ABSTRACT
Historically in England and Wales, university legal education focused on doctrinal and theoretical analysis of the law. Today, the most widespread teaching methodology is still based on lectures and seminars, with the traditional assessment method of exams using problem questions and more theoretical essay questions still common. While there is growing emphasis on legal skills within the academic law degree, this is sometimes detached from the main curriculum, provided in discrete units or taught through experiential learning within a separate clinical education programme. It is argued that this detachment is influenced by the historic debate over the prevailing purpose of the academic law degree. Skills training can be seen as preparing students for practice and fulfilling the vocational purpose of the academic law degree. It is sometimes marketed to students as an additional benefit to enhance their employability rather than being seen as central to an academic law school curriculum, although an increasing number of law schools see professional development as a central part of the curriculum.
