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Frankly the arrogance displayed in some of the first posts on this matter is astounding. The article does not suggest a dumbing down of the qualification and it will still be a requirement to complete an LLB or a GDL and then the LPC. Academically, the Paralegals affected are no less qualified than their counter parts with training contracts. Some trainees spend two years photocopying, making coffee and walking the Partner’s dog. That does not make you a better lawyer. The concept of a legal apprenticeship, either training contract or pupillage is still valid, but was conceived when society, and the problems it encountered and sought representation, were far less complex and allowed for general practitioners. In the world of global commerce we require our lawyers to be specialist. We need to ditch the traditional training contract which is simply outdated, and opt for a mechanism that provides for specialist training much earlier in a lawyer’s professional career. The days of general practitioners are gone. We need to diversify and specialise in order to remain relevant to the society we are meant to represent. Work based vocational training is a move in the right direction.