The Law Society of Ireland has launched the Peart Commission Report, developed by an expert group chaired by Mr Justice Michael Peart of the Court of Appeal. The report contains 30 recommendations setting out a vision for the future of solicitor training in Ireland.

Access, innovation, streamlining

The Commission’s recommendations fall under three main themes.

1. Increasing access to the profession:
• More funding will be made available for the Law Society’s Access programme. This programme pays fees and maintenance for students from a background of socio-economic disadvantage. Almost 100 solicitors have qualified through this programme and the Law Society is committed to making more places on it available to students.
• A part-time training course will also be provided for those wishing to qualify as solicitors in the future. This will enable people working full-time or who have childcare or other commitments to train as a solicitor
2. Innovation in education:
• The Law Society’s current successful use of digital educational technology will be further developed. Modern skills, abilities and learning dispositions for success – “skills for 2020 and beyond” – will be integrated into the training course.
• A new Centre for Teaching, Development and Innovation will be created, bringing together learning and development, technology, psychological services and innovation for trainee solicitors
3. Streamlining the established training model:
• The current two-part “sandwich course”, known as PPC I and PPC II, will be changed into a more streamlined, single course.

For more information, download the Peart Commission Report.