Law firms exploiting newly qualifieds | Law Careers

The Junior Lawyers’ Division (JLD) is very concerned and says it’s “a real catch-22 position”.  Judith Perkins of the JLD told AAL: “From what we have heard thus far, exploitation is occurring at a number of stages. First, some of those seeking training contracts are being asked to ‘prove themselves’ to a firm by working for free, with the suggestion that there may be a training contract available to them as a result. Unfortunately, applicants feel pressure to accept such terms, however speculative, because they are aware that some many firms are receiving well over 100 applications per training contract, some more.

“As regards current trainees, there have been a number of recent trends which the JLD finds worrying. First, some trainees who are not being retained as NQs are being offered paralegal positions instead, on the basis that this is preferable to unemployment, particularly if that trainee wants to qualify into an area of law which has been badly hit by the recession. We have also heard stories of trainees being offered NQ positions at salaries which are either equal to or less than their trainee salary, despite their increased earning potential for their firm.

“Firms need to recognise that junior lawyers are the future of the profession, and that attracting quality candidates in the future will, to some extent, turn on how firms are perceived as employers in the current market.

“Prospective trainees should be wary of promises of training contracts in return for working for free. However, the JLD would not want to deter students from accepting genuine work experience placements which, it is accepted, are not always paid.

And Judith has this to say to existing trainees: “Trainees should not be afraid to push their firms for early notification of whether they will be retained, so they have as much time as possible to seek out other options prior to qualification. The JLD is currently promoting awareness of alternative careers in law, and would encourage trainees to also consider opportunities for qualified lawyers which are outside of traditional private practice.”