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The NLJ Column

18 October 2007
Issue: 7293 / Categories: Opinion , Legal News
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Education, not more legislation, will help the public understand
—and respect—the law

Much lip service is paid to egalitarian access to legal education. The dean of the law faculty of the University of Oxford recently announced to graduate students at the start of their term that they may well be studying in lectures cheek by jowl with the general public, who would be able to walk in off the streets and be educated by Oxford’s finest minds. At first blush, one could be forgiven for thinking that the City of Oxford was on the threshold of becoming one of the most legally knowledgeable populations in the UK.

But, like all statements of intent, when it comes to legally educating the public there is less to this than meets the eye. On closer consideration of the university’s lecture admissions policy (available on its website and printed lecture sheets), a “lecture permit” must be obtained by the general public at least three working days in advance of their proposed attendance.

learning lessons

It is not acceptable, in a society

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Muckle LLP—Rachael Chapman

Muckle LLP—Rachael Chapman

Sports, education and charities practice welcomes senior associate

Ellisons—Carla Jones

Ellisons—Carla Jones

Partner and head of commercial litigation joins in Chelmsford

Freeths—Louise Mahon

Freeths—Louise Mahon

Firm strengthens Glasgow corporate practice with partner hire

NEWS
One in five in-house lawyers suffer ‘high’ or ‘severe’ work-related stress, according to a report by global legal body, the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC)
The Legal Ombudsman’s (LeO’s) plea for a budget increase has been rejected by the Law Society and accepted only ‘with reluctance’ by conveyancers
Overcrowded prisons, mental health hospitals and immigration centres are failing to meet international and domestic human rights standards, the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) has warned
Two speedier and more streamlined qualification routes have been launched for probate and conveyancing professionals
Workplace stress was a contributing factor in almost one in eight cases before the employment tribunal last year, indicating its endemic grip on the UK workplace
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