President Lee Jae-myung Questions Viability of Law School System

On June 25, President Lee Jae-myung addressed concerns regarding the law school (로스쿨) system during a town hall meeting at the National Asia Culture Center (국립아시아문화전당) in Gwangju. He acknowledged that there are issues with the current pathway for training legal professionals, stating, "I personally resonate with some of the criticisms regarding the law school system being inadequate."

During the event, an attendee pointed out that only graduates from law schools can become lawyers, suggesting that only those from affluent backgrounds can afford to attend these institutions. In response, President Lee remarked, "It's not easy to discuss this as an official agenda. It is indeed a challenging topic," while encouraging further examination of the issue.

He also mentioned that discussions about reinstating the bar exam had arisen during a lunch prior to the meeting, highlighting the ongoing debate surrounding the training of legal professionals. He expressed concern that the law school system might resemble the historical 음서제, a system from the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties that favored certain social classes in appointing officials.

President Lee noted, "Given that the law school system has been established for a long time, abolishing it would not be simple. However, should the only path to becoming a lawyer be through law school? If someone has the skills, shouldn't there be a way to validate their qualifications without attending law school?" He acknowledged that while he holds these views, the topic is complex and could spark significant public debate.

In the 2022 presidential election, President Lee had promised to revive the bar exam, suggesting that while law schools should remain, there should be opportunities for those who may not have completed secondary education but possess the necessary skills to become lawyers. The bar exam was abolished in 2017, and currently, only law school graduates are eligible to take the bar exam.