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Training contract

"Training contracts" are a written agreement (contract) between an employer and a trainee (an employee "in training", e.g. a trainee solicitor or trainee accountant). A training contract is separate from, and in addition to, an employee's employment contract. A training contract is often a key feature of a graduate job, graduate scheme or any other position which offers some kind of professional training as part of the employment package.

Training contracts are most commonly used when a trainee employee will be receiving external training from a third party organisation, paid for by their employer.

Training Contracts' Terms and Conditions

A training contract will usually stipulate the terms and conditions by which an employer will provide training to an employee and state the conditions which a candidate must meet, to ensure they continue to qualify for such training.

The typical terms and conditions of a training contract are:

  • The firm will provide training to a trainee employee, including all college, exam and institute subscription fees.
  • A trainee employee must study in their own time, not during company working hours.
  • If a trainee employee fails an exam more than once, or receives a "bad fail" (usually 45% or below for a paper with a pass mark of 55%), their training contract (and employment contract) will be terminated.

Graduate Training Contracts

Graduate training contracts are most commonly part of graduate jobs and graduate schemes at law firms and accountancy firms.

Training Contract: Accountancy

Training contracts are mandatory for all ACA or ACCA qualifications with the Big 4 and most other accountancy & professional services firms. Training contracts for accountancy jobs typically last for three years.

For further information on accountancy training contracts see:

Training Contract: Law

Training contracts are necessary for all graduate solicitor roles at law firms. Legal training contracts typically last for two years and consist of a a variety of seats, secondments and third part training (such as the mandatory Professional Skills Course (PSC)).

Although the vocational legal training contract usually lasts for two years, many firms offer students training contracts two to three years in advance of employment, providing financial assistance to students as part of the training contract, throughout formal education (e.g. the GDL (Graduate diploma in law) and LPC (Legal Practice Course)).

For more information on legal training contracts see:

Also see:

Further Information

For further information on getting a training contract or to ask questions about specific "training contracts" visit the WikiJob forum.