{"id":1591,"date":"2025-08-08T09:43:20","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T08:43:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/klsemployability\/?page_id=1591"},"modified":"2025-08-08T14:17:19","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T13:17:19","slug":"training-contracts-prt","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/getintolaw\/training-contracts-prt\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8211;  Qualifying Work Experience and Training Contracts"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3>This page will deal with both of the above ways of training.<\/h3>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff\"><strong>1. Training Contracts (TC)<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #0000ff\"><strong>(officially known as Period of Recognised Training)<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><em>This has been the method of training since the 1990s and is, in theory, available until 2032 to anyone who commenced or accepted an offer onto the LLB\/GDL before 1st Sept 2021.\u00a0 Most law firms have now switched to the QWE but the terminology &#8220;Training Contract&#8221; is frequently used to describe both methods of training.\u00a0 \u00a0 I&#8217;ve tried to break it down for you so that you can see where there are some differences.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Where can I find out more?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There is a plethora of information on the web about training contracts but I recommend the following as they are specifically targeted at students (with the exception of the last one) and are kept up to date:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chambersstudent.co.uk\/law-firms\/getting-a-training-contract\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.chambersstudent.co.uk\/law-firms\/getting-a-training-contract<\/a> &#8211; a detailed account<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutlaw.co.uk\/training-contracts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.allaboutlaw.co.uk\/training-contracts\u00a0<\/a> &#8211; lots of short articles<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawcareers.net\/Solicitors\/TrainingContract\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.lawcareers.net\/Solicitors\/TrainingContract <\/a>&#8211; overview.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelawyerportal.com\/free-guides\/training-contract-overview\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.thelawyerportal.com\/free-guides\/training-contract-overview\/<\/a> &#8211; a short overview + videos<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/targetjobs.co.uk\/career-sectors\/law-solicitors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/targetjobs.co.uk\/career-sectors\/law-solicitors<\/a> &#8211; a number of articles<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Key things to note about training contracts:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Most are offered by law firms &#8211; but not all!<strong>\u00a0 It&#8217;s very important to remember this.\u00a0 See the information below about finding opportunities in social welfare and in-house.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Most of the large firms and a number of the regional firms recruit 2 years in advance of the start date.\u00a0 So, if you want to start your training immediately after finishing your study (degree + LPC) you must check this information as you may need to apply in Stage 2 of your law degree or the final year of a non-law degree.\u00a0 But, <strong>don&#8217;t<\/strong> get anxious about this &#8211; the average age of a newly qualified solicitor is now 29.\u00a0 So, you can see that many solicitors have taken a break between study and training contract &#8211; either from choice or because it took a while to get the TC.\u00a0 It&#8217;s a very competitive market and spending a year or two in other work is common.\u00a0 It is not an indication of failure: it is normal and strengthens your skills and understanding.<\/li>\n<li>If you are recruited before you take SQE your future employer may finance it in full or part.<\/li>\n<li>Prior to the SQE and QWC a TC required to to spend time in a minimum of 3 &#8216;seats&#8217; (i.e. a different department or practice area of law) during your training contract.\u00a0 Most firms TC&#8217;s were structured as 4 seats of 6 months with some doing 6 seats x 4 months and there is a couple that do 8 seats x 3 months.\u00a0 \u00a0Most of the larger recruiting firms continue to structure their TC\/QWE in this same way.\u00a0 \u00a0However, there is no longer a requirement to do more than one area of law so this does allow specialist law firms to train you.<\/li>\n<li>TCs do not have to be full time but you do need to fulfil the equivalent of 2 years of full-time training.<\/li>\n<li>In-house TCs are often run concurrently with the study of the LPC.\u00a0 This means the TC is 3 years because you take the LPC part-time as you work.\u00a0 It all adds up to the same but you get paid for 3 years instead of 2!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff\"><strong>2. Qualifying Work Experience (QWE)<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><em>From 2021 the SQE is the new way to qualify as a solicitor.