Time to Count

Dear Oracle

I am currently working as a paralegal, and wondered whether the experience I have gained will entitle me to any sort of reduction in the two-year training contract.

The Oracle replies

There is provision to reduce the amount of time you spend as a trainee based on previous experience, known as "time to count". Here's what the Trainee Solicitors' Group has to say about it:

"Time to count is complex, but hopefully these pointers will help. The current rules relating to experience gained outside a training contract allow experience gained since July 1 2000 to be considered as 'time to count'. The firm with which you have a training contract will decide in consultation with you whether it considers your experience to be sufficient. To apply for experience to be counted, your old firms must complete a time-to-count application form. This form is available on the Law Society website (www.lawsociety.org.uk) in the Trainee Solicitors' Guide to Authorisation. The form should then be given to the training principal at your new firm. If the firm is happy with the experience you have and the work proves to be equivalent to that of a trainee solicitor, time can be awarded at what is known as 'half equivalence' (eg, for 10 months' experience gained, you would potentially be eligible for a deduction of five months from your training contract). The maximum that can be deducted for previous experience from a training contract is six months. It is important to note that once such a form is completed, it must be retained on your file. If the Law Society monitors the firm and the form is not on your file, you will lose the time that had been awarded."

If you want to find out more, perhaps contact the Law Society direct, either emailing [email protected] or phoning 01527 504433.