The SRA Handbook is no longer in effect. It was replaced by the SRA Standards and Regulations on 25 November 2019.

SRA Handbook

Secondment of trainee solicitors

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Version 5 of the Handbook was published on 01/10/2012. For more information, please click 'History' Above

Regulation 11: Secondment of trainee solicitors

11.1

You may arrange a secondment in accordance with regulation 11, even where you can provide the range of experience set out in regulation 10.1(a) or (b).

11.2

If you are a training establishment, and you arrange a secondment for a trainee, you must:

(a)

ensure that the secondment complies with the requirements in regulation 10; and

(b)

include details of the secondment(s) on the certificate of training at the end of the training contract.

11.3

If you are a training establishment, you may not arrange a secondment:

(a)

for a period of longer than one year; or

(b)

to an organisation that is not authorised to take trainees 

without approval of that secondment from us.

11.4

You do not need to seek our approval for a secondment of up to one year if it is to:

(a)

another solicitor's office in England and Wales;

(b)

an overseas branch office; or

(c)

any other organisation that is authorised to take trainees.

11.5

If you intend to second trainees on a regular basis to an organisation that is not authorised to take trainees, such as a law centre or a client company, you must apply for our approval for that arrangement.

11.6

If you are a training establishment, and are making an application to us for approval for a secondment, you must provide us with:

(a)

the name of the organisation where the trainee will be seconded;

(b)

details of the type of work the trainee will be doing;

(c)

the name and experience of the person who will supervise the trainee during the secondment;

(d)

the time period of the secondment; and

(e)

confirmation that the requirements of these regulations will be adhered to during the secondment.