Law Society-arranged Twitter hashtag conversation spawns depressing assessment of the future of legal aid and public law work
As social media campaigns go, the Law Society’s recently launched #SolicitorHour — which was first aired about a week ago — has seemed a bit vague. Much of the conversation included little more than an opportunity for law firms to market themselves or for recruitment agencies to promote their jobs.
But today Legal Cheek managed to stir a bit of debate about the future of the profession for law students, particularly those that — from some bizarre yearning to do good — are still interested in legal aid and public law work.
His Hon, the Rt Hon, Lord Justice Sir John Hack of Hackshire QC (apologies again to Lord Harley of Counsel) asked the assembled Twitter lawyers this question:
#SolicitorHour Would you advise your A-level-aged children to consider a career at publicly-funded end of legal profession?
— Judge John Hack (@JudgeJohnHack) September 16, 2014
Here are the downbeat responses from those at the coal face
Lee Davies is adamant
@JudgeJohnHack no way.
— Lee Davies (@LJD1977) September 16, 2014
And so is Dan Bunting:
Not a chance
@JudgeJohnHack @legalcheek
— Dan Bunting (@danbunting) September 16, 2014
Indeed, Debbos goes a step farther:
@JudgeJohnHack NO I WOULD ADVISE THEM NOT TO ENTER THE PROFESSION AT ALL!
— Debbos (@Debbos) September 16, 2014
Lisa Burton-Durham qualifies her negative response slightly:
@JudgeJohnHack sadly not although of course it depends on their reasons for wanting a legal career
— Lisa Burton-Durham (@LBDLegal) September 16, 2014
Tim Collins has a go at being a tiny bit sunnier:
@JudgeJohnHack all depends on their #motivation & #dreams but really tough to get #trainingcontract or #pupillage & economically v tough?
— Tim Collins (@wowthankyoutim) September 16, 2014
While Alexander Armstrong is completely fatalistic, and also applies a dose of market-led analysis:
@JudgeJohnHack @legalcheek if that's what they want to do, they are aware of the struggles and enter the profession eyes open then yes!
— Alexander Armstrong (@A_J_Armstrong_) September 16, 2014
The Judge also asked the cyberspace legal masses if they thought there was a future for traditional high street legal practice.
#SolicitorHour Calling high street law firms — is there a future for traditional general practice?
— Judge John Hack (@JudgeJohnHack) September 16, 2014
That elicited slightly more positive responses.
The Law Society’s #SolicitorHour is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1pm.
Further Reading:
Top junior lawyer calls on Law Society to fight for return of trainee minimum salaries [Legal Cheek]