The Solicitors