Two sets of numbers came out in September that most people read separately. I think they belong together.
First, Legal Cheek's data showed training contract numbers across 109 firms fell from 2,593 to 2,549, down 1.7%. Some of the big names cut harder. Linklaters went from 100 to 60 while growing its solicitor apprenticeships. Freshfields went from 85 to 70, Pinsent Masons from 68 to 54, Addleshaw Goddard from 70 to 60 and Kennedys from 31 to 16.
Second, the SRA's report on the July SQE1 sitting showed a pass rate of 42%, and 47% for first time candidates. In January it was 53%. A record share of candidates were resitting.
Why a recruiter cares about trainees
Most of my time goes on qualified solicitors at around 3 PQE and above. So why care about trainee numbers? Because today's trainee is the 3 PQE I am trying to find in five years. Fewer in at the bottom means fewer to go round in the middle.
1.7% does not sound like much. The cuts are bunched at a handful of large firms though, and those firms have always trained more people than they keep. Plenty of lawyers at mid sized and regional firms started their careers at the big ones. If the big ones train fewer, that flow shrinks.
The case for fewer trainees
There is a fair argument on the other side. Some of the work trainees used to do is now being done by technology. Legal Cheek said AI may be feeding into planning, though it did not tie any single firm's cut to it. If the junior work shrinks, training fewer people looks sensible on a spreadsheet.
My issue with that is simple. Partners and senior associates do not appear out of nowhere. Someone has to do the junior years to become the person who can run a matter. A firm that trains fewer people today is betting it can buy them in later. If enough firms make the same bet, they will all be shopping for the same people at the same time.
The SQE bit
The SQE1 pass rate tells you the bottleneck sits at the start. Once people get through it, most pass SQE2, which had an 83% pass rate in the results the SRA reported in August.
So there is a group of people stuck in the middle. Paralegals and legal assistants doing good work, building their qualifying work experience, and struggling with SQE1. I reckon that is the most underused talent pool in the market. A firm that backs those people through the exam gets a lawyer who already knows its clients and has a good reason to stay.
If you run a firm
Plan your pipeline for 2030 as well as next year. Ask where your 3 PQEs will come from if the big firms stop training more than they need. Some options are cheaper than they look. Back your best paralegals through the SQE, look at apprenticeships, and keep the NQs you train, because replacing them will only get harder.
If you are early in your career
Hold your nerve. A tight pipeline now means the people who get through will be in demand later. If you are a paralegal working towards qualification, be clear with your firm about it and ask what support they offer. It is a fair question, and the answer tells you whether they see you as a future lawyer.
If you are planning headcount for the next few years and want a straight view of where the market is heading, when would you be free for a quick chat next week?
Sources
- Legal Cheek, trainee numbers fall across Most List firms
- SRA, July 2026 SQE1 statistical report
- SRA Update issue 154
Key Takeaways
- Training contract numbers across 109 firms fell from 2,593 to 2,549, with the cuts bunched at a handful of large firms.
- The July SQE1 pass rate was 42%, and 47% for first time candidates, so the bottleneck sits at the start of qualification.
- Fewer trainees now means fewer 3 PQE solicitors to go round in five years, and every firm will be shopping for the same people.
- Paralegals stuck behind SQE1 are the most underused talent pool in the market, and backing them through the exam is cheaper than it looks.
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About the Author
Chris Brain
Founder, Connect Legal Partners
Chris Brain is the Founder of Connect Legal Partners, working a 2-8 PQE legal recruitment desk across the Midlands from the West Midlands - covering Northants, Leicester, Birmingham and Shropshire. He places experienced solicitors with Legal 500-ranked and Chambers UK-listed firms across six core practice areas.