Applications for the Spring 2027 cohort are now open until midday on Monday 2nd November 2026.
Flex Legal Trainee: a social mobility route into in-house legal work
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) route was designed to open up the legal profession 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.
The Flex Early Careers Programme employs aspiring solicitors from under-represented socio-economic backgrounds to gain practical experience within thriving in-house legal teams and record Qualifying Work Experience.
Before their secondment begins, employees complete a three-week Readiness Programme. They may also access SQE preparation courses through our partner BARBRI and funding for their first sitting of each SQE examination. The support available depends on their existing qualifications, secondment length and continued satisfactory performance in the role.
It is a challenging but rewarding opportunity.
Flex Legal Trainee operates two annual cohorts:
-Spring: Includes a Readiness Programme in March, with client secondments beginning in April.
-Autumn: Includes a Readiness Programme in October, with client secondments beginning in November.
For our Spring 2027 cohort, the Readiness Programme runs from Monday 22nd March 2027 to Friday 9th April 2027, with client secondments starting on Monday 12th April 2027.
Please email trainee@f-lex.co.uk with any questions about the application process.
Support and benefits available to Flex Legal Trainees
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- A first-year salary of £32,000 in London or £28,000 elsewhere. If your employment continues into a second year, the salary will be £35,000 in London or £31,000 elsewhere.
- Eligible employees may receive SQE preparation courses through BARBRI and examination funding. The support available will depend on your existing qualifications, secondment length and continued satisfactory performance in your role. Where SQE study forms part of the support available to you, you will normally work 4.5 days each week during the relevant study period but this is subject to client business needs.
- A three-week Readiness Programme before you start your secondment to help you contribute effectively from the outset.
- An in-house supervisor who will meet with Flex each month to review your performance, experience and development.
- Regular coaching, professional development and industry networking opportunities to support your performance and career development.
- Access to the Flex Legal QWE Journal, our proprietary tool for recording eligible work as QWE.
- Allocated SQE study time during relevant study periods, where this forms part of the support available to you.
- A range of benefits, including a cycle-to-work scheme, nursery benefits and private healthcare with Bupa after successful completion of probation.
The Flex Trainee application process
When applications open, the job will become available on our careers site. Please review our 11-step application process before applying for a Flex Legal Trainee role.
How it works
Whether you are applying to join Flex Legal as a fixed-term employee and undertake substantive work with a leading in-house legal team, or you already work in-house and want support with recording Qualifying Work Experience, we have an option for you.
Flex Trainee
You are employed by Flex Legal on a fixed-term employment contract and seconded to an in-house legal team to undertake practical legal work. Secondments typically last between 12 and 24 months but may be shorter.
- Eligibility: You must meet our social mobility criteria and hold a 2.1 UK Qualifying Law Degree.
- What's included: The support available will depend on your existing qualifications, secondment length and continued satisfactory performance in your role.
- Secondment Length: Flex Legal employs Flex Legal Trainees on fixed-term employment contracts and seconds them to in-house legal teams to gain practical experience. Secondments typically last one or two years but may be shorter. An employee may work with one host organisation throughout or undertake multiple secondments.
| If you have... | All Flex Trainee Employees | 12-month secondment | 24-month secondment |
| No SQE1 or LPC | Employees undertake practical work within an in-house legal team. | Eligible employees may receive SQE1 preparation courses through BARBRI and examination funding. | Eligible employees may receive SQE1 preparation courses through BARBRI and examination funding. If employment continues into a second year employees may also receive SQE2 support. |
| Passed the SQE1 or LPC | Employees undertake practical work within an in-house legal team. | Employees work full-time in year one. | If employment continues into a second year employees may receive SQE2 preparation courses through BARBRI and examination funding. |
| Passed the SQE1 or LPC and the SQE2 | Employees undertake practical work within in-house legal teams and record QWE. | Employees undertake practical work within in-house legal teams and record QWE. | Employees undertake practical work within in-house legal teams and record QWE. |
We accept applications twice a year for our spring and autumn cohorts. When applications open, the role will become available on our careers page.
Flex Talent Development
Flex Talent Development supports individuals who are already employed within an in-house team and want to record Qualifying Work Experience. Employers can enrol their employees to receive practical tools, coaching and SQE support from the Flex Legal team alongside their existing roles.
During the programme:
- Use the Flex QWE tool to record your QWE efficiently.
