Good practice in recruiting of trainee solicitors

Incorporating amendments approved by the Training Committee in June 1990, July 1993 and April 1995.

Agreed by

• The Law Society
• AGCAS - The Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services
• AGR - Association of Graduate Recruiters
• TSG - Trainee Solicitors Group

Employers and students alike must appreciate that an offer and acceptance of a training contract gives rise to contractual obligations on both parties and that a breach of those obligations by either side could lead to legal proceedings.

Careers Advisory Services

Careers Advisory Services will observe the provisions of the general Code of Practice and will encourage and monitor the observance of this Guide by all with whom they have dealings

Employers

1. Employers will not hold any interview for employment as a trainee solicitor before 1st September in the student's final year of undergraduate studies. No final date for the receipt of applications shall be before the 31st July which occurs at the end of the penultimate year of an applicant's undergraduate study.

2. If the employer is considering for employment as a trainee solicitor a student who is undertaking or has undertaken vacation experience with that employer, no offer of a training contract will be made before 1st September in the student's final year of undergraduate studies.

3. Employers who intend to visit institutions of higher education to interview applicants will agree visit dates in advance with the appropriate careers service.

4. Where an aspect of the selection procedure takes place off campus during term time, employers will offer alternative interview dates if requested.

5. At the interview, the applicant will be told if there are further stages of the selection procedure and how long it is likely to be before the employer can decide whether an offer of employment will be made. An offer of employment will not be withdrawn before the time limit for acceptance has expired.

6. Within two weeks of an interview the employer will inform the applicant in writing whether the application has been rejected or whether the applicant is invited to attend any further part of the selection process or whether the outcome of the interview is still being considered. (This will not preclude an offer of employment being made within two weeks of an interview.)

7. Whenever possible an employer will not make an offer of employment subject to a time limit for acceptance if the period of training is due to start longer than 12 months ahead of the offer. If this is not possible (and subject to eight below), an offer may state a final date by which a decision is required (or by which the offer, if not accepted, will be deemed to be declined) which must be at least three weeks after the offer is sent.

8. In no circumstances may an employer put a time limit for acceptance on an offer of a training contract where that time limit expires before 1st November in the academic year in which the law graduate takes degree finals (or the non-law graduate the CPE course).

9. Employers will be prepared to consider sympathetically a request from a student to extend a time limit on an offer of employment provided good reason is given for the request.

10. Employers will not discriminate directly or indirectly on the grounds of race, religion or sex at any stage of the recruitment of trainee solicitors. Employers will (from 18.7.95) comply with the Society's Practice Rules and Code of Practice on the avoidance of discrimination.

11. All offers of employment will be in writing and contain such information as the Law Society may prescribe.

12. If an employer is prepared to provide financial assistance to a trainee solicitor in relation to his undergraduate or postgraduate studies, the terms and conditions on which that assistance is offered will be explained to the student in writing when the offer of a training contract is made. An offer of financial assistance must comply with the time limits in this Guide; for example, the time limit for acceptance of financial assistance must not have the effect of reducing the time limit for acceptance of an offer of employment

13. This section should not be construed as imposing upon solicitors any new requirements of professional conduct.

Students

Students will:

1. Respond as promptly as possible to an offer of employment as a trainee solicitor. If they are unable then to give a final decision on the offer they must ask for time to consider it, but must indicate the date by which a final decision will be given. This date will not be after the period laid down in the above section relating to employers, unless good reason is given for such an extension being requested.

2. Not accumulate offers, in particular this means that a student who receives more than two offers must without delay turn down those offers in excess of the two that he or she wishes to hold.

3. Accept offers in writing.

4. Once they have accepted an offer, inform all other employers who have asked them to attend for interview and thereafter make no further applications.

The Law Society

The Law Society in conjunction with AGCAS will monitor the operation of this Guide. Alleged breaches of the Guide should be referred to the Monitoring Team Manager, Legal Education Division, the Law Society, Ipsley Court, Redditch, Worcestershire B98 0TD.

This Guide has been drawn up to assist all who are concerned with the recruitment of trainee solicitors. The Guide is intended to operate alongside the Code of Practice agreed between AGCAS, AGR and the NUS.