SRA 'sorry' for confusion over trainee numbers

The SRA has apologised to the profession following what it has described as 'confusion' over the number of trainee solicitor contracts for 2014.

Earlier this month, Douglas Scott Recruitment suggested that the number of training contracts had increased by 65 per cent in 2014.

The information used by the recruitment company had come from the regulator by way of a Freedom of Information Act request.

In response to the query, the SRA said that 5,541 training contracts were registered in 2014, and 3,415 periods of recognised training entered into. However, the figure of 5,541 represented the total number of trainees taken on in last year.

The SRA said it should have made clear that the number of training contracts registered included the periods of recognised training.

The executive director of the SRA, Richard Collins, commented: "We are sorry for any confusion this has caused. We have spoken directly to the training company about this to explain, apologise and correct the position. We are also taking this step to correct the position publicly and we hope this clarifies the matter."

The up to date figures as of 17 February 2015 for the number of trainee places registered over the last three years are:

The SRA went on to clarify that trainee numbers can be subject to change due to delays in firms notifying accurate numbers to the regulator.

Max Harris, chair of the Junior Lawyers Division of the Law Society, told SJ that the regulator's change of terminology was to blame for the confusion.

"We have consistently told the regulator their reforms are confusing the legal market, and therefore sympathise with our friends at Douglas Scott who were only reporting on the information given to them," he said.

John van der Luit-Drummond is legal reporter for Solicitors Journal