Lawyers traditionally thrive. But even the legal profession cannot escape the impact of this recession.

So law students should think hard before embarking on a long, costly training with no certainty of a job at the end of it, says the Law Society of England and Wales, the solicitors’ professional body. In July it launched a campaign to caution would-be lawyers in the face of increased competition.

Last year more than 1,000 students on the Legal Practice Course failed to win a training contract. Melissa Davis, a spokeswoman for the society, said: “We are not trying to dissuade people from becoming solicitors. It is still a great career. But it is important to go into it with your eyes open.”

Tony King, the chairman of the society’s education and training committee, underlined the point. “We want people to be ambitiously realistic . . . look at themselves critically, their individual strengths and look at different sectors. If one is not recruiting, look elsewhere.”

Students must also be aware of the cost, he said. On top of any debts already accrued, one year’s vocational training would cost £15,000 to £20,000, including living costs.

The story at the Bar is the same. Its chairman, Desmond Browne, QC, said there was evidence of “a substantially diminishing number of criminal pupillages” from this month, a barometer of the poor health of chambers doing publicly funded work.

The numbers of pupillages at the employed Bar (commerce, industry and public sector) also has fallen. This month about 400 pupillages are on offer (268 through the official scheme), against 561 last year.

It’s not all doom and gloom. Those lucky enough to get into the top commercial sets will be well funded through their training. One Essex Court hit the headlines with its £60,000 awards but Essex Court Chambers was the first to up its own awards , currently £55,000. “Our concern is the debt these students can accumulate; without this help they may be put off from coming to the Bar — and we want the best people,” said Gordon Pollock, QC, head of chambers. Students could “draw down” up to half of this before they started pupillage. “The figures may seem high but they are driven by the costs of surviving in London and paying fees over two years’ training.”

Most are not as lucky. But if our survey is anything to go by (see above), students will still aim for the law, regardless of the hurdles in their path.

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