Training Contracts/SQE
If you are looking to take the first step in your legal career, Express Solicitors can help. Keep reading to find out more about how to get a job as a trainee solicitor at Express Solicitors.
Training Principal’s Introduction
I qualified with Express in 2014 and really enjoyed my time as a trainee. As the current Training Principal, I want to ensure that all of our present and future trainees get the same positive & supportive experience I had. We offer trainees responsibility of their own cases, with frequent client contact and genuine hands on experience.
Trainees receive a structured learning experience with weekly reviews with their supervisor and informal catch ups with me every week. There are also trainee socials and firm-funded events with the Manchester Trainee Solicitors Group. We aim to look after not only our trainees from a technical development side but also to offer mentorship and guidance to assist their wellbeing.
Support and learning are the key foundations to our training contracts. Express has always placed a huge emphasis on supporting junior lawyers throughout their careers. We are confident that on qualifying with us you will already be well on your way to being a Personal Injury Expert.
We have always done things differently to other firms as we want to ensure that those who join us, have an in-depth understanding of the law and a long term development plan with us. We consider every trainee to be a prospective partner and the future of the firm itself.
Qualifying with Express is only the beginning. I can’t wait to be a part of your qualification journey.
Raana Lowery
Partner – Head of Professional Support – Training Principal
Training Contracts/SQE
Express Solicitors does things a little differently to other law firms. We generally offer our Trainee Solicitor Jobs to our current employees. We want to ensure that personal injury is the right area of law for you and the only way to truly know that is to work in the area itself.
Therefore, our potential trainees start as Litigation Assistants working their way to a Training Contact. We will give you 3 appraisals per annum so we can discuss your progress and readiness to be a Trainee Solicitor. You will always know what your next steps are or what you need to improve upon.
As part of our direct progression route, it generally takes 9 – 18 months, for our law graduates to obtain a Trainee Solicitor job.
We have around 80 Trainee Solicitors at any one time and we offer both an SQE route and a LPC route.
Express Solicitors has a year-round intake of Trainees, so you can progress to this stage through the year. There is an exception with those taking the SQE route, who will generally start in a either the January or September cohort, in line with our course provider, BPP, start dates.
How the SQE works at Express
At Express Solicitors, our SQE programme is completed via a SQE degree apprenticeship with BPP, as the learning provider. This is a 2 year 8 month course and includes both Parts 1 & 2 of the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations as well as the required qualifying work experience. Whilst doing the apprenticeship you will receive regular in depth training and have 1 day a week ring-fenced for your studies. The rest you will be in the office completing your QWE. To be eligible for the programme you need a qualifying law degree and to meet the entry requirements set by BPP.
Quick Comparison Summary
| Period of Recognised Training Route (LPC Route) | Solicitors Qualification Examination Route | |
| Salary Year 1* | £27,250 | £26,750** |
| Salary Year 2* | £27,750 | £27,250** |
| Length | 2 years | 2 years 8 months |
| Funding | Professional Skills Course fully funded | SQE Degree Apprenticeship fully funded |
| Academic Requirements | Completion of LPC | Completion of LLB |
| Start Times | Rolling throughout the year | September/January start |
*These figures include an average yearly commission of £1,500. Our generous commission is paid monthly in arrears. For some of our trainees, this figure is much higher where they are bringing in above-average legal fees.
** £24,750 for those who are not handling their own caseload.
Why be a Personal Injury Trainee Solicitor
Here are our top 5 reasons for being a personal injury trainee solicitor:
Supporting and helping vulnerable clients 
Individual client connections
Making a genuine difference
Winning at trial
Seeing a case from start to finish
What benefits does an Express Trainee Solicitor job offer
Here are 5 key reasons to become an Express Trainee Solicitor:
Express make PI experts
Early file experience
Growth and expansion
Progression
Specialities in a variety of areas
What does a Trainee Solicitor do?
We think it’s really important that you understand what it’s like being a trainee solicitor here at Express. To have a genuine understanding of the ins and outs of a trainee solicitor role. To help with this one of our current trainees, has put together what a typical day looks like for them – to give you an idea about what your day might look like and that tasks you might get involved in.
Day in the life of an Express Trainee
Grace Rainey is a Trainee Solicitor in the Occupiers’ and Public Liability Department. Grace works alongside Daniel Slade, Chief Executive Officer (Legal) and Katryn Mercer, Senior Associate Solicitor Advocate at Express.
Working closely with Daniel and Katryn, Grace has gained a wealth of experience dealing with particularly complex, serious and catastrophic injury claims. Grace is currently studying for the Solicitors Qualifying Exam and is on route to becoming a qualified Solicitor.
Training and Support
Every trainee solicitor has a supervisor who will support them with a weekly supervision meeting. While we have an open door policy for day to day queries, this weekly session allows for in-depth conversations and file reviews for those more complex matters. It also helps guide trainee solicitors, to help them stay on track with their targets and caseload milestones.
Each team member has a buddy to help them and we also have a Trainee Solicitor Teams chat group, which allows for our trainees to help and support each other.
All trainee solicitors will have 3 appraisals per annum so we can discuss your progress. You will always know what your next steps are or what you need to improve upon.
Trainees also have the opportunity to meet with our Training Principle, Raana Lowery, once a week for an informal drop in catch up. As someone who trained with Express herself, Raana is ideally placed to guide and mentor our trainees, with practical advice from her own experience.
Raana also heads our Learning & Development here at Express, along with the rest of her team. You can find out about the great help they provide here.
Applying
As mentioned above, you cannot apply directly for a training contract at Express Solicitors. These are awarded to litigation assistants who already work for us and have demonstrated the necessary skills and committed to personal injury.
You can find out everything you need to know about applying for a litigation assistant position within our Graduate Scheme.