Forensic specialisations without appeal for lawyers: 'Select the market'

For the secretary of the Criminal Chambers (the Union has been active for many years with training courses dedicated to young professionals) Rinaldo Romanelli, the explanations may be different: 'Over the years, more than 1,200 colleagues have participated in our courses, with very different profiles, from those who intended to devote themselves exclusively to criminal law to those who, especially if active in small to medium-sized localities, intended to gain additional knowledge.

With regard to the lack of appeal of the title Romanelli recognises that thedouble test at the Cnf to obtain it, at least in the initial phase of the Ministry of Justice regulation (now the point should be passed for the 60 or so lawyers who have started the new specialisation course of the Criminal Chambers), has evidently acted as a deterrent, favouring access through the PhD qualification, while as far as recognition through proven experience is concerned Romanelli recalls that 'the number of positions to be claimed is by no means low and, what is more, those who have already acquired a high degree of recognition on the market are little interested in a certification that adds nothing'.  

For Tatiana Biagioni, president of Agi (Associazione giuslavoristi italiani): "The data are worrying, but they refer to a long period of transition, which we can finally consider to be over as far as higher education schools are concerned. The specialisation courses born from the agreements between the most representative specialist associations such as Agi, and the universities, in our case those of Catania, Florence, Milan Bicocca, Padua, Reggio Calabria, Luiss of Rome, and Turin, started in October last year. We are truly satisfied with the work that has been done and the path that will lead the enrolled students to specialisation after two years. The fruit of this work will emerge as early as 2027 and we are confident in the growth effect for this new training tool for young lawyers".

"On the experience side, on the other hand," Biagioni admits, "there was no shortage of criticalities, but the interviews useful for obtaining specialisation have finally started, albeit late (which affects the data). The fact that those who attend schools can obtain specialisation before those who have been practising labour law for years is undoubtedly a problem. Having said this, we also note a difficulty in the process due to the complexity of the documentation required, but above all a certain inattention of lawyers who have been practising the labour law profession for years and who are not yet focusing on this important driver of professional growth".