FEWER SUBJECTS

Southland Times, Issue 19899, 18 June 1926, Page 8

FEWER SUBJECTS

LAW STUDENTS LENGTHENING OF COURSE EFFECT OF REGULATIONS. (Special to Times.) Wellington, June 17. It is apparent that the regulations gazetted two months ago under the Law Pracj titioners’ Act, 1908, lengthening the law i course, are having their effect. * To-day, Mr J. Robison, registrar at the I Victoria University College, stated that the I number of students entering on their first year subjects in 1926, -was lower than last -year. At the same time the drop was not entirely due to the regulations, but to the fact that a number of students were now taking fewer subjects. In the total there i were now 4’l students in attendance at all I law classes at the university, or rather, the names on the rolls of twelve law classes totalled 411. Practically all would be countied several times over. Property, part one class, torts and criminal law have all fallen considerably, while contract and torts are also down. I The present year’s rolls are given with I last year’s figures in brackets: Property, part one 54 (75); torts 32 (57); criminal I law 31 (54); contract 38 (48). I Most of the other classes are about the ! same though jurisprudence, constitutional (history, property 11, evidence and procedure all showed a slight increase. It is the first year subjects, however, which would show a drop in law students in consequence upon the lengthening of the course, and all of these four subjects are being studied by fewer undergraduates. It is just possible for a student commencing work this year to complete his degree before the regulations touch him, but the new provisions which come into force on December 1 next, would apply to him unless he had matriculated in a university of New Zealand by July 1 next, or before March 1 last, had passed two law subjects or had obtained provisional matriculation under the university regulations and had had it confirmed prior to January 1 last. There is a shortage of law clerks already. One legal firm which usually receives six or eight applications from young men just commencing fheir course, this year received none and had some difficulty in obtaining anyone.