Chamber of Advocates join criticism over legal studies for Sixth Formers

The Chamber of Advocates has joined a flurry of criticism on the classification of legal studies for A-level students in a group of 'miscellaneous' subjects.

The Chamber joined the dean of the University of Malta's faculty of laws and student organisations Ghaqda Studenti Ligi and Pulsein criticising the MATSEC board and University Senate on their classification of legal students at Intermediate level.

The new subject has been introduced to give prospective law students a basic grounding in the subject, but the decision to classify it among the Group 4 miscellaneous subjects has made it impossible for students to fulfil the entry requirements of the law course, forcing them to choose other subjects.

The student organisations have appealed to the MATSEC board and the Senate to place legal studies within the Group 2 'humanities' subjects.

All Sixth Formers studying for two A-levels and three Intermediate level subjects, as well as Systems of Knowledge, choose their subjects from four groups split into humanities, sciences, languages, and a 'miscellaneous' subject.

The decision to put legal studies in the latter group was criticised by the Faculty of Laws, which has consistently been contrary to the "manifestly illogical" decision.

The Chamber of Advocates said it supported the proposal for the introduction of Legal Studies because "it was seen as a way of introducing such students to the basic elements of law prior to commencing the law course."

Following the Chamber's statement, law students' organisation GħSL appealed once again to do the necessary changes.

MaltaToday is informed that the University of Malta was planning to issue a press statement itself later on today.