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The legal profession is undergoing a quiet revolution. As the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) transforms the path to qualification, the traditional training contract is no longer the only way forward. In fact, the SQE by its very nature embraces flexibility, allowing aspiring solicitors to qualify through diverse experiences gained across different legal settings.
For many future lawyers and forward-thinking legal teams, the flexible training contract is emerging as a smarter and more modern solution. At Accutrainee, we have been pioneering this model for over a decade, and we believe it represents the future of solicitor training.
The Traditional Route: What Is Not Working?
For decades, the two year training contract has been the standard route to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. Yet it has long been criticised for its rigidity and inaccessibility:
- Too few places: Thousands of law graduates compete for a limited number of solicitor training contracts each year
- One size fits all: Candidates rotate through fixed departments regardless of their interests or long term goals
- Not aligned with modern legal practice: The structured seat model can feel disconnected from the way legal work actually happens
- Limited in-house exposure: Many trainees miss out on commercial and client facing experiences that are increasingly important
The result is a bottleneck of legal talent, inconsistent development pathways, and a model that does not always reflect the diverse needs of today’s profession.
The Rise of the Flexible Training Contract
The SQE has fundamentally changed the qualification landscape. Under the new system, aspiring solicitors can qualify by completing Qualifying Work Experience (QWE), which can be gained across up to four different organisations.
This represents a significant shift. The SQE moves away from a rigid single employer model and instead focuses on experience, competence, and flexibility. It reflects the reality that legal work today takes place in many different contexts, including private practice, in-house legal teams, alternative legal service providers, and regulators.
This is where the flexible training contract comes into its own. At Accutrainee, we have built a model that mirrors the flexibility at the heart of the SQE. We employ aspiring solicitors directly and place them on structured secondments with a range of carefully selected legal teams. Each placement is designed to develop core skills, provide high quality supervision, and help candidates progress towards qualification with confidence.
What Are the Benefits for Candidates?
A flexible training contract offers a wide range of advantages for aspiring solicitors:
- Broader legal experience: Candidates work in different settings, gaining exposure to a variety of legal issues, clients, and commercial environments
- SQE ready: All placements count as QWE and are fully aligned with SRA requirements
- Tailored development: We provide targeted support, regular mentoring, and access to legal training and soft skills sessions
- Better career insight: Trainees can make informed decisions about their future by experiencing both law firms and in-house teams
- Greater accessibility: This route opens doors for individuals who might not be able to access the traditional model due to structural or financial barriers
Why Law Firms and Legal Teams Are Embracing This Approach
Flexible solicitor training is not only better for candidates. It also offers clear benefits for employers:
- Agile resourcing: Access talented junior lawyers at the right time, without the long term commitment
- Risk free recruitment: The secondment period allows employers to assess suitability before making permanent offers
- Improved diversity: Flexible training supports social mobility and inclusion, helping firms meet their DEI objectives
- Fully managed solution: Accutrainee handles recruitment, supervision, compliance, and development, allowing clients to focus on legal work
- Commercial value: Clients benefit from enthusiastic and capable legal talent who can add value from day one
How Accutrainee Is Leading the Change
Accutrainee was founded on the belief that the legal profession needed a more flexible and inclusive route to qualification. We developed our secondment model years before the SQE made it possible, and we remain the only organisation in the UK offering this comprehensive approach.
We recruit and employ talented legal graduates, place them with clients across a range of legal sectors, and support them throughout the qualification journey. Our team provides supervision, skills development, and regular check ins to ensure each placement is a success for both the trainee and the client.
This commitment to innovation and excellence was recognised at the 2025 LexisNexis Legal Awards, where we were proud to be named Best Trainee Scheme. It is a testament to the quality of our model and the real impact it is having across the legal profession.
The Future of Legal Qualification Is Flexible
The legal profession is evolving, and qualification pathways must evolve with it. The SQE has created a framework where flexibility, accessibility, and competence take priority over structure and tradition. For many aspiring solicitors and legal employers, the flexible training contract is not just an alternative, it is a better way forward.
At Accutrainee, we are proud to support the next generation of solicitors through a model that works for both candidates and clients. Being awarded Best Trainee Scheme at the 2025 LexisNexis Legal Awards reinforces what our clients and trainees already know – that flexible training is not only viable, it is leading the way.
Looking to qualify as a solicitor or add legal talent to your team?
Get in touch with Accutrainee to find out how flexible solicitor training contracts can support your goals.
