Law Soc rules out training cap

THE LAW Society has ruled against a cap on training places despite the glut of law students without jobs.

But the matter will be kept under review due to continuing concern about the mis-match between course places and training contracts.

The society's training committee voted by a narrow majority against a cap which it describes as a "blunt instrument". Roger Jones, committee chair, last week told the society's council that many factors affected the number of article places and it was hard to predict demand.

A cap on the number of students on training courses could frustrate course development, he said.

It was also unclear whether the society had the powers under the Solicitors Act to prescribe numbers as well as set standards, he added.

Jones said the training committee preferred not to intervene in the market but would ensure students knew the full picture. "Everyone should take an realistic view of employment prospects in the profession," he said.

Co-operation from teaching colleges was needed if the society was to avoid limiting places. If applications for extra places were speculative attempts by institutions to increase market share, the current position would be hard to sustain, Jones said.