Project Rise – a part-time training initiative

Law Society’s Disabled Solicitors Network (DSN) launched Project Rise, a cross-firm initiative that looks to encourage more part-time training opportunities in the legal profession.

Cardiff Business School and the DSN carried out research that informed this initiative and proved beyond reasonable doubt that disability issues have received little consideration in diversity and inclusion (D&I) interventions targeting solicitors’ profession.

Although Aspiring Solicitors is backing it, the project goes beyond helping disabled trainees. Many people from various backgrounds including carers would benefit from an option of doing their training contract on a part-time basis.

The project began in 2021 when the new Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) was introduced. The SQE sets much more flexible requirements than the old system of training contracts.

The SQE could be an example to the sector as to how it trains its candidates, perhaps by routinely providing junior employees with part-time, full-time, flexible or hybrid qualifying work experience.

These companies now offer casual part time trainings:

• Bates Wells
• Browne Jacobson
• Eversheds Sutherland
• Freeths
• Osborne Clarke
• Interested companies meet regularly to discuss why they might consider offering part-time training and what obstacles are related to such training. They do not have to put their companies at risk by offering flexible working hours until they are ready but they can join discussions that go on about it.

Firms do not need to provide a specific number of placements nor are there any guidelines on how many days should be worked per week for such training – this includes graduate apprenticeships under different terms or modes of hiring like SQE qualifying work experience or formalised coursework agreements which other firms may use as pathways towards qualification as attorneys-at-law in England and Wales.

SRA definitions

According to SRA rules “full time” means employees must work no less than thirty-two hours every week over fewer than five days. If for example, some candidates are able to work longer hours in less than five days, they may qualify within two years which is the minimum period required for training.

The SRA does not specify what constitutes ‘full-time equivalent’ QWE under the SQE and it is up to each firm to define this concept.