News / General

In the current edition of the Society’s Gazette we introduce a detailed exposition of the Society's treatment of the new education and training regime prescribed by the Law Society. In order to establish our own Society’s ancient primacy in matters of education and training and also to show that the new dawn in education and training is always with us, we have retrieved from our edition of June 1937 the following intelligence.

From the Scottish Law Gazette, June 1937, volume 5 number 2

Admission of Solicitors

The New Regulations

The  new Regulations, which come into force on 1st January, 1938, introduce nothing less than a new standard of education for apprentices. In the first place, the old General Knowledge examination is abolished and an entrance certificate is granted, if the applicant holds qualifications (including a pass in Latin on at the least the lower standard) which would be accepted by the Scottish Universities Entrance Board as entitling the candidate to enter on a graduation course in the Faculty of Law of a Scottish University.

....... The First Professional Examination is divided into two parts, which may be taken separately or together, and if separately, in any order, at any time after entering into indenture. Part 1. consists of Bookkeeping, Trust Accounts, etc., together with the elements of the Theory and Practice of Income Tax Law; and Part II. of Constitutional Law, covering (a) National Government (including Parliament, the Cabinet, the Crown, Executive Government Departments and the Judiciary); (b) Local Government; and (c) Freedom of the Person, of Public Meetings and Speech. The Second Professional Examination includes (1) The Outlines of Roman Law; and (2) Elementary Jurisprudence, covering (a) The Nature and Sources of Law; (b) Rights, Persons and Things; (c) Possession and Ownership; (d) Liability for Acts or Omissions; (E) Obligations and Contracts; and (f) Evidence. The Third Professional Examination corresponds to the present First and Second Examinations in Law.

..... The general result will be to make the course slightly more difficult and slightly more expensive; but on the other hand apprentices will learn at an early date whether they have wisely selected their vocation. Taken as a three years course of study, it would appear to be within the scope of any apprentice of average intelligence with an aptitude for the study of law.