Increase in number of training contracts on offer: key findings from Law Society’s annual report
updated on 12 June 2014
The Law Society has published its Annual Statistical Report for 2013, which has confirmed that the number of training contracts on offer has increased up to 5,302 following the decline of previous years.
The increase in training contracts on offer is positive news for those interested in a career in law; the previous period of 2011 to 2012 had seen only 4,869 training contracts registered. The decline in the market was in response to the economic downturn of 2008-2009, with firms looking to defer starting dates for their future trainees and significantly reduce intakes. However, the report also states that the number of students graduating from first-degree law courses continues to grow. In 2012-13, the number of those graduating reached 15,348.
Among other things, the report revealed that:
- there are 158,644 solicitors on the Roll and 127,676 with practising certificates (PCs). These are both down on 2012 (by 4.4% and 0.85% respectively) and are the first such reductions recorded in over 20 years;
- the number of private practice firms declined for the third year in a row - only the number of larger firms with partnerships of 81-plus grew;
- as of 31 July 2013, 176 alternative business structures have been registered; and
- women made up 47.7% of all those with PCs and 64.1% of new trainees.
