Severe pressure on law facilities at university

Press, 29 June 1988, Page 3

Severe pressure on law facilities at university

By

CHRISTOPHER MOORE

Increasing public interest in the law and legal profession had resulted in severe pressures on teaching facilities at the University of Canterbury’s Law School, said the school’s dean, Professor John Farrar, yesterday. New directions in New Zealand’s social and economic policies had resulted in a dramatic rise in student numbers entering stage one courses. The roll had risen from 265 students in 1984 to the latest enrolment figure of 518, an increase which Professor Farrar believed reflects a reaction to Rogernomics and the Government’s legislative programme during the last four years. The school now seeks to impose a 400-student ceiling on enrolment for stage one courses, a figure which would allow the course to be taught in two lecture streams. A third stream using the same lecturers would place “an undue strain" on staff.

A separate stream taught by other staff was not a viable alternative, said Professor Farrar. It would result in a greater amount of departmental resources being given to stage one courses to the detriment of other courses at the school.

The Auckland University Law School has already imposed a 600student ceiling on enrolments. Victoria University of Wellington is considering introducing a limit. However, the University of

law faculty is attempting to attract more students to counter/a population decline in the region.

The University of Canterbury’s law library demonstrates the extent of the problem. The recently improved building has 145 seats for a law student roll of almost 1000. Stage one students were being discouraged from using the library.

“We have been seeking a new law school block for 20 years. The proposal is a top priority for the university but it has to go through the University Grants Committee. While the Cabinet has given the concept approval, there is now a freeze on all major development plans,” Professor Farrar said.

“The proposed ceiling on student enrolments could be lifted if we had a new building. Staff numbers would also be affected.”

While there is no sign of a falling public interest in the law as a career, the school will probably continue to face pressure on staff and resources.

“We have great difficulty in getting New Zealanders to become law lecturers, especially as the remuneration has fallen behind private law practice. The profile of a law teacher in New Zealand is not as high as in other countries in spite of the fact that New Zealand lecturers probably work harder and have a more active involvement in the community,” he said.

“The massive increase in student enrolments since 1984 reflects an

increasing interest in the law, especially in commercial law. This Government is also probably more conscious of the law than its predecessors. It is showing a greater legal consciousness and this in turn has increased the public awareness.”

The community’s perception of the law as a “glamorous” career had also raised expectations. Canterbury 7 was already experiencing a law drain of young graduates to practices in Auckland and Wellington where they could specialise in commercial work and litigation. Canterbury had already introduced innovations in the teaching of commercial law, including the establishment of New Zealand’s first privately funded centre for commercial and corporate law based at the University of Canterbury. Professor Farrar became the centre’s first director earlier this year. “Legal practice is changing fast. We have to look to the future to see what patterns are emerging — and this school will continue to train people for the future,” he said. He did not see the establishment of a new law school in New Zealand as a solution to rising student rolls. “It would be better to build on and expand the existing schools. I would also like to see greater contact and movement between the four law schools rather than confining their work to individual retgions.” £