- Attend regular one-to-one meetings to discuss workplace experience, professional development and academic progress.
- Attend regular professional development sessions.
- Access funded SQE preparation courses through BARBRI and examination funding, subject to conditions.
- Connect with other aspiring solicitors at a similar stage of the SQE route.
Individuals cannot apply directly to Flex Talent Development. To find out more, please email trainee@f-lex.co.uk and speak to your current employer about the support it may offer.
Who we are looking for
We endeavour to help as many aspiring solicitors as possible gain practical work experience within in-house legal teams, while maintaining the following minimum entry criteria.
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 framework. During the application process, we will ask about your socio-economic circumstances while growing up.
- Academic requirements: You must have completed a UK Qualifying Law Degree from a course listed on the SRA website and achieved a grade of 2.1 or above. If mitigating circumstances prevented you from meeting this grade requirement, please provide details in your application. We will also accept applications from candidates who have completed the GDL or comparable conversion course.
- SQE examination status: We accept applications from candidates at all stages of the SQE examination process. Whether you're yet to start your SQE, or have completed the SQE1 or LPC and the SQE2, you are welcome to apply.
- Right to work: Successful candidates must demonstrate their right to work in the UK.
How challenging is the Flex Trainee role?
The legal profession is demanding.
Flex Legal Trainee employees balance their work responsibilities with periods of intensive SQE study.
During your secondment, your primary responsibility is to perform your role and meet the reasonable expectations of your host client. The SQE examinations are challenging, and you will also be expected to engage with your studies where these form part of the support available to you. Flex Legal will help you plan your studies alongside your work responsibilities.
We want you to succeed. Flex Legal and our clients provide regular support throughout the secondment. Alongside workplace supervision, you will have access to a dedicated mentor, coaching, ongoing support and SQE preparation courses. If you are ready to take on the challenge, we would be pleased to hear from you.
What happens at the end of your secondment?
Your next steps depend on the examinations you have completed, the QWE you have recorded and your future career goals.
During your time in the Flex Early Careers Programme, if you have met all requirements to apply for admission
Congratulations on this significant achievement. If you have passed the SQE examinations and completed your QWE, we will support you with your submission to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
- Historically, many of our trainees have been retained by their host organisation.
- If you choose to move on, or retention is not possible, we will do what we can to help you identify and apply for newly qualified roles, with guidance on the market and salary expectations.
During your time in the Flex Early Careers Programme, if you have not met all requirements to qualify
If your fixed-term contract ends and you still require further QWE or need to complete examinations, the following options may be available:
- You may be able to rejoin our Trainee in Waiting pool to be considered for further employment and secondment opportunities.
- Subject to performance and client demand, your fixed-term employment may be extended or you may be considered for a paralegal role while continuing the SQE route.
- If retention is not available, we may provide support through CV workshops, interview preparation and labour market insights to help you decide your next steps.
Flex Trainee Stories
Diana Marsh: From Flex Paralegal to NQ Success
flex trainee stories
How Flex kickstarted Tom's career at Mondelez
Testimonials
“It feels amazing to have finally achieved my goal of qualifying. It feels surreal and I’m truly thankful to God! I’m super happy to have achieved such a milestone, it’s made my family proud, and I am excited to try and help others to do the same.”
Jordan, Flex Trainee
Testimonials
“I am now 6 months into my Qualifying Work Experience and Flex continuously provides support with monthly check-in meetings with supervisors, as well as organising events and training sessions for us all, and genuinely being there for any question big or small. I am looking forward to continuing the SQE alongside the help and support from such a great team.”
Chloe, Flex Trainee
Testimonials
“This opportunity is making my dreams of qualifying come true and provided me two opportunities: to train in-house which is very rare for junior lawyers, and to build my legal and commercial network. I am so excited that such an opportunity is available to socially mobile students because at times it can feel like your chance will never come.”
Maab, Flex Trainee
Testimonials
“The thought of going into such a big business and being their first ever trainee was a little daunting at first - but the Readiness Programme Flex delivered definitely helped me to hit the ground running. One of the things which stands out to me from the programme was elevator pitches, which we practised so much!”
Saad, Flex Trainee
Testimonials
“Whilst most of the team was on annual leave during this summer, I had a moment of realisation of how far I had come in the few months of training in relation to my confidence to deal with matters from start to finish. I have definitely exceeded my own expectations.”