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Much mention has been made of non-graduate entry to the solicitor's profession by means of a five year apprenticeship. Is that one of the proposals that have been put on the table by the SRA? Already on this forum there has been much discussion about the level of remuneration paid to trainee solicitors during their training contracts. In that some have suggested that rather than being remunerated, trainee solicitors should pay a premium for their 'on the job' training. Other than those with wealthy parental support, I doubt that there would be many people who could survive a five year apprenticeship on those terms. At least those who go to university can get a student loan to fund more than half of their total periond of pre-qualification training. Can anyone really see the Government extending that loan facility to those training 'on the job' during a five year apprenticeship? And should they do so, how could the Government deny the same to apprentice plumbers and other trade apprentices? I fear that in our modern society, the idea of re-introducing a five year apprenticeship, as a means of qualifying as a solicitor, would be a non-starter for all but the wealthiest - and they would probably go to university in any event!