“We have quickly become one of the largest training contract providers in the country, having placed our trainees into in-house legal teams of all shapes and sizes.”
Mary, CEO and Co-Founder
Why Flex Trainee
Qualify with Flex Legal
The new SQE route to solicitor qualification is designed to open the legal profession up to a wider pool of talent. It represents a significant opportunity for socially mobile aspiring lawyers to qualify in-house.
Our Flex Trainee programme helps both legal teams and aspiring solicitors make the most of this opportunity. Our trainees are placed within a top legal team for a minimum of 12 months to gather valuable Qualifying Work Experience, whilst they also complete the academic component of the SQE qualification.
To take our scheme to the next level and give even more socially mobile aspiring lawyers the chance to break into the legal industry, we now have three Flex Trainee routes to choose from:
- Flex Apprentice: perfect for law graduates at the start of your legal journey.
- Flex Trainee: the route for anyone with SQE1/the LPC, plus 6 months' legal experience.
- Flex Talent Development: ideal for paralegals already working within a legal team.
Flex works with the UK’s most forward-looking legal teams to make sure trainees are exposed to a wide range of work. Our trainees have been placed in renowned companies, including international banks and other financial services organisations, leading manufacturers and retailers, technology and telecoms companies, as well as charities. Flex employs our trainees for two years and second the trainees to different legal teams. Trainees either complete their placement with one organisation for the two years or will be placed across two organisations for a year each. At the end of the two years, and subject to passing the SQE assessments, trainees become a qualified lawyer.
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Benefits
What you'll receive
- A salary of £30,000 in London or £25,000 in the regions
- The SQE 1 + 2 preparation course plus your SQE exams, all fully paid for by Flex
- A readiness programme before you start your first placement to allow you to hit the ground running
- An in-house supervisor, who will meet with Flex every month to review your progress
- Regular 1:1s with both a mentor and a legal expert from Flex
- Professional development opportunities with Flex through professional and industry networking events
- Access to the Flex Legal SQE Journal, which is Flex’s proprietary tool to easily record Qualifying Work Experience
- One half-day off every week to study for the SQE
- A range of personal benefits, including private health care, a cycle-to-work scheme, and nursery benefits.
Requirements
Who we're looking for
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- Completed a UK qualifying law degree from any university
- Completed the GDL/PGDL, or
- Completed your LPC and willing to switch to the SQE route
You should have obtained a 2.1 or above (or an equivalent grade to this) in at least one degree or post-graduate qualification. If you have mitigating circumstances that prevented you from achieving these grades, you should still apply but inform us in your application so we can take this into account when assessing your academics.
There are no academic requirements for the qualifications you took at school or college.
- Right to work in the UK
You must have the continuous right to work in the UK for two years from the date you would start as a trainee. For example, if you are applying for July 2023 start, you must have the right to work until July 2025. Unfortunately, Flex is unable to sponsor work visas at this time.
- Be a socially mobile candidate
Flex Trainee is designed to bring socially mobile and diverse aspiring solicitors into the profession. As part of your application, you will be asked to provide more details of your background and upbringing, particularly related to your education and social background.
Applications
Flex Trainee applications are closed for this season.
We will be opening the application window for our 2024 cohorts of Flex Trainee soon. Be sure to follow Flex Legal on social media to be notified when the window opens!
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