A new, more flexible trainee solicitor model has been launched for City law firms and in-house legal departments
Acculaw—the first non-legal service provider to be authorised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority to take on trainees—will recruit trainees according to firms’ demands and then second the services of those trainees to firms as and when required. Law firms and legal departments will commit to an agreed minimum number of months for each trainee per year.
According to Acculaw, the new model addresses specific pressures on City firms such as high up-front costs, time delays and inability to match trainee resources to workload fluctuations. Trainees are employed by Acculaw rather than the firm itself, reducing overheads and investment costs. Trainees will be able to gain experience in more than one firm.
Susan Cooper, CEO of Acculaw, said: “Firms have different cultures and clients, so the mix trainees experience while completing their training contract will make them more versatile and adaptable to changing environments.”
