Legal Education and Legal Profession in Sri Lanka: Present and Future

Abstract

In Contemporary times, the legal profession is seen as a three-way partnership among judges, practising lawyers and academics. Legal education plays an important role in sculpting the legal profession. The optimal functioning of the legal profession is vital in upholding the Rule of Law in a prosperous and effective democracy. Jurisdictions that are celebrated for developed legal education schemes such as the United Kingdom Singapore and Malaysia seem to have various regulatory measures in place to ensure that the most capable, knowledgeable and skilled members enter the noble profession. In Sri Lanka, in recent years, major concerns had been raised related to the standard of legal education of those who enter the legal profession and the high rate of the number of persons entering the profession. At a time where legal education all over the world is changing to address the current needs for advanced knowledge and skills in commerce, economics, and technology, and social changes, Sri Lanka must also step to the future through the implementation of regulatory measures to address the present issues faced and overcome the barriers which have slowed progress: It is time that legal education in Sri Lanka is uplifted to face the new era of professional standards, knowledge and skills of this noble and ever-developing profession.