Law lecturer proposes LLB study levy to fund poorer students
A £500 means-tested annual levy on LLB students to help support those less well off has been suggested by a law lecturer.
In a submission to the Scottish Parliament's Justice Committee, which is conducting an inquiry into professional legal education, Elizabeth Comerford, director of the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice at the University of Dundee, says that despite a number of initiatives to widen access to the legal profession, a gap remains for students on the Diploma between the fees loan of £5,000 and the actual cost of £7,500-8,000. "For some students plugging this gap can be an issue", and she estimates that only around 25% of students have already secured a training place when they begin their Diploma course.
Ms Comerford concludes: "I wonder if it would be beneficial for the Scottish Government to consider making a small charge of approximately £500 per law student per year of study on a means tested basis towards LLB (undergraduate) fees to support those prospective students who wish to undertake study but are deterred by cost."
She commends the Law Society of Scotland's Lawscot Foundation, but notes that this year it could only support eight out of about 60 applicants for awards.
She adds: "Based on my experience, many DPLP students undertake part time work during their period of study in what is a very demanding programme. Contact hours in semester one at the University of Dundee are typically around 23 hours per week. Some students work part time of hours up to 22 per week. At Dundee we restrict teaching days within the DPLP at three set days to facilitate part time work, in recognition that this is essential for many students in meeting the cost of living."
The Scottish Government has said it has no plans to bring in the type of charge proposed.
In another submission, Tim Haddow, advocate renews his argument for an integrated approach to the Diploma and traineeship, with legal firms recruiting students directly from the LLB and then undertaking a combined traineeship along with professional education. "This reform would eliminate the structure barrier posed by the separate DPLP", he states. "Those firms which support their prospective trainees‟ costs could continue to do so by assisting with fees. Where trainees were required to contribute to their own training costs, they would at least have an income from which to do so."
He notes that a similar model is used for qualification into accountancy. His previous proposal for a pilot scheme on these lines was not taken forward by the Law Society of Scotland, due, he claims, to the Society's Education & Training Committee "taking an overly risk-averse approach".
The Society's own submission states, however: "The data we have seen suggests that, despite many assumptions to the contrary, those from the lowest income backgrounds are just as likely to start the DPLP as those from more advantaged backgrounds. We do not have any evidence – other than anecdotal – to support the assertion that people from such backgrounds are less likely to gain traineeships than their more advantaged peers."