Support for training managers

A Training Manager is the Law Society's named point of contact for for all trainees at the training unit. That person is responsible for ensuring compliance with the Admissions Regulations and will make sure that all trainees at the training unit receive adequate training and proper supervision. They also have authority to make some decisions on behalf of their organisations, which previously had to be authorised by us.

A training manager must be a solicitor who has:

1. practised as a solicitor for not less than than a cumulative total of three years; and
2. has held a practising certificate without conditions throughout that period, at the time of appointment and while acting as training manager.

An organisation's Training Manager may be different to the solicitor who supervises a trainee's day-to-day work.  

If you and your trainee agree that they are ready - and they meet the required criteria - the Admissions Regulations allow trainees to apply to be admitted as a solicitor after three months as a trainee.

This offers an opportunity for trainees to gain valuable experience in a variety of matters for which they need to be admitted, particularly court work. We have information on our website about what trainees can and cannot do, once admitted and we have also produced advice below about a variety of appearances that trainees who are admitted might be asked to undertake.

What do trainees need to do to apply for early admission?

To be eligible for "early" admission, a trainee must have completed a minimum of three months (full time) of their traineeship and have completed:

1. 20 hours of "sitting in training" - this is shadowing a colleague in the type of court in which they will be appearing when admitted.
2. An advocacy course run by the Society. There is a small administrative fee for this course and trainees can register via their online portal.

For further details about applying for admission, please read the relevant webpage.