Law Society Cautions Against Career in Law
The Lawyer.com reported recently (click here for the full article) on the U.K. Law Society’s information campaign targeting law students, warning them off a potential career in the law. According to the article the campaign will target university and secondary school students, and contain information about the cost of legal training as well as the shrinking number of training contracts of offer. The article quotes a Law Society spokesperson as saying:
“We’re not telling people not to be a solicitor, but we are warning them about the risks and cost implications attached.”
On the one hand I applaud the sense of realism demonstrated by the Law Society and the recognition that without putting too fine a point on it, in a legal profession impacted by the forces of globalization and commoditization, there is simply not going to be the need for quite so many lawyers. However, perhaps the Law Society, and here in the U.S., the ABA, would be equally well served in liaising with academic institutions, which are in my opinion, still in large devoid of law school curriculum tailored to meet the requirements of a modern day, fast changing, and global legal environment.
I wrote almost a year ago, in my article Lawyer, Rainmaker, Candlestick Maker:
I believe firmly that there is insufficient emphasis placed on the development of rainmaking skills within the law degree………..Universities must take an increased level of responsibility in helping mould young attorneys so that they are capable of hitting the ground running on day one with an understanding of the requisite qualities necessary to succeed in the business that is law.
The J.D. adopts the Case (a method of studying landmark cases) and Socratic methods (a method of examining students on the reasoning of the court in the cases studied) as its didactic approach. I am not advocating for one moment the removal of this structured form of tuition, however I question whether it alone, ……… is sufficient adequately to prepare young lawyers for the real world. It is all well and good being able to regurgitate case law and to construct a written legal argument, but there are people all around the world who can also do this at a much lower cost and to whom we are now easily connected.
Insufficient time is spent on practical client interviews, networking skills, understanding the business of running a law firm, communication and negotiation techniques. Yes, all newly qualified attorneys are aware of the billing requirements soon to be incumbent upon them, but do they understand why these requirements exist? Are any law students able to learn about alternative billing structures, the history of the hourly rate, fixed fees, fee-capping arrangements and how billing accurately and clearly for the provision of legal services can actually be utilized as a marketing tool in attracting clients? Do any Law courses require their students to prove their mettle within a networking situation? Would it be impossible to replicate a networking event or to send students to such events with a variety of goals to be achieved?
While many of the skills highlighted above are in fact honed over time, that does not diminish their ever-increasing importance and the role that these skills can play in guiding young lawyers’ careers to the top of the ladder. By decreasing the focus on antiquated teaching methods, and improving law students’ understanding of the role that technology plays in the practice of law and the delivery of legal services, universities, Law Societies and Bar associations will greatly enhance law graduates’ long term chances of success.
“We’re not telling people not to be a solicitor, but we are warning them about the risks and cost implications attached.”
On the one hand I applaud the sense of realism demonstrated by the Law Society and the recognition that without putting too fine a point on it, in a legal profession impacted by the forces of globalization and commoditization, there is simply not going to be the need for quite so many lawyers. However, perhaps the Law Society, and here in the U.S., the ABA, would be equally well served in liaising with academic institutions, which are in my opinion, still in large devoid of law school curriculum tailored to meet the requirements of a modern day, fast changing, and global legal environment.
I wrote almost a year ago, in my article Lawyer, Rainmaker, Candlestick Maker:
I believe firmly that there is insufficient emphasis placed on the development of rainmaking skills within the law degree………..Universities must take an increased level of responsibility in helping mould young attorneys so that they are capable of hitting the ground running on day one with an understanding of the requisite qualities necessary to succeed in the business that is law.
The J.D. adopts the Case (a method of studying landmark cases) and Socratic methods (a method of examining students on the reasoning of the court in the cases studied) as its didactic approach. I am not advocating for one moment the removal of this structured form of tuition, however I question whether it alone, ……… is sufficient adequately to prepare young lawyers for the real world. It is all well and good being able to regurgitate case law and to construct a written legal argument, but there are people all around the world who can also do this at a much lower cost and to whom we are now easily connected.
Insufficient time is spent on practical client interviews, networking skills, understanding the business of running a law firm, communication and negotiation techniques. Yes, all newly qualified attorneys are aware of the billing requirements soon to be incumbent upon them, but do they understand why these requirements exist? Are any law students able to learn about alternative billing structures, the history of the hourly rate, fixed fees, fee-capping arrangements and how billing accurately and clearly for the provision of legal services can actually be utilized as a marketing tool in attracting clients? Do any Law courses require their students to prove their mettle within a networking situation? Would it be impossible to replicate a networking event or to send students to such events with a variety of goals to be achieved?
While many of the skills highlighted above are in fact honed over time, that does not diminish their ever-increasing importance and the role that these skills can play in guiding young lawyers’ careers to the top of the ladder. By decreasing the focus on antiquated teaching methods, and improving law students’ understanding of the role that technology plays in the practice of law and the delivery of legal services, universities, Law Societies and Bar associations will greatly enhance law graduates’ long term chances of success.
posted by Mark Ross at
4:43 PM
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