POSTED
1st August 2025
AUTHORJessica Morgan
Reading time3 minutes
100 people from under-represented socio-economic backgrounds have already successfully completed the scheme
The social mobility scheme, Flex Trainee, has now opened to companies looking to take on legal trainees and company secretaries to grow their team in a fully supported way. Flex Trainee works with talented young individuals from under-represented backgrounds, placing them in organisations as SQE trainees. The scheme opens as figures show that the share of lawyers in SRA-regulated law firms from lower socio-economic backgrounds reduced from 21% in 2015 to 18% in 2023 [source].
Founded by Flex Legal in 2021 and the first of its kind, this pioneering path to qualification aims to open up the in-house legal profession to more diverse talent, benefiting both trainees and the organisations they work for. Over 100 trainees have been through the scheme in the last three years, successfully working in companies including Vodafone, Tesco, Diageo, Amazon and the Crown Estate.
“Our ambition is to be the biggest provider of lawyers from under-represented backgrounds in the UK,” comments Mary Bonsor, founder of Flex Legal. “We know there’s a wealth of talent out there, but also, still, far too many barriers. I started Flex Trainee because of the relentless focus on backgrounds in legal recruitment – so many talented individuals were slipping through the net because of their circumstances, not their potential. We have 100 success stories now, and want to create many more.”
The scheme is designed to work seamlessly for all parties, with Flex Legal employing the trainee and seconding them into the firm’s team, meaning minimal administration for the company and creating lower risk for a company as individuals are not on its headcount. Trainees get a complete learning experience and the firm gets a valuable junior resource.
The training provided by Flex Legal is comprehensive, supporting each trainee through their professional journey every step of the way to qualification. AI training is currently a key element in the company’s three-week readiness programme, and both trainees and the client are offered additional monthly support. Flex Legal also funds the SQE exams and SQE prep course through Barbri. Each trainee is part of a peer network, with others going through the same pathway, meaning there’s invaluable professional support within the group.
“Flex Trainee have provided us with something which we could not have pulled off ourselves: brilliant and aspiring individuals from under-represented backgrounds who have made an impact in our legal team,” comments Jeremy Mavor, UK General Counsel at National Grid. “We really value the service Flex provide, and we’re glad that two new trainees are coming into our CoSec and legal teams this year.”
Companies can also currently fund a Flex Trainee solicitor placement using their apprenticeship levies, which will be phased out from 2026, making it the last chance to access this pot. The scheme covers both lawyer (level 7 qualification) and company secretary (level 4 qualification) roles. The minimum commitment for firms is for 12 months, but many choose to place trainees for the full two years.
Companies are invited to register their interest before 15 September 2025. Training will start on Monday 13th October with in-house placements beginning on Tuesday 4th November.
Flex Legal has an overall target to enhance 50,000 careers and therefore change lives by 2035. Its trainee recruitment is undertaken in conjunction with STRIVE and the Social Mobility Business Partnership.