Training Contract Competition Greater Than Ever

Competition for training contracts is greater than ever due to the fall in the number of training contracts and the rise in the number of law graduates.

Numbers from The Law Society’s Annual Statistics Report reveal that there were 5,001 training contracts registered between August 1 2013 and July 31 2014. This is 6% lower than the 5,302 registered in 2012-13. However, the number of law graduates rose 2.7% to 16,120 in summer 2014, meaning that for every training contract on offer there are 3.2 law students in competition with each other. This number doesn’t take into account any second years, non-law, GDL or LPC students also applying.

Even in 2011-12, where training contract numbers were at their lowest (4,869), there were 3.0 students competing for every traineeship.

Comparing numbers of graduates against the number of training contracts, AllAboutLaw.co.uk found that 2002 was the best year to have graduated. David Beckham still played for Manchester United, Girls Aloud had their first UK number one single and 5,650 training contract places were on offer to just 9,204 law graduates, meaning that just 1.6 students were in competition for each training contract.

Not deterred? Make sure you get ahead of the other two students who have their eye on your training contract with these handy training contract application tips! 

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