Practical work experience has to be central to legal learning

The SRA's second consultation on its proposed Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) closed this week. It is good to see that work-based learning makes up a core element of the proposed new approach to qualification.

At Bournemouth University we have always valued both academic legal knowledge and the ability to develop and apply legal skills. We are one of only 26 providers of all three courses accredited by the SRA (ie, LLB, GDL/CPE and LPC) and our undergraduate law degree, from its inception 25 years ago, has always included a compulsory one-year placement.

The process for securing the placement is competitive, but students are fully supported by the placement office and several thousand placement posts are advertised each year on the university intranet. Most of the placements secured by law students are with regional law firms, but there are opportunities nationally and with government authorities, industry and charities. Support during the placement includes a visit and continuing contact with the university and the completion of a log book of activities.

Our law degree is designed to enable all students to complete the foundation subjects and key legal skills training before starting their placement. Students gain many benefits from the year’s work experience including a maturity and experience for their final important year of study and enhancing their CV. Many students are offered further periods of work experience or training contracts by the provider. A placement with a law firm can also count for up to six months of the training contract. I know from speaking to my students how valuable they find our approach - for many it was a big factor in attracting them to our course in the first place.

So we are pleased to see that the SRA responded to feedback from its first consultation by committing to a period of work-based learning in a law firm or under the supervision of a solicitor, as well as an openness to a variety of work-based learning routes.

Like all universities, if the SQE goes ahead we will have to review our law degree and make sure placements help students prepare for SQE stages one and two. Yet at Bournemouth, as we already put such a strong emphasis on the importance of work-based learning in our courses, we are confident that we can adapt and continue to focus on delivering the best results for our students, providing excellent preparation for legal practice.

Of course, that all depends on whether the SRA decides to go ahead. We will watch developments with interest.

Dr Sally Weston is the senior principal academic in the department of law at Bournemouth University Law School.To find out more about Bournemouth's courses and how our students benefit from their placement opportunities, go online at Law at BU.