Woolf in LPC meeting

The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Woolf, has met privately with training representatives from leading City firms for a briefing on proposals to submit plans for an 'enhanced' legal practice course (LPC) in January.

The consortium - Slaughter and May, Linklaters, Freshfields, Clifford Chance, Allen & Overy, Herbert Smith, Norton Rose and Lovells - is likely to submit its long-awaited proposals to the Law Society in January, said an insider, adding that the consortium's purpose had been 'massively misunderstood'.

The Gazette understands that Slaughter and May partner Melvyn Hughes initiated the meeting following Lord Woolf's annual Upjohn lecture (see [2000] Gazette, 23 June, 4).

The senior judge expressed concern over the linking of eight leading firms and three course providers to launch an 'elite' course.

A source confirmed the meeting was instigated by the firms, who were 'miffed' at Lord Woolf's comments.

A consortium source said: 'It is difficult to defend the accusation that we are being secretive.

But if someone makes a misinformed statement it makes sense to sit down and to clarify.' The meeting was 'friendly' and 'constructive', said the consortium's spokeswoman, who declined to comment further.

Lord Woolf's spokesman said Lord Woolf has nothing to add to his earlier comments.

The Law Society is also in discussions with the firms.

President Michael Napier said this week: 'The signs are that we will not have two LPCs.

I am not in favour of different LPCs for different students.'

Anne Mizzi