Support SQE trainees, nurture talent in your team and demonstrate a commitment to social mobility
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Since 2021 we've been running Flex Trainee, an SQE training scheme dedicated to supporting social mobility. We accept aspiring solicitors from low socio-economic backgrounds and place them with forward-thinking clients to create opportunities for all.
Our Flex Trainee programme is simple to set up for clients. Trainees work in your team for a minimum of 12 months to build Qualifying Work Experience whilst completing the academic component of their qualification. We handle their employment, and after a year you can choose your next steps.
Join clients such as Vodafone, Diageo and Asos in benefiting from the success of the Flex Trainee scheme.
Why join up for Flex Trainee?
- Demonstrate your commitment to social mobility - Flex works with legal charities such as STRIVE and the Social Mobility Business Partnership to attract and identify the best socially mobile aspiring solicitors.
- Develop your own talent without the risks - you can decide if the opportunity is right for the trainee to continue their development with you at the end of the placement.
- Reduce the time and effort of trainee supervision - Flex Legal will handle employment matters and provide supervisors with digital QWE recording tools and peer-to-peer support.
- Empower your trainee to succeed - we'll support your trainee with monthly meetings, mentoring, an empowering peer community, and strong academic preparation with our partners at Barbri.
Three flexible ways to grow talent
Whether you want to nurture a socially mobile apprentice from the start, develop a trainee who has already begun their legal journey, or support one of your own junior team members to take the next step, there is a Flex Trainee route that fits. We will explain more about the different options when you contact us.
Flex Apprentice
Use your Apprenticeship Levy to support law graduates through SQE1 & 2.
Flex Trainee
Bring in a trainee who has already passed SQE1 or the LPC.
Flex Talent Development
Enroll your own aspiring trainee into the Flex Trainee support programme.
Take advantage of vetted trainees
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We receive hundreds of applications each year from talented and deserving socially mobile aspiring lawyers. A rigorous five-step vetting process, including assessments and interviews, ensures that only the best and most deserving are ready to be placed with our clients.
We work with you to understand your ideal candidate, based on your organisational needs and culture, and suggest a range of candidates. You can choose to interview from our shortlist, retaining control at every stage.
Do you have your own aspiring lawyer in your team you'd like to support through the SQE? No problem! We can offer a 'talent development' route. Enroll your aspiring solicitor to the Flex Trainee programme, and we'll support them to complete their SQE/QWE.
Preparing candidates for success
:format(webp)/f/91079/952x872/b97cf59371/screenshot-2024-08-27-at-16-21-25.png "Flex Legal's Readiness Programme - speaker from Mishcon de Reya delivering a session on court room etiquette")
All of our aspiring lawyers start their Trainee journey by taking part in our intensive Readiness Programme, equipping them with the network, practical skills, knowledge and acumen that they need to thrive.
The programme features expert input from highly experienced lawyers working in private practice and in-house, as well as professionals from a range of specific business areas.
The programme enables your trainee to hit the ground running, armed with practical insight into:
- How to succeed in a professional setting.
- Maintaining high professional standards, including managing stakeholders and meeting expectations.
- Core soft skills including confident communication, active listening, and effective presentation.
- Practical legal skills, such as drafting.
- Bespoke research tasks to equip them to understand their future organisation and its legal context.
Supporting supervisors
We don't only support candidates. We are dedicated to providing comprehensive support to you, helping your legal team strengthen its capabilities and develop a valuable pipeline of junior talent.
- Each client has their own Account Manager at Flex Legal who will meet with you each month to review progress.
- Flex Legal will handle all employment matters, SRA qualification requirements, education and exams, compliance, and on-going training.
- Flex Legal will provide access to Flex Legal's digital Qualifying Work Experience Journal.
"It’s such an exciting time for Flex Trainee! We're keenly looking for organisations who share our vision.”
Mary Bonsor, Flex Legal Founder
Are you a potential candidate interested in the Flex Trainee scheme?
If you're an aspiring solicitor from a low socio-economic background then Flex Trainee for candidates will give you all the information you need.