Law students have claimed they are confident about their career despite the recession.

Nearly two thirds are confident of enjoying a lifelong career in law and another third expect to be in the profession for at least five to fifteen years.

However, they are not sure they will be able to walk straight into work as 51 percent claim they are very concerned about their chances of obtaining a training contract, pupillage or employment and a further 25 percent have slight concerns.

The findings come from an annual survey by The College of Law, the largest postgraduate legal training organisation in Europe.

The average amount of study debt among the 2,400 students quizzed is £14,200, but more than a quarter have in excess of £20,000 debt.

Law students do not see these levels of debt as a barrier to higher education. When asked for their reactions to recent media reports that average student debt could soar to £23,000 and more, nine in ten respondents said that they would still have undertaken a university degree even if they knew their debts would reach this level.

Nigel Savage, Chief Executive of The College of Law, said: "I’m not surprised by the outcome of the survey. Amidst all the current gloom about the economy, it’s heartening to see that the next generation has not lost the passion and enthusiasm for the legal profession that previous generations have had."