Law firm refusing to sign off on work experience and other issues - how honest am I in my exit questionnaire?

[FrustratedAndUpsetByWork]

I am 26, and I have spent the last 18 months working at a law firm, after joining when my previous firm merged with them. I was a trainee solicitor before the merger and was taken on on that basis.

When I joined I was told that due to the merger, the firm would sign off on my previous six months’ of work experience. I have worked for the last eighteen months and passed my SQE exams on the basis that I would be signed off this week and I would be joining the roll.

They have now, in my last week of my training contract, said that they won’t actually be signing off on this work as they didn’t physically see me do it. They have the files, they can see the work, but because they didn’t see me do it they won’t do it.

That means that I will not be qualifying as a solicitor this week, and that I have wasted the last two years of my life. I am six months short on work experience. They won’t allow me to carry on.

I have another job lined up out of the law, so I am not overly concerned in the immediate aftermath of this, but I am very upset that all my hard work has come to nothing.

The partners of the firm have also started being incredibly rude to me after I handed in my notice. I was informed that there was no job for me at the firm, two months before the end of my contract. This came after sixteen months of flawless appraisals from all of my supervisors. Everyone I had come into contact with was under the impression I’d be getting a job in a certain team. This team was banking on me joining. They were not told I wouldn’t be working for them until the day I handed my notice in.

I feel so, so gutted. Even though everyone I have worked with has said this isn’t on me, I feel like it’s a reflection on me. There have been other things, like the other trainees were paid differently to me, I have been studying outside of work while they got paid study days etc.

I just want to let loose in my exit interview now. It’s really sunk in that I’ve been treated badly and exploited by the firm, and I have nothing to show for it now. Literally nothing. I’m hoping they’ll be signing off on my 18 months with them, but there is no indication of this at the moment.

Do I just go balls to the wall and let loose on how I feel? I know it could sever ties with the firm, but I don’t really care. I don’t want to work for them again and I feel like someone needs to be aware of how people are treated.

Not true. Any solicitor can do it if they are satisfied you’ve completed it, which is why I’m in contact with old colleagues.

but yes, the SRA are this strict.

Have you asked them directly what the process will be when there is a training dispute?

And if there are alternative methods of proving training because they will have had all kinds of situations arise eg if you worked in a solo pratice and the person dies etc etc.
Most training records have to be auditable so I cant see how a person can sign for work they have no way of checking took place?

You need to speak directly and in depth with them about what happens next. I am suprised that you need to make a formal complaint most professional bodies would make direct contact with the Managing/Training Partner and see if their call prompted movement rather than kicking into high gear with a full investigation.

Anyway best of luck.

If the partner put in an email then you have written evidence.

You need the SRA to intervene.

I’m hoping the other solicitor from my previous firm will get back to me, but if not it’ll be SRA time I think.

ive sent my last gasp text messages to try and get someone who’s willing to sign it off.

I think the reason it’s hit a nerve today is because all I’ve heard for the last week is “oh it’s such a shame you’re leaving” “I can’t believe you’re going” and nothing but good feedback from every single person I’ve worked with in the firm, but they still didnt offer me a job. So I feel like I’ve failed a bit

i hope you get this sorted. Is it a well known firm?

I was out with a bunch or lawyere tonight and ran this past them and they said it is very rare for a trainee not to be signed off as you are essentially ruining their life. They think it must be something significant to do with you. You said you are leaving the legal field- why?

It’s not to do with me. I’ve had nothing but positive feedback the entire time. I’m leaving because I joined the firm 18 months ago when I was in a very tough place personally. I’d suffered a family bereavement and other illnesses, I myself was unwell with chronic health issues and it was the “easy” thing to do at the time - the job was there, I didn’t need to look for work and at the time I thought I wanted to work as a solicitor. I’ve changed SO much in the last 18 months. I’ve been to therapy, lost a significant amount of weight and (as cringey as it sounds), I’ve found myself and who I am. I’m leaving to work in the public sector because I’m fed up of working to make money for other people, and I want to help people for a little bit. I’m moving into an admin role where there’s the potential for growth across many different fields, so that I can figure out what I want to do.

