Trainee Solicitors UK 2024

The Public Defender Service (PDS) is a department of the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) that operates alongside private providers delivering a full range of quality, value for money services within the criminal defence market.

Informed by its participation in the market, PDS contributes credible and expert advice to the government on service and policy development affecting the sector and acts as a test-bed for innovation and quality improvements.

PDS operations provide a critical safeguard against market failure across England and Wales, thereby ensuring the LAA fulfils its statutory responsibility to ensure continuous access to justice.

Key purpose of this role

As a Trainee Solicitor, you will commence a training programme designed to enable you to provide legal advice and representation in the Police Station, Magistrates’ and Crown Court.

Successful candidates will be required to complete the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE)1 and SQE2 preparation course, and pass the Police Station Qualification (PSQ), SQE1 and SQE2 examinations. The designated period of qualifying work experience must also be signed off by a qualified solicitor.

Key responsibilities

Undertake training in order to conduct the following unaided:

• progressing legal cases from arrest through to sentence;
• taking instructions from clients, drafting statements and preparing attendance notes;
• develop and advise on relevant options, strategies and solutions;
• undertake police station representation (including active participation in our out of hours scheme);
• legal research and analysis of casework;
• negotiation, drafting, communicating orally and in writing;
• undertake effective spoken and written advocacy;
• establishing and maintaining effective and professional relationships with clients and other people;
• plan, manage and progress legal matters and transactions;
• initiate, plan, prioritise and manage work activities to ensure that they are completed efficiently, on time and to an appropriate standard;
• keep, use and maintain accurate, complete and clear records

Essential criteria

• excellent Microsoft Word and Excel skills;
• outstanding customer service and communication skills;
• experience of following processes, meeting deadlines and producing high quality work;
• organisational skills, including the ability to multitask;
• attention to detail;
• motivated and able to work as a team and individually;
• a full driving licence

Essential qualifications

You will need

• A minimum of a 2:1 in a qualifying law degree[1] or
• A minimum of a 2:1 undergraduate degree in a non-law subject (or overseas equivalent in any subject) and a minimum of a pass in a GDL/PGDL/CPE (law conversion course) that covers the foundational topics[2]), or
• Equivalent qualifications (such as ILEx/CILEx) that cover the foundational topics

[1] The qualifying law degree must be compliant with the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) subject benchmark statement for law and cover the following seven foundational topics of legal knowledge

[2] Criminal Law, Equity and Trusts, Law of the European Union, Obligations 1 (Contract), Obligations 2 (Tort), Property/Land Law and Public Law (Constitutional Law, Administrative Law and Human Rights Law)

Your benefits with us

After approximately one year of training, providing you achieve competence in certain areas and pass the PSQ you will progress to a HEO role (with the associated increase in pay). Upon successful completion of the full training programme, you will be a fully qualified solicitor.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion

We are committed to diversity and inclusion and we positively promote flexible working, including job shares.

We will consider all applications on merit regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, religion, ethnicity, preferred working pattern and except for exceptional circumstances your working location.

As a Disability Confident organisation, we will offer a guaranteed interview to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for this role. Under the Equality Act 2010 a disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities which has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months.

If you are responding to a role within the Legal Aid Agency and would like to be considered under the guaranteed interview, please ensure that you attach the Disability Confident Scheme Form when you return your application. You can use the same form to let the recruiting manager know of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the sift or later selection processes.

Application and assessment process

To be eligible for this role, you must evidence that you have completed the above essential qualifications.

You will be required to submit a statement of suitability for the role and demonstrate the following behaviours at level 2 – EO.

Seeing the Big Picture

Understand how your work and the work of your team supports wider objectives and meets the diverse needs of stakeholders. Keep up to date with the issues that affect your work area. Take a keen interest in expanding knowledge in areas related to your work. Focus on overall goals and not just specific tasks to meet priorities.

Developing Self and Others

Identify gaps in own and team’s skills and knowledge. Set and consistently meet development objectives. Seek learning opportunities. Support the development plans of all colleagues, recognising how diversity of experience/background can help to build an inclusive team culture. Consider the contributions of all team members and delegate work to aid the learning and development of all. Encourage and listen to developmental feedback from colleagues.

Interview/assessment process

If you are successful at the application stage, you will be invited to an interview, via MS Teams.

As well as the above behaviours, abilities and strengths applicable to the role will also be assessed at interview.