Trainee minimum-pay threshold is ‘complex’
A report from the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) says that the past six months has seen progress on 22 of the recommendations it made last year on tackling economic and other barriers facing aspiring and early-career solicitors and barristers.
Its second progress report on the issue, published today (25 September), covers the period from April to September.
The LSRA’s Breaking Down Barriers report, published in January last year, made 32 recommendations, and was followed by an implementation plan setting out a timeline for the reform proposals to be introduced.
As well as the LSRA, the implementation group includes the Law Society, King’s Inns, and the Bar of Ireland.
Diversity data
The latest progress report says that the three professional bodies have shared their views on a proposal for a levy and other funding mechanisms to develop increased supports for prospective solicitors and barristers to increase the diversity of intake.
The LSRA says it will carry out further consultation with stakeholders on this recommendation before bringing proposals to the Minister for Justice.
It has also invited feedback from the three bodies on a draft report from diversity experts Bridge Group on the collection of diversity data on trainee solicitors and student barristers.
‘Complex considerations’
According to the report, the Law Society has told the LSRA that a proposal for a minimum pay threshold for solicitor trainees raises some “complex considerations”.
It has also told the regulator, however, that trainee solicitors are often paid more than both the statutory minimum salary and the non-statutory ‘living wage’.
The Law Society has said that it expects to provide a more substantive reply on the recommendation by the first quarter of 2026.
On the recommendation for solicitor traineeships in the civil and public service, the report notes the work undertaken by the Law Society and adds that the LSRA and the solicitors’ organisation are collaborating on a planned symposium on the issue to take place later this year.
Supports for small firms
The Law Society has also told the regulator that it is “actively engaging with detailed proposals to increase its financial supports for small firms”, with a more substantive response to come over the coming months.
The report says that the LSRA is in the early stages of developing a public consultation on the introduction of multi-disciplinary practices (MDPs) – partnerships set up to provide legal and other services.
Writing in the report, LSRA chief executive Dr Brian Doherty said that his departure from the post this month would “inevitably” have an impact on some of the timelines for the recommendations.
He added, however, that he had “every confidence” that the LSRA and its key stakeholders would continue to work apace to bring about the reforms.