I am responding to the letter by Sally Gill regarding the new training review proposals (see [2005] Gazette, 10 March, 15) .

I completed the legal practice course (LPC) last summer and do not have the benefit of a training contract yet, as is the case for many of my friends. In my opinion, this proposed new system could be a positive move in reducing the number of LPC-qualified people desperately trying to get legal jobs and help to filter the intake better.


As the situation stands at the moment, law schools are encouraging students to go on to do the LPC and pay thousands of pounds for the privilege, on the false pretence that there are the law jobs to go into afterwards. This is not the case. In my year, even the student who achieved a distinction level - the highest mark in the year and the Law Society prize - does not have a training contract, and not for the want of trying, while those with lesser qualifications but legal connections and public school educations have found jobs.


While Ms Gill states the LPC has helped more from the working-class enter into law, I do not think it has changed the situation to such a degree that the review proposals will be such a backward step. As it is, the system is churning out thousands of hopefuls but only the lucky few are actually getting there.




C Travers, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire