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Legal Education Popular, Bar Association Controversial
Europeians support greater legal activity, legal programs, divided on Bar Association.
RESULTS | By Comfed
Comfed's Quill has run a poll on the state of legal education, the legal system, and the Bar Association Act. There were 18 responses, and the poll was open for approximately 27 hours.
State of the Legal System & Education
Europeians broadly support moderately increased legal activity, with over 70% of respondents favouring the idea of a more active legal system on principle. No one thinks the courts and their related bodies, such as the office of the attorney general, should be less active.
Reflecting the previous question, Europeia supports more legal expertise with even more force than they support more legal activity. Fewer respondents aspire only to current levels, with slightly less than 80% desiring more. More respondents believe that the number of "legal eagles" should be much higher than now than believe that legal activity should be much higher.
This question seems to tie to the previous two questions in that the pool of respondents that supports more legal activity and expertise also broadly desires to be more involved in the legal system, with the large majority of respondents indicating at least some enthusiasm.
This graph indicates actual dissatisfaction with the status quo hinted at by the first three. Close to two thirds believe that Europeia has insufficient legal education resources, with only a few satisfied with the current state. Interestingly, the percentage of respondents indicating support for the status quo is in a similar range to that of those who answered "About the same as now" to the first three questions.
Prospective Legal Education Programs
The idea of a legal education program, a conversation that has seen solutions sought from every branch of government, especially after the end of the law clerks and the ministry of justice, draws large popular support. This question does invite a small measure of opposition.
The proponents of some form of legal education may draw some hope that, at least in theory, many would be eager to jump in. A majority of respondents indicate that they would participate in a formal legal education program, and a further ~17% are unsure, although "unsure" may not be as useful to those setting up a program requiring more intensive effort.
Bar Association
While legal education programs are popular, possibly even by consensus, the Bar Association does not share this support. The bill, which has gone through significant revisions since it was first proposed by then-Senator Rand in early march of this year, is up for the people's assent for a second time, after being vetoed by then-President Lloenflys following a public consultation. It is now subject to a referendum, triggered by the very same Lloenflys in a petition under the uncommonly-used provision of Constitution VI allowing for Europeian citizens to "reserve their Assent [the veto power]" to a referendum.
This complex process, both times involving delays to enacting the bill after passage by the Senate, has led to exasperation from some of the Bar Association's ardent supporters, and the populace is divided on the bill. While the bill has considerable implications for legal education, the program it establishes being touted as one of its primary benefits, some elements remain controversial. Although the supporters of the bill have a slight edge over the opposition, the result is close and there are many undecided voters, indicating that the referendum will not be decided until voting day and a get-out-the-vote campaign could tip the results. Support is more vehement in the "pro" camp than in the "con."
Even if people oppose the Bar Association, some of those same people will at least consider trying to become members. The same number responded favourably to participating in the Bar Association than did to participating in a legal education program.
Summary
This poll reveals a broad dissatisfaction with the status quo on legal activity and legal education. There is very large though not universal support for a formal legal education program. In highly general terms, there is minority satisfaction and conservatism with the current system as it is, and the prevailing current among the rest is that the current system is at least to some degree inadequate and in need of revitalisation.
The Bar Association itself, however, is much more split in terms of popular support. With the coming referendum too close to call but leaning in favour of its supporters, it still remains to be seen whether this significant reform will go into law after all the delays it has faced.
