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The majority of second year trainee solicitors will be qualifying as solicitors at the end of the summer and hoping to continue their careers as a newly qualified solicitor. However, the reality for many will not be so good.

Due to the economic crisis law firms have been tightening their belts and because of this retention rates have been dropping. This means that as much as firms might like to keep certain individuals in a job after their training contracts that they will not be able to.

The result of this is that there will be so many jobless newly qualified flooding in to the job market. Given that many firms do not take on all of their trainee solicitors it is unlikely that they will therefore want to take on newly qualified solicitors from other firms.

For some, the situation will be bleak. Unable to secure a job at the firms that trained them and then unable to beat the competition for the limited number of newly qualified solicitor jobs that are being advertised.

If this happens to you there are a few options open to you. First thing to do is to build relationships with the recruitment agencies available in your area, and by doing that they will think of you when the next newly qualified solicitors jobs arise.

You should also keep an eye on the legal jobs websites and legal press for new vacancies that come up. It is also worth spending time working on getting your application documents looking as best they can. You can look for some guidelines on the internet on how to make good CV’s and covering letters and also make sure that you do not recycle the applications you used for your training contract.

You could consider getting a job as a paralegal if it happens that you do not succeed in getting a newly qualified position as this will give you some valuable legal work experience. This can show something positive in you that prospective employers will want.

You can also take a gap year if you do not want to work as a paralegal, then you may come back in the market after a few months or a year when it has picked up a bit.

For more information about how to get newly qualified solicitor jobs please go to the website at www.newlyqualifiedsolicitorjobs.co.uk

So you think that every firm, as part of every training contract, will provide the perfect training for its trainee solicitors throughout the whole two years?

If only this was true in all cases, but unfortunately it’s not. It is therefore important that you know how to take some responsibility for your training contract yourself so you get the most benefit from it.

The first step is to read the SRA’s ‘Training Trainee Solicitors’ Requirements, which you should be given at the start of your training contract. For a copy see the SRA’s website.

Firms are required to ensure that trainees:

1. Gain practical experience in at least three areas of English law, including opportunities to develop their skills in both contentious and non-contentious work.

2. Be trained in the practical skills they are going to need to reach the necessary skills standards.

3. Maintain a training record, linking the experience they have gained to the compulsory skills areas. The Law society can ask to see this record at any time so it should be kept up to date. It also becomes a useful tool when updating a CV in future.

4. As part of the training contract, be given at least 3 formal appraisals as well as regular feedback on their progress.

5. Be allowed paid study-leave to attend courses prescribed by the SRA, such as the Professional Skills Course. The trainee’s firm must pay the Professional Skills Course fees.

The firm must also provide training and experience in the following key skills areas:

1. Advocacy and oral presentation

2. Case and transaction management

3. Client care/practice support

4. Oral and written communication skills

5. Negotiation

6. Dispute Resolution

7. Interviewing/advising

8. Legal research

9. Drafting

By knowing what you should be receiving as part of your training contract you are able to make your own assessment as to whether you are getting the right training or not. You can then ensure you get training and experience in any areas that you think your firm might be neglecting.

A training contract should always be a two way street where you should be able to make reasonable requests as to what you want to get out of your contract and the firm should be able to provide a training structure that suits them.

If you are not happy with how your firm is providing your training, or anything else in connection with your training contract they, then the Law Society can be contacted anonymously and can arrange that your firm be monitored. Alternatively, the Junior Lawyers Division Helpline provides a free, confidential service to help trainees with any problems they are encountering. The JLD Helpline number is 08000 856 131.

Looking for more information about becoming a trainee solicitor, then visit the Trainee Solicitor Surgery website to find the best careers advice on how to get yourself a law training contract.