Training Contract Records

Why? Starting Point:

All trainee solicitors must keep a record of their training during their training contract

SRA Training Regulations 2011

•Trainees must keep a ‘regular’ & ‘adequate’ training record (Reg 6.1(b))

•Training Principals must ensure trainees keep a training record (Reg 15.2(e))

•Training records must cross-refer the SRA’s Practice Skills Standards (Reg 6.1(b) & Guidance Note (iii))

•Trainees must get good coverage of the SRA’s Practice Skills Standards(Reg 16.3(a))

SRA Training Regulations 2011

•“Regular”

•“Adequate”

•“SRA’s Practice Skills Standards”

The SRA’s Practice Skills Standards

90+ skills/competencies across the key headings:

• Advocacy and oral presentation

• Time & work management, including– Case and transaction management

– Client care and practice support

• Communication skills

• Dispute resolution

• Drafting

• Interviewing and advising

• Legal research

• Negotiation

Putting this all together…

A training record should:

Capture examples of your experienceBe selective (not a duplicate time recording system)Be representative of what you’ve been doingSay something about your learning and development and how you might do things better/differently next time (reflective)

For example…

Let’s say you’re in Property and complete 20 TR1 forms in a week. Do you:

A.Create 20 entries in your training record for each TR1 form you’ve done?

B.Create 1 entry in your training record for that week covering this experience, noting what you learned?

“What if I don’t do it..?”

You put your Firm and your Training Principal in breach of the SRA Training Regulations 2011

The SRA have audit powers and can demand to see your training contract record

Your Training Principal must be satisfied that you have complied with the SRA requirements before signing you off for admission as a solicitor

Not just about the SRA…

Learning & development tool A way for you to capture and reflect on your learning and

development A way for you and the Firm to assess your progress

against the SRA and any firm-specific ‘KPIs’Relevant for mid-seat and end-of-seat reviewsRelevant for NQ applications (a ‘CV builder’)

Historically (and at many firms still), training records have been a paper exercise…

How often should I be logging on?

Requirements, expectations & benchmarks

How often should I be logging on?

• Expectation (including SRA’s) is ‘weekly’

• 20 to 30 minutes per week

• Some weeks will be very busy, but…

• …would not expect a month to go by without any entries

• Firm will track & monitor engagement levels

• No black & whites but as a benchmark…

Our rating: On average:

‘Good’ 3 or 4 entries per week

‘OK’ 1 or 2 entries per week

‘Poor’ < 1 or 2 entries per week