New Training Contract Regulations

r14

This months Gazette contains an article about new training regulations to help combat the recession. Link - it's page 7

Firstly they're dropping the minimum pay to the minimum wage (from 20k to 16k p.a.)

Secondly they're changing it from four blocks of areas you have to train in to 5 blocks.

Block 1 (conveyancing and landlord and tenant law) and block 2 (litigation) are mandatory, and at least two of the three remaining blocks are also required – block 3 being wills, probate and administration of estates; block 4 being commercial law, company law and insolvency law; and block 5 being at least two from the following list: criminal law and procedure, employment law, European Union law, family law, intellectual property law, pensions law, planning and environmental law, revenue law and taxation.

Finally maximum secondment period is increased from 6 to 8 months.

What do people think? Will this actually help trainee recruitment during the recession?

I think it's prob a case of too little too late.

Aprilsunshine

What was the situation previously? Weren't some of them of compulsory? Looks ok but where do you fit in the interesting rotations like competition or media or life sciences?

Can't see it making any difference.

r14

It used to be that Wills and Estates was also compulsory and then you got a choice of one of two other areas. Now they're effectively giving you a choice of two out of three. Very little difference actually.

I just don't get why they're still making Conveyancing and Landlord and Tenant compulsory when practice in this area has collapsed. No solicitor will be able to give a trainee any work in this area. Also the drop in salary of 4 grand is stupid considering people are out there training for free.

Their best bet to help with recruitment would be to scrap the "blocks" and allow people to work wherever they're needed. That would however require them to give a good standard of teaching in Blackhall to make up for the fact that you won't learn on the job.

As for pay maybe it's time to regularise the position of many out there and accept trainees even if they're not being paid. It's stupid that people have to hide it from the law society at the moment.

Johnny Utah

Great, even if we train for free and somehow manage to qualify, we'll be lucky to be kept on......... on trainee wages....... minimum wage! Great!


Maybe I could take a salary jump and go work for Tesco stacking the shelves when I eventually get my parchment.