association of Women Solicitors - said: 'We are in some ways a response to allegations of elitism in LPC training.

We know that a full, high standard of LPC education can be gained at our members too, and we now want to work together to ensure these standards continue.' The UPA will be holding its second meeting in August to consider practical ways of taking its aims forward, and expects more university providers to be represented, Ms Willis added.Meanwhile, De Montfort University has announced plans to shift its LPC provision at Bristol University to the University of West England (UWE).

John Thurston, head of the department of professional legal studies at De Montfort, said it had made the decision as the university had struggled to recruit for the LPC since the beginning.

UWE will gain 100 full-time LPC vacancies on top of its existing 300.Paula Rohan