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The SQE pathway to qualification requires you to undertake a 2 year period of QWE.\u00a0 \u00a0 This article talks only about the QWE part of the SQE (for the examinations information see the page dedicated to SQE).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Where can I find out more?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There is plenty of information on the web about the SQE and the QWE element but I recommend the following as they are kept up to date\u00a0 regularly:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a style=\"color: #2a6496\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lawcareers.net\/Courses\/Solicitors-Qualifying-Exam\">SQE &#8211; Solicitors Qualifying Exam (lawcareers.net)<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chambersstudent.co.uk\/law-firms\/getting-a-training-contract\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ttps:\/\/www.chambersstudent.co.uk\/law-firms\/getting-a-training-contract<\/a> &#8211; a hub containing lots of information.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawsociety.org.uk\/career-advice\/becoming-a-solicitor\/solicitors-qualifying-examination-sqe\/qualifying-work-experience-qwe\">Qualifying work experience (QWE) | The Law Society<\/a> &#8211;\u00a0 the Law Society guide<\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sra.org.uk\/trainees\/qualifying-work-experience\/\">SRA | Qualifying work experience | Solicitors Regulation Authority<\/a> &#8211; the formal and definitive guide and regulations<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Key things to note about Qualifying Work Experience<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The QWE offers more flexibility than the very formalised and structured TC (see the next 4 bullets)<\/li>\n<li>Although the QWE must total 2 years you are able to gain experience from up to 4 different settings including in another jurisdiction (but the work still needs to be signed off by a solicitor qualified in England &amp; Wales).\u00a0 There is no specified length of time you need to spend in any one setting.<\/li>\n<li>There is no prescription that you must cover 3 areas of law.\u00a0 This allows more niche firms\/organisations to offer training (previously a niche firm might have to send you on a secondment to another firm in order to cover all of those areas of work).\u00a0 You are now able to spend your entire training in just one area of law.<\/li>\n<li>You do not need to gain a formal traineeship with a firm.\u00a0 It is enough for you to be working as a paralegal so long as you are fulfilling the requirements of the QWE, recording it and having it signed off.\u00a0 \u00a0You can read more about this here <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawsociety.org.uk\/career-advice\/becoming-a-solicitor\/solicitors-qualifying-examination-sqe\/qualifying-work-experience-for-paralegals\">Qualifying work experience for paralegals | The Law Society<\/a>\u00a0 It is worth noting that an employer cannot unreasonably refuse to confirm the QWE if it meets the requirements, even if the individual is not on a dedicated training programme.\u00a0 So, you can take control of your qualification.<\/li>\n<li>A foreign qualified lawyer will be exempt from the need to do the QWE (although, if you have qualified in a jurisdiction that does not require work based experience you may find that the legal qualification alone will not satisfy many law firms and they may ask you to train as if you were not already qualified).\u00a0 \u00a0Please discuss this with the Careers &amp; Employability Service.<\/li>\n<li>A word of caution &#8211; many of the national, international, city, commercial firms still require a trainee to undertake the entire 2 year training with their firm.<\/li>\n<li>Another warning is that if you do take control of your own qualification and you get work &#8220;signed off&#8221; outside of a formal traineeship, you can qualify as a solicitor but there is no requirement on the firm you are at (probably in a paralegal position) to change your employed status to &#8220;solicitor&#8221;.\u00a0 In this circumstance, it would be best to apply elsewhere.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #0000ff\"><strong>How to find Training Contracts and Qualifying Work Experience<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It is firstly, worth noting that the QWE can be a structured traineeship or much more flexibly.\u00a0 The first part of this article relates to structured QWE.\u00a0 The latter part explains the more flexible approach.<\/p>\n<p>TC&#8217;s and <em>structured<\/em> QWE (nb:\u00a0 the use of the form &#8220;structured&#8221; is for ease of understanding and is not a formally recognised expression\/title) are available in a range of organisations including all types of law firms, charities, commercial businesses with substantial legal departments, Government and Local Authorities, law centres.\u00a0\u00a0Not all law firms or organisations will offer TC\/QWE and sometimes you have to make strategic choices about training elsewhere before making a move into your ideal location.\u00a0 There are a\u00a0 number of listings where you can search TC\/QWE (see below).\u00a0 They will save you a lot of time and most firms who regularly train solicitors will be featured (but always remember that if you have a particular firm\/organisation in mind (especially if they are niche or small) check their website too or, better still, make personal contact with them and ask &#8211; I do know people who have got training contracts on the back of work experience\/paralegalling with firms who have never taken a trainee before &#8211; always ask! The worst that can happen is they say no.\u00a0 Now, that&#8217;s not too painful is it?)\u00a0 I recommend the following listings &#8211; note, the terminology on the web link does say &#8220;training contract&#8221; but formally advertised structured QWE traineeships will also be included in this list and this will increase as we move into 2022+.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawcareers.net\/Solicitors\/AdvancedSearch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.lawcareers.net\/Solicitors\/AdvancedSearch<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutlaw.co.uk\/law-jobs\/training-contracts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.allaboutlaw.co.uk\/law-jobs\/training-contracts\u00a0<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/targetjobs.co.uk\/law-training-contracts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/targetjobs.co.uk\/law-training-contracts<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You will find that most of the collated listings (as above) will be in private practice.\u00a0 So, the following should be noted if you are interested in social welfare or in-house work:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Training in social welfare law<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Many organisations dealing with social welfare matters can not afford to train solicitors.\u00a0 \u00a0However, the Legal Education Foundation (<a style=\"background-color: #ffffff\" href=\"https:\/\/jff.thelegaleducationfoundation.org\/about\/about-the-fellowship\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/jff.thelegaleducationfoundation.org\/about\/about-the-fellowship\/) <\/a>sponsors training contracts in <strong>social welfare law<\/strong>.\u00a0 Each year a number of organisations\/charities etc. will host a trainee.\u00a0 \u00a0See the current listing on <a style=\"background-color: #ffffff\" href=\"https:\/\/jff.thelegaleducationfoundation.org\/current-opportunities\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/jff.thelegaleducationfoundation.org\/current-opportunities<\/a>\/\u00a0 \u00a0These opportunities normally require you to have already studied the LPC (or, going forward, the SQE parts 1&amp;2).<\/p>\n<p><strong>In-house training contracts<\/strong>.<br \/>\nAlthough just over 30% of solicitors work in-house they offer less than 10% of training contracts (2019 figures from The Law Society). \u00a0\u00a0 It is harder to find TCs in-house as there are less of them and they are less widely advertised.\u00a0 Most organisations will advertise on their own websites but the above websites are now capturing a lot of them.\u00a0 The largest employers of in-house lawyers are in commerce and industry. Some in-house departments are not big enough for annual recruitment and you may only see opportunities once every 2 or 3 years (or less often).\u00a0 There is a lot of movement between private and in-house practice so, if you can&#8217;t find\/wait for the training in your preferred organisation train in private practice (one doing similar areas of law) and move across when qualified.<\/p>\n<p>For more information see the How to Train In-House page on this blog.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Crown Prosecution Service &#8211; Legal Trainee Scheme<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The CPS trains both solicitors and barristers who are interested in criminal law.\u00a0 \u00a0Their window of application is usually March-April.\u00a0 \u00a0Unlike many of the law firms the entry grade is a 2.2.\u00a0 They circulate information on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cps.gov.uk\/careers-cps\">Careers at the CPS | The Crown Prosecution Service<\/a> but only when they are recruiting.\u00a0 \u00a0They also use Twitter <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CPSCareers\"><em>@CPSCareers<\/em><\/a><em>\u00a0<\/em>and Linked In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/crown-prosecution-service\"><em>Crown Prosecution Service. <\/em><\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0There are some videos about life in the CPS on <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cps.gov.uk\/careers\/life-prosecutor-crown-prosecution-service\">Life as a prosecutor in the Crown Prosecution Service | The Crown Prosecution Service (cps.gov.uk)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Government Legal Profession &#8211; Legal Trainee Scheme<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>You can train as either a barrister or a solicitor in a number of Government Departments.\u00a0 The recruitment is two years in advance and requires a 2.2 degree. Take a look at this page for videos and all the information you need: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/guidance\/government-legal-service-gls-legal-trainee-scheme-how-to-apply\">2021 legal trainee scheme &#8211; GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #0000ff\"><strong>Other features of TC \/ QWE which may influence your choice of firm\/employer:<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Sponsorship of SQE<\/strong> &#8211; many of the big firms will pay in full for your vocational study.\u00a0 Others may pay a proportion + an interest-free loan for the remainder.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Secondments<\/strong> &#8211; these might be with an international office of the same firm\/organisation or it might be a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawcareers.net\/Explore\/Features\/11022014-Insight-into-client-secondments#:~:text=Client%20secondments%20provide%20trainees%20with,benefits%20well%20after%20the%20trainee\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">client secondment<\/a> i.e. where you work in the legal department of one of the firm&#8217;s clients for one of your seats.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pro bono<\/strong> &#8211; some firms may allow you to do a pro bono seat.\u00a0 Others may encourage you to give some time each year (typically a day &#8211; 25 hours p.yr) to a pro bono cause<\/li>\n<li><strong>Diversity \/ affiliations<\/strong> &#8211; legal recruitment is playing a big part in changing recruitment practices to be more diverse.\u00a0 But check out what the firm does once you are recruited.\u00a0 Are they part of the lawyer networks; do they have inclusive practices beyond recruitment etc.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Salary<\/strong> &#8211; whilst the large corporate and international firms pay huge salaries there is no set salary level beyond the national minimum wage.<\/li>\n<li><strong>When to apply<\/strong> &#8211; anytime from stage 2 onwards.\u00a0 \u00a0Training Contract deadlines vary from firm to firm usually between January and July (the majority May- July).\u00a0 \u00a0However, there are a few firms that will only recruit from the candidates on their Vacation Schemes.\u00a0 In this case, the deadline becomes the same as the Vac Scheme deadline which will, typically, be between October and December.\u00a0 On the other hand, many small firms and those that work in social welfare or rely on legal aid will recruit once you have taken the LPC\/QWE.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Benefits:<\/strong> look out for information on pensions; insurances (i.e. private medical, life, critical illness, income protection, travel, dental); health screening; gym membership; discount shopping schemes; advice lines for things to do with finance, health, family, consumer rights; childcare \/ elderly care support and childcare vouchers; travel (bike purchase \/car leasing schemes \/ season ticket loan \/ car hire discount); at large firms the on-site benefits can include subsidised restaurants, gym, dry-cleaning, personal services &#8211; beauty \/ massage, subsidised sports, social and cultural activities from; language training and more.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Retention Rates:<\/strong> Once your TC ends what is the chance that you will stay with the firm?\u00a0 See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelawyer.com\/jones-day-retention-2020\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a> for details of some 2020 retention rates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I hope the above information has answered your questions.\u00a0 If anything has been missed please contact <a href=\"mailto:lssjemployability@kent.ac.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">lssjemployability@kent.ac.uk<\/a> and we&#8217;ll make sure that the information is added and that you are provided with the answers you seek.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This page will deal with both of the above ways of training. 1. Training Contracts (TC) (officially known as Period of Recognised Training) This has &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/getintolaw\/training-contracts-prt\/\">Read&nbsp;more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34794,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/getintolaw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1591"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/getintolaw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/getintolaw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/getintolaw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34794"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/getintolaw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1591"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/getintolaw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1591\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4608,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/getintolaw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1591\/revisions\/4608"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/getintolaw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1591"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}