“We are incredibly proud of the Flex Trainee scheme! This page covers everything you need to know about our scheme and its application process.”
Ellie Murray-McNieve, Head of Talent
WHEN TO APPLY
Applications for Flex Trainee's Spring 2026 Cohort will open on Monday 6th October.
Please email trainee@f-lex.co.uk with any questions you may have on the application process.
Why Flex Trainee
An industry-leading way to break into the industry
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) route was designed to open the legal profession up to a much wider and more diverse range of people. It represents a significant opportunity for historically under-represented aspiring solicitors to complete Qualifying Work Experience within in-house legal teams.
Our Flex Trainee programme helps aspiring solicitors make the most of this opportunity. We hire individuals from diverse, underrepresented socioeconomic backgrounds, put you through an intensive 'Readiness Programme', and place you with a top in-house legal team for on-the-job Qualifying Work Experience. On top of that, we fund prep courses for your exams through our partners at Barbri, and for the SQE exams themselves.
It's a challenging but incredible opportunity!
Some of our Flex Trainee Clients
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Benefits
What Flex Trainees receive:
- A salary of £32,000 in London, or £28,000 elsewhere.
- Access to SQE1 and SQE2 preparation courses (additional courses subject to T&Cs) and your first sitting of each SQE exam.
- A bespoke Readiness Programme before you start, to allow you to hit the ground running.
- An in-house supervisor, who meets with Flex every month to review your progress.
- Regular 1:1 support from the Flex Team.
- Introductions to mentors across the legal industry.
- Exclusive access to industry networking events.
- Access to our SQE Journal, to help you easily track your Qualifying Work Experience progress.
- Other benefits including private health care, a cycle-to-work scheme, and nursery benefits.
How to apply
The Flex Trainee Application Process
When applications open the job will become available on our careers site. Please take a look through our 11 step application process before applying to become a Flex Trainee.
Down to the nitty gritty
How it works
Before applying, please review the criteria below and ensure you're familiar with the study requirements for our scheme.
| Flex Trainee | Flex Talent Development | |
| Who is this route for? | Anyone who meets our social mobility criteria with a 2:1 UK qualifying law degree. | Anyone who meets our social mobility criteria and already works as a paralegal within an in-house team, who will sponsor your entry to the programme. |
| Who will employ you? | Flex Legal will be your direct employer, and second you to partner organisations for training. | Your current organisation. |
| What are the work / study requirements? | Depending on your qualifications upon entering the programme, you will either complete SQE1 in your first year or work full-time during the first year before taking SQE2 in the second. You will have half a day of study leave per week during term time. | Depending on your qualifications upon entering the programme, you will either complete SQE1 in your first year or work full-time during the first year before taking SQE2 in the second. You will have half a day of study leave per week during term time. |
| What are the academic / reporting requirements? | You will record work experience through the SQE Journal, and by the end of your placement need to have completed both the SQE1 and SQE2 exams. | You will record your work experience through the SQE Journal, complete the SQE1 in year 1 (optional), and complete the SQE2 in year 2. |
Entry requirements
Who we're looking for
We are incredibly keen to help as many aspiring solicitors to gain QWE as possible, but we do still have minimum entry criteria.
Our Flex Trainee programme offers a single, accessible training route for candidates, regardless of whether they have already completed the SQE1 or LPC. Upon joining the programme, we will tailor your specific study and work pathway based on your qualifications. To do this, we cannot accept applications from candidates who are currently studying.
Please note the following eligibility requirements for the upcoming autumn 2025 cycle:
- SQE1: We cannot accept applications from candidates who are currently studying for, or booked to sit, an SQE1 exam where the results will be released after the start of our client matching process. Your application will include questions to determine your eligibility based on these timelines. If you are not eligible for this cycle, we will let you know and you will be invited to apply again for the next cycle.
- SQE2: As our programme is designed to prepare you for this stage, we cannot accept applications from candidates who are enrolled to sit, or have already completed, their SQE2 exams.
To apply for any Flex Trainee cohort, you must meet all of the following criteria:
- Social Mobility: You must meet our social mobility criteria, which are based on the Social Mobility Commission's framework. You will be asked questions about your economic circumstances whilst growing up during the application process.
- Academic Requirements: You must have completed a UK Qualifying Law Degree from a course listed on the SRA website, and have achieved a grade of 2.1 or above. If mitigating circumstances prevented you from meeting the 2.1 requirement, please provide details in your application for our consideration.
- SQE exam status: as documented above
- Right to Work: Successful candidates will be required to demonstrate their right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we are not able to provide visa sponsorship at this time.
Difficulty Level
How challenging is the Flex Trainee scheme?
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It's well-known that qualifying as a solicitor is demanding.
Through the Flex Trainee scheme, there will be periods when you are expected to juggle work commitments with fairly intense study.
During your secondment, you will be gaining QWE with our clients and we expect you to bring your best effort to that experience. The SQE exams are widely regarded as challenging, and will really put your legal abilities to the test. We expect you to keep up with your studies while fulfilling your obligations to your host client - your success on the Flex Trainee scheme will require you to deliver on both the professional and academic aspects of the scheme.
This being said, we want you to succeed! Both Flex Legal and our clients will provide you with regular, on-going support along the way. Alongside supervision at your place of work, Flex Legal will provide you with a dedicated mentor, continuous support, and access to the UK’s best SQE preparation courses. If you are ready to take on the challenge, we'd love to hear from you.
Please note: Progression from Year One to Year Two of the Programme is subject to performance and client demand.
Following Flex Trainee
What happens at the end of the two years?
Upon completing the two-year programme, your next steps will depend not only on whether you’ve reached qualification, but just as importantly, on what you want to pursue after qualifying.
We’re here to support you throughout this process, helping to ensure that your path forward aligns with your goals and aspirations.
- For our qualified trainees: Congratulations on this significant achievement! Historically, the majoring of our trainees who have qualified will be retained by their host organisation or start to look for a new NQ roles, with Flex supporting you along the way.
- For trainees still on the path to qualification: We remain on hand to provide support where we can, from advising on CVs and interview prep, to insights into the NQ market and salaries. Some host organisations are able to retain trainees as paralegals until you complete they necessary steps needed to qualify. If this is not an option, we can support you through deciding what your next steps are.
Flex Trainee Stories
Diana Marsh: From Flex Paralegal to NQ Success
Diana's journey into law as a first-generation immigrant was anything but easy. Yet, with a determined can-do attitude, invaluable mentorship, and unwavering resilience, she rose through the ranks, from Flex Paralegal to Flex Trainee, and now an NQ Lawyer at PZ Cussons.
flex trainee stories
How Flex kickstarted Tom's career at Mondelez
Tom’s journey to becoming a lawyer wasn’t your typical path. After self-funding his LPC and navigating a series of Financial Services roles, breaking into the legal world seemed like an impossible challenge. But thanks to Flex Trainee, he found the opportunity he needed to thrive.