Trainee solicitor

{{Short description|Prospective lawyer undergoing professional training at a law firm}} {{Infobox Occupation | name= Trainee Solicitor | image= Quentin_Massys_-_Portrait_of_a_Man_-_National_Gallery_of_Scotland.jpg | caption= 16th-century painting of a [[civil law notary]], by Flemish painter [[Quentin Massys]] | official_names=  | type= [[Profession]] | activity_sector= [[Law]] | competencies= Interpersonal skills, literacy, advocacy, analytical mind, critical thinking, commercial sense | formation= Law degree / Non-law degree + GDL, [[Legal Practice Course]] (and possibly [[Common Professional Examination]]) | employment_field= [[Law firm]], government, in-house | related_occupation= [[Solicitor]], pupil barrister, [[barrister]], [[judge]] }}

In the [[United Kingdom]], [[Australia]], [[Hong Kong]], [[Ireland]], and certain other [[English common law]] [[jurisdiction]]s, a '''trainee solicitor''' is a prospective [[lawyer]] undergoing professional training at a [[law firm]] or an in-house legal team to qualify as a full-fledged [[solicitor]]. This period of training is known as a [[training contract]] and usually lasts for two years.

The [[barrister]]'s equivalent would be twelve months' [[pupillage]] under a [[pupilmaster]], in [[barristers' chambers]], or for [[advocates]] in Scotland, eight or nine months [[devilling]] under a [[devilmaster]].

==Route==

=== England and Wales === Before they are eligible to train, the trainee must first have an undergraduate [[L.L.B.|degree in law]], or another degree and later taken a conversion course (i.e. the [[Common Professional Examination]] or Graduate Diploma in Law), and then completed the [[Legal Practice Course]] (LPC).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thelawyer.com/|title=The Lawyer|date=June 13, 2024|website=The Lawyer | Legal insight, benchmarking data and jobs}}</ref> The LPC and the training contract may be taken at the same time part-time.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Legal Practice Course|date=25 November 2019|url=https://www.sra.org.uk/become-solicitor/legal-practice-course-route/lpc/}}</ref>

During the training contract, trainees are required to gain practical experience in at least three distinctive areas of law.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lawsociety.org.ukhttps//www.lawsociety.org.uk//en/Career-Advice/Becoming-a-solicitor|title=Becoming a partner|website=www.lawsociety.org.ukhttps}}</ref> On successful completion of the training contract, the trainee will qualify and be admitted as a solicitor.

Trainee solicitors and training contracts were formerly known as [[articled clerk]]s and articles of clerkship, respectively.

For trainee solicitors, the [[Law Society of England and Wales|Law Society]] recommend a minimum salary of £22,794 in London and £20,217 outside of London. However, this is not binding owing to the removal of a regulatory minimum salary by the SRA in 2014. Firms are now required to pay no more than the [[National Minimum Wage Regulations 2015|national minimum wage]].

=== Ireland === In the [[Republic of Ireland]], the [[Law Society of Ireland]] is authorised under the Solicitors Act 1954 to regulate training and accreditation of solicitors. Formally a trainee is termed an '''apprentice''' and entered on the society's Register of Apprentices after signing a training contract, called an Indentures of Apprenticeship Deed, with a registered solicitor.<ref>{{cite web |title=Indenture Deed |url=https://www.lawsociety.ie/education--cpd/Trainees/In-office-Training/Indenture-Deed |publisher=Law Society of Ireland |access-date=27 July 2024}}</ref> The society's qualification examinations are a Preliminary Examination, from which holders of approved law degrees are exempt, and a Final Examination (FE-1) in two parts, typically taken over two years. The FE-1 consists of eight exams and the PPC is a one year course conducted by the [[Law Society of Ireland]]. <ref>{{cite web |last1=Binchy |first1=Donal G. |author2=Incorporated Law Society of Ireland |title=S.I. No. 9/1991 - The Solicitors Acts, 1954 and 1960 (Apprenticeship and Education) Regulations, 1991. |url=https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1991/si/9/made/en/print |website=electronic Irish Statute Book (eISB) |access-date=27 July 2024 |language=en |date=18 January 1991}}</ref> {{anchor|SADSI}}The Solicitors' Apprentice Debating Society of Ireland (SADSI) participates in [[student debate]] competitions including the [[Irish Times Debate]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Blackhall trainees victorious in public-speaking contest |url=https://www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/top-stories/2023/february/blackhall-trainees-victorious-in-public-speaking-contest |website=www.lawsociety.ie |access-date=27 July 2024 |date=20 February 2023}}</ref>

=== Scotland === In Scotland the system is similar to that in England and Wales. In order to become a trainee solicitor, the student must complete an undergraduate [[L.L.B.|degree in law]], or complete the [[Law Society of Scotland]] examinations, before undertaking a one-year [[Diploma in Legal Practice]]. This qualifies the graduate to receive an Entrance Certificate and begin a traineeship.

Traineeships are obtained through the open job market and there is no guarantee that a graduate will secure one. Between 2008 and 2013, years, 24% of Diploma graduates have not started traineeships.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lawscot.org.uk/education-and-careers/studying-law/currently-studying-the-llb-/information-about-traineeship-numbers|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202224544/http://www.lawscot.org.uk/education-and-careers/studying-law/currently-studying-the-llb-/information-about-traineeship-numbers|url-status=dead|title=Law Society|archivedate=December 2, 2013}}</ref>

Trainees must complete at least 60 hours of Trainee Continuing Professional Development.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lawscot.org.uk/education-and-careers/the-traineeship/during-your-traineeship|title=Law Society}}</ref> After three months, the trainee can apply for admission as a solicitor, allowing them to appear in court.

On successful completion of the traineeship, the traineeship is discharged and the trainee will be eligible for a Practising Certificate.

=== Work placements === Work placements allow students a brief (normally two-week) experience within the working environment of a firm of solicitors. Interested students may find local opportunities through their school's or university's career adviser, or apply direct to the firms of solicitors.

Assessed work placements in law firms, which often include a formal interview for a traineeship towards the end of the placement, are also known as vacation schemes.

=== Hong Kong === In [[Legal system of Hong Kong|Hong Kong]], the route is generally identical to that in England and Wales, save with the substitution of the [[Postgraduate Certificate in Laws|Postgraduate Certificate in Laws course]] for the LPC.

===Canada===

Each of the provincial and territorial jurisdictions offer similar routes to other [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] jurisdictions, typically by way of [[Articled clerk|articles]] or stage. The province of [[Ontario]], for example offers experiential training, by way of articles of clerkship or the Law Practice Program.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lso.ca/becoming-licensed/lawyer-licensing-process/experiential-training|title=Experiential Training | Law Society of Ontario}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.lawsociety.org.uk The Law Society of England & Wales] *[http://www.sra.org.uk The Solicitors Regulation Authority] *[http://www.traineesolicitor.co.uk TraineeSolicitor.co.uk] *[http://www.traineesolicitorsurgery.co.uk Trainee Solicitor Surgery] *[http://www.chambersstudent.co.uk The Student's Guide to Legal Careers] *[https://www.solicitors.com/work-experience.html Automated Solicitors Work placement application form]

[[Category:Legal professions]] [[Category:Solicitors]] [[Category:Beginners and newcomers]]