Keep your eyes open

Coming soon are two major, much-awaited launches that should be on your radar as an aspiring lawyer; the report of the LETR and the unveiling of the new 'Pupillage Gateway' application system for pupillages.

The LETR is the Legal Education and Training Review, an overarching review of the ways that legal education is delivered and how this affects access to the profession. It was jointly commissioned by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and ILEX Professional Standards (IPS), and could have a profound impact on the ways that people become lawyers. You can read some background on the LETR website and it’s worth reading around the press to get a feel for its possible recommendations. The initial findings were promised in December last year, but on 11 January 2013, the research team announced that we’d be waiting a bit longer. However, when the findings are released there may be a storm!

The other launch is of the Pupillage Gateway, the replacement for the Pupillage Portal system. Both were designed to allow candidates to apply to multiple chambers via a standard platform. One hopes that the new version will represent an improvement on its unmissed predecessor. Again, the launch date seems to be tight (and any delay may have a direct impact on what the deadline for applications will be) but you should be able to submit as of 1 April. The interim site can be seen at here, with any enquiries to be directed to Paras Junejo at the Bar Council on 020 7611 1430 or [email protected].