Who Wants A Guaranteed Training Contract?

Dec 10, 2014

Written By Billy Sexton, Editor, AllAboutLaw.co.uk

Yes, you heard correctly: a guaranteed training contract! No, there isn’t a Faustian catch – you just have to be an ‘exceptional’ student.

The Law Society is set to offer guaranteed training contracts to two students in 2015. The initiative is part of its Diversity Access Scheme (DAS). Standard DAS awards include financial assistance, work experience and the support of a mentor. The DAS PLUS is an award which includes all of the above and a guaranteed training contract at an eligible Law Centre. Whit-woo!

There is also an opportunity for a student who receives a DAS award to apply for a training contract with the Law Society’s in-house legal team.

The Law Society decided to offer a training contract at a Law Centre because a high number of previous applicants to the DAS indicated they wanted a career in the social advice sector.

In addition, funding cuts to Law Centres have resulted in reduced staffing budgets, including the recruitment of trainees, despite no reduction in demand for the services provided by the centres.

Andrew Caplen, Law Society president, said, “Guaranteeing training contracts at Law Centres not only protects access to justice, the scheme itself goes some way to improve the diversity of the legal profession.

“A shortage of training contracts does make the legal profession a hard one to break into, but for many people applying to the Diversity Access Scheme, the prospect of getting on the LPC never mind securing a contract is incredibly remote due to the social and economic barriers they face. This is a depressing reality but one we should not ignore.

“If you are talented and show great promise as a future member of the legal profession, we want to make sure you get a fighting chance.”

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