Innovation and Investment in People come together to create six new trainee solicitor roles at Hudgell Solicitors – Legal Futures

Hudgell Solicitors has announced the appointment of six new trainee solicitors under a new scheme enabling them to earn and learn – benefitting from accruing a period of recognised training alongside their studies.

Hudgell Solicitors’ six new trainees

As a sign of investment in their own in-house legal talent, only existing internal candidates with at least six months prior work experience with the firm have been selected. They are;

Chief Executive Rachel Di Clemente says the firm, which has with offices in Hull, London and Manchester, will now offer two distinct training contract routes.

With key consideration given to the changing nature of the training and qualification regime for prospective solicitors with the forthcoming Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE), Hudgell Solicitors’ new training contract offerings are to be based around the internal candidates completing the Legal Practice Course (LPC) part-time, over two years.

Part-time study Training Contract route will meet needs of trainees

Mrs Di Clemente said: “Our first route will include advisers within our New Claims unit; they do a very important job and speak to prospective clients about a variety of legal issues, every day.

“Their role is often underestimated; this role exposes our colleagues to some of the most challenging discussions requiring the highest levels of client care and legal research.

“The training contract starting in this area it will be tailored to allow colleagues greater input within the new claims process and the ability to assist with more advanced stages of the claim. Trainees will then go on to gain experience in specific legal areas during the final year of their training contract.

“The second route will be more of an orthodox legal services entry route with a training contract undertaken within various areas of legal services. Both of these routes will allow the trainees to commence their training contracts alongside completing the LPC on a part time basis.”

Juggling studying alongside a need to continue earning and raising a family is something Mrs Di Clemente has first-hand experience of, and she says this approach will help those juggling such demands.

“Our new flexible routes to qualification as a solicitor reflect the changing nature of the qualification regime as well as benefitting candidates wishing to complete their LPC part-time alongside gaining work experience,” she said.

“The firm’s new training contracts mean that, even whilst studying the LPC part-time over two years, the total time to qualification could be as little as two-and-a-half years with relevant prior work experience.

“As someone who had the benefit of undertaking this route myself, alongside juggling a full-time job and two young children, I am a passionate advocate of finding ways to make qualification more affordable and meaningful.

“My own children were already in school and I was in a full-time job when I decided that I wanted to qualify as a solicitor. I had already gained 10 years’ experience in the legal sector and simply wasn’t in a position to give up my job to take up a standard trainee solicitor position.

“I look back and can’t quite believe I managed to find enough hours in the day to study, work and be a hands-on mum, but I did. It’s now my job to ensure that others get this opportunity.”

A creative step towards transition to the new SQE

The SQE recently approved by the over-arching regulator the Legal Services Board is the new independent centralised assessment for all would-be solicitors. The SQE will not however be introduced until September.

The SRA has however recognised the need for transitional arrangements, which means an individual already studying or training can continue to qualify through the existing routes, or choose to do the SQE.

Hudgell Solicitors’ newly appointed Corporate Services Solicitor, John Cuss, will be dedicating part of his role to overseeing the new cohort of Trainees and make sure their period of recognised training is as informative and enriching as  possible.

Hudgell Solicitors have recently had accolade of being added to The Times newspaper’s prestigious list of the top 200 law firms as well as being nominated for a host of industry awards whilst growing their portfolio of high-profile national claims.