But unfortunately, these changes are not even reflected in the upper levels of the legal system. It is absolutely essential that we have an open, independent and objective system for appointing people to senior positions in the legal profession. Will Law Society Council support the Law Society`s call to end the current system of secret polls and create a commission for the appointment of judges? Your Robert Sayer President, Law Society However, all wealthy and approachable parents know that these things do not always guarantee the success of their children. Despite all the resources, some children in these families show a penchant for ruining their careers and lives. You will see many law graduates with influential and illustrious family backgrounds who have left no trace and barely manage to survive in the profession. We see that times are certainly changing. Different organizations are making different efforts, but at a time when #metoo have given voice to silent women, perhaps the simplest instrument of change is the long-awaited arrival of a climate and forum where discussions on difficult issues take place. Describing the tool as simple does not mean that it was easy to implement, quite the contrary. Although he was hugely supported by the #metoo movement. As far as the legal market is concerned, such a forum has been stimulated by numerous articles and reports dealing specifically with law firms and the issue of inequality has been discussed. Those with elite backgrounds have easy access to law schools with very high fees and barriers to entry. You can pay the full fee and go abroad to get degrees from prestigious universities where others would need a scholarship. Their early-career jobs and legal education are often better than most others would get through their access and privileges.
It is easier for them to obtain cases when they become independent, thanks to a pre-existing, supportive and readily available referral network. On the road to revolution: legal education must change now. We need to find ways to make legal education more affordable and accessible. We need to offer a wealth of hands-on training so that students can start immediately if they want or need it. We need to find ways for candidates of all ages who have motivation, perseverance and raw talent to have the chance to succeed in law school. We need to increase the diversity pipeline not only in law school admission, but also after J.D.; How can talented minority and female lawyers be kept in practice a decade later? I am therefore in favour of a revolution in legal education. Just as voters wanted change, law schools need to change now. Elitism should have no place in our profession. Where you graduated from law school and your class ranking, assuming you were even accepted to law school, should not be the determining factors of your legal capacity.
Fortunately, some sections of the profession attract a good cross-section of our community: in the legal profession, for example, women accounted for more than half of new entrants last year and ethnic minorities more than 15%. We do not want the secret polling system to be reformed, we want it to be abolished. It discriminates against women and ethnic minorities – and anyone who does not have a conventional “establishment” background – from both branches of the profession. An advisory committee does not go far enough: we want a fully independent appointing body, composed of experts and lay people, to oversee the appointment system. Dear Robert, lawyers – lawyers and solicitors – are already doing a lot to keep their feet on the ground: the profession`s commitment to pro bono work is a prime example. Dear Jon, how can you claim that other professions and organizations have procedures similar to secret polls? This system does not exist for other public appointments, and rightly so. The confidentiality of references is a complete illusion: secret investigations are not a test of what you know, but of who you know. Indeed, the Attorney General has acknowledged that secret investigations are not a reasonable way to appoint the government`s chief legal advisers. The fitting comparison is between today`s judiciary and the professions of the time – and last year, a record number of women and ethnic minority QC were appointed.
These trends will be reflected in the justice system of tomorrow. Yours truly, Jon Jon, at the dawn of a new millennium, we cannot continue with outdated employment practices and a network of old boys.