Forget the BVC, says Alec Samuels, lawyers should qualify as solicitors first
Sam Skinner’s recent article on the alleged inadequacy of the Bar Vocational Course (BVC) and the need for urgent reform was indeed challenging (see NLJ, 12 October 2007, p 1420). However, there are even more radical options to be considered than he suggests.
What are the skills, the special skills, of the barrister? Surely he is essentially a specialist, a consultant. Most legal work is done by solicitors and their staff, they are the GPs of the profession. They can do, and indeed do do, every aspect of legal work, including advocacy, except advocacy in the higher courts, and even this is now open to experienced solicitors, albeit so far a fairly small number.
If the need is for a really good lawyer, a really good specialist in any given branch of the law, and particularly a really good advocate in a heavy, big, difficult or important case in the higher courts, then the barrister is indicated, ie a well qualified and experienced and able person. The 22–23-year-old, straight from university and
