Their debts are mounting to record levels, training prospects are uncertain and the legal profession itself is seen as socially elitist. Yet students are as determined as ever to pursue a legal career, according to this year’s College of Law-Times survey, published today.

The snapshot of nearly 2,400 student responses at the college over ten days last month finds a generation of would-be lawyers who are realistic about the hurdles to entering the profession. But they resent the cost of training and believe that it blocks access and moves towards diversity.

The survey, in its sixth year, looks at students’ career aspirations and views on debt, the recession and social mobility. Forty-six per cent have an LLB, 30 per cent a non-law degree. Other are switching or enhancing careers.

Not surprisingly in the economic climate, the cost of qualifying features strongly. Nearly half (43 per cent) expect to have debts of more than £20,000 when they start their training contracts or pupillages, up from 33 per cent last year. Their present average debt is £14,200, predicted to reach £17,700 compared with £15,300 last year.

But these large sums do not deter them from university study or from a career in the law. Faced with the prediction that student debt will soon average £23,000, 71 per cent say that they will still pursue a legal career — even if through the Institute of Legal Executives or the Open University.

The potential for future earnings is a big factor. Yet students’ expectations of early earnings have become more modest: for would-be solicitors they have dropped to £38,000 (£40,100 in 2008). Aspirant barristers, though, see a rosier future: their expected average earnings have risen slightly to £32,500 (£31,500 in 2008).

How are students funding themselves? Most (73 per cent) rely predominantly on parents or relatives, perhaps reflecting the middle-class background of the cohort, although 69 per cent also cite student loans. Two in three fund their studies through part-time work.

Eighty-eight per cent want to be solicitors and 10 per cent barristers (reflecting the proportions in the profession). Most aim to stay as lawyers, with two in three envisaging a lifelong law career and the rest seeing it as a job for up to 15 years or more.

Yet they are critical of the profession as socially exclusive — about 80 per cent say that it is somewhat or very socially exclusive. One says: “It’s for the rich and those with private school backgrounds. All others are held back by fees and having to work and spend less time studying.”

To increase diversity, they favour more internships, with access based on talent rather than “who you know”. They also back more flexible entry routes for career changers.

Referring to the recent Milburn report, Fair Access to the Professions, students suggest reducing and helping with costs to improve diversity. They also want a “fair, open and transparent recruitment process”, claiming that law firms and chambers still place too much influence on an applicant’s school or university and whether he or she has contacts in the law.

More than half are “very concerned” about their chances of getting a training contract, pupillage or in-house job. But 42 per cent say that they will not consider another career. Popular alternatives are the Civil Service (30 per cent) and teaching (24 per cent).

As in previous years, students are split about setting their sights on a large commercial firm or chambers, or on a medium-sized or regional one. Most favour the latter, closely followed by a big commercial practice; but equally a big commercial practice came top of the least liked workplace.

The embattled high street is not a target: only 13 per cent say that they want to work there — although this is more than the Government legal service or public sector (9 per cent).

Career aspirations are high. About 70 per cent of trainee solicitors aim to be partners (79 per cent of those who want a lifelong career as a solicitor). The Bench still has a big appeal: 70 per cent of would-be barristers say that becoming a judge is their ultimate career goal (76 per cent of those who want a lifelong career at the Bar).

On wider topics, students are split on whether the recession is easing (53 per cent are uncertain, while 43 per cent think that there is light at the end of the tunnel). They are sceptical about this year’s record GCSE and A-level results; half say that they result from school pupils being coached for the exams.

Top of the list of cases that most aroused their interest is Debbie Purdy’s victory on assisted suicide, followed by Baby P (students say that they are interested in the failings of social services). They also cited the release of Abdul Baset Ali al-Megrahi, the man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing.

Overall, the students are a serious bunch. They frown on binge drinking, with more than half saying that it adversely affects their future careers — presumably because their marks suffer. They prefer to spend time off having a meal out with friends. Their favourite books are The Twilight Saga, A Thousand Splendid Suns and The Kite Runner. Slumdog Millionaire and Inglourious Basterds are their top films.

It also seems that they are socialising less: two thirds say that social networking sites mean that students spend more time with their computers than each other. Which, if nothing else, may improve their exam marks — though perhaps not their career prospects.

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