February 2022
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This conference looked at the next steps for legal education and training, and priorities for facilitating ongoing competence in the legal profession in light of changes to the pathways for qualifying as a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales.
It was a timely opportunity to consider initial experiences with the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), which has been rolled out as the new standardised assessment for qualifying as a solicitor.
There was also discussion on the new pathways for qualifying as a barrister, one year after their rollout, and the phasing out of the BTEC - as well as what more needs to be done to deliver high-quality legal education for barristers and provide clarity for prospective students on their options.
Further sessions looked at wider issues in the legal sector, including:
- widening access to the profession - including enhance diversity, and the role of apprenticeships
- responsiveness - positioning the system to respond to emerging trends such as the increasing role of technology
- the role of sector regulators - ensuring the ongoing competence of legal professionals, and that the sector meets consumer expectations and consumer protection requirements
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote contributions from: Julie Brannan, Director of Education and Training, Solicitors Regulation Authority; Mark Fenhalls QC, Chair of the Bar of England and Wales Chris Nichols, Director of Regulation and Policy, Legal Services Board; and Mark Neale, Director General, Bar Standards Board.
The chairs for the conference were: Alex Chalk QC MP, Solicitor General for England and Wales; and Lord Low of Dalston.
The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from the MoJ, CPS; GLD; BEIS; the DCMS; the DfE; HMRC; HM Treasury; and the Home Office.