I’ve not had any indication from my firm that the work I’ve been doing is below par or doesn’t meet the requirements of a TC. Like I say, everyone who’s supervised me has been full of praise and this has come out of the blue.

I’ve heard of firms not signing off before. A few of my students had this happen to them. Paralegals can get QWE signed off now but some firms are refusing to do this. I guess many don’t know the system has changed? The cynic in me thinks that it’s more to do with a paralegal being cheaper than a qualified solicitor….

Sadly I think it’s exactly that.

But didn’t OP say she was a trainee solicitor which implied she had a training contract? This is different to having QWE signed off no? So not sure how the fact paralegals are cheaper come into it?

Of course there are ways of proving you have done work even if they haven’t physically seen you do it. They wouldn’t be keeping that close tabs!

Something fishy is going on OP. I would go to the SRA and hopefully they will intervene?

my firm calls us trainees without us being on the formal TC - we’re still working at the same level, but just without the TC registered with the SRA.

Thankfully the former director of the firm I was working with before this has come through and has said he’ll have a call with me and then sign off on the work. So I’m a lot calmer this morning. It’s just put a really sour note on my departure to be honest

Given OP isn’t registered as a Trainee won’t the SRA treat her like a paralegal? Maybe things have changed but I’m sure I was on the trainee register (many moons ago)….
Essentially she has the title trainee but doesn’t have the contract to go with it.
no contracts, no TUPE, poor communication. They sound like a shit employer. You're best out of there OP.

the employer sounds spiteful .. question is why?

in any case hope all works out for you OP. You must move heaven and earth to get those six months signed off as then you would be a qualified solicitor and will have more options in the future

I think because I’m leaving under my own steam, rather than them sacking me to be honest. I was advised a couple of months ago to find a new job because for “commercial” reasons they weren’t going to be taking on NQs in the department I work in. So I went and got a new job. Once I was 4 weeks into my notice they presented me with a job offer that I turned down. So I think they’re pissed off im still leaving.

Not until they've signed off the 18 months service. Can you complain formally to a professional body regarding the 6 months?

Oh they agreed to do the 18 months pretty much straight off the bat. I think they assumed I’d not kept any professional relationships from the last firm.

I don’t know whether to pursue it or not. I have the emails stating she’d do it, then saying she won’t and not giving a reason, but that’s it

Can you forward copies of previous appraisals to HR and let them know you have enough evidence to put in a complaint.

I just don’t see the point because I’m leaving. What’s it going to do? I never, ever want to come back here

This, get on to them as soon as possible. A woman I did my training with had a similar issue and had it resolved by the SRA.

You absolutely need to get those 6 months signed off OP. You have done the work and it is the difference between being a qualified solicitor or not. It may not matter now but it may do in the future.

you have done the work - get it signed off. Get SRA involved or whatever else you need to do. But get your qualification verified that YOU have already done the hard work and sacrifice for

They absolutely can sign off on your previous work, for some reason they don’t want to which is very poor form on their part. Ask to speak to the COLP who will have to pass your complaint to the SRA. There are rules in place specifically for mergers to protect trainees. I wonder if they think if they sign you off they have to employ you but they don’t.

It seems this was the miscommunication. Thankfully I’ve found someone else to do it.

I’ve also just found out that the reason I wasn’t given my dream role at this firm was because of a time, early on into my training contract, when I was “late”. I wasn’t contracted to start until 9:15, I usually showed up at 8:30. I didn’t get in until 8:45 because I overslept (it was back when iphone alarms randomly stopped working). They believe, that plus the time my bus was cancelled due to weather, shows that I’m not reliable or punctual. I made the time back up on those two occasions, so I think I’m getting out of a bad place!

So is all OK now and you would be a qualified solicitor?

thats a batshit explanation! I don’t believe it for a second. Then why did they subsequently offer you a role?

As long as I pass the exams! If not, I have some time to think about whether I’d like to sit them or not.

im not sure I do either. I’m just glad to be out.