Nov 14, 2021

Written By Robert Greene

Trainee solicitor job description

Nov 14, 2021

Written By Robert Greene

A trainee solicitor is the last step in qualifying as a solicitor. The role varies depending on where you train and which seats you do, and the route to qualification is undergoing a major overhaul – so there are lots of potential factors at play. Here, we’ll look at what a trainee solicitor is, what a trainee solicitor does, and how to become a trainee solicitor.

What is a trainee solicitor?

A trainee solicitor is someone who is training to become a solicitor, who has secured a two-year training contract at a law firm or in-house legal department.

If a trainee started their training contract on or before 24 November 2019, their training contract will involve experience in at least three distinct practice areas (known as “seats”), and will include contentious and non-contentious work.

If a trainee started their training contract on or after 25 November 2019, their contract should involve work in different areas of law, but does not have to include three distinct seats. It must also include contentious work.

What does a trainee do?

A trainee’s work will vary depending on the type of firm they train at, which seats they do, and the number of trainees and support staff working at the firm.

They might be expected to do more administrative tasks, for example, at a firm with no paralegals or legal secretaries. On the other hand, a trainee may be asked to do a lot more legal work at a firm with a very small trainee intake.

Trainees’ tasks can be divided into fee-earning and non-fee earning work. Fee-earning tasks are those which are “client” hours, whereas non-fee earning tasks are those which do not relate to billable hours.

General fee-earning tasks include:

Attending client meetings and events.

Drafting attendance notes.

Preparing board or shareholder minutes.

Drafting letters and emails to clients.

Conducting legal research.

Bundling (i.e. preparing a folder of court documents).

Drafting and negotiating legal documents, such as NDAs, contracts, and submissions.

Proofreading documents.

Bibling (i.e. creating a transaction bible with all the major deal documents).

Conducting due diligence.

Non-fee earning tasks include:

Administrative tasks, such as filing, printing, and scanning documents.

Speaking at graduate recruitment events.

Preparing internal training presentations.

Attending training sessions and internal events.

Taking part in pro bono initiatives.

Trainee solicitor skills

Given the breadth of tasks a trainee can be expected to do, they require a broad skill set to match. Essential skills include:

Attention to detail

Commercial awareness

Written and oral communication skills

Research and analytical skills

Time management skills

Interpersonal skills

Teamwork skills

Problem-solving skills

Trainee solicitor salary

Since August 2014, employers must pay trainees at least the national hourly minimum wage, but The Law Society recommends that employers pay trainees £20,217 per annum, or £22,794 if they train in London.

The real-life picture is more wide-ranging, and bank balance boosting. Research from 2015 showed that the average trainee salary in England and Wales was £27,576, and in London £35,856. Trainees at larger City firms can expect to earn more than this, with US firms in London paying up to £55,000 per year for a first-year trainee.

Trainee solicitor qualifications

To become a trainee solicitor, you must secure a training contract. There is an average of just 5,757 training contract offers made per year and 23,413 students qualifying with a law degree; so competition is fierce.

Law and non-law graduates can apply for a training contract, however, non-law graduates will have to complete a law conversion course; either the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) or the Common Professional Examination (CPE). All aspiring solicitors must complete the Law Practice Course (LPC) before starting their training contract.

Most law firms require students to achieve a minimum of a 2:1 in their undergraduate degree, though some firms accept students who get a 2:2 or have mitigating circumstances.

You can learn more about the training contract application process here.

The current route to qualification is being replaced by the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), as of autumn 2021. Aspiring solicitors will be expected to pass two exams – SQE1 and SQE2 – and to complete two years of qualifying work experience (QWE) at up to four employers.

It is expected that the training contract route and SQE route will co-exist for the next 10 years, with the SQE replacing the training contract entirely by 2032.

You can find out more about the SQE here.

Trainee solicitor working hours

Trainee solicitors’ working hours may be 9am-5pm on paper but are unlikely to be so in practice. It’s not uncommon to hear of trainees working late nights or into the early hours of the morning, especially at large City firms.

To get a better understanding of what the work/life balance is like at a firm, it's worth speaking to current trainees.

Trainee solicitor progression

After completing their training contract, trainees qualify as solicitors or, in some firms, as associates. They can then go on to move up the ranks, being promoted to associate, senior associate, counsel, and, perhaps one day, partner.

Of course, there are other opportunities for qualified solicitors outside this linear career trajectory. Qualified solicitors may go into career coaching, education, journalism, and many other professions, using the skills and knowledge they have gained through their training.

It’s important to note that whilst a trainee may qualify at a firm, there is no guarantee that they will be hired there as a qualified solicitor, though many firms do try to retain their trainees post qualification.

What can I do with a Law Degree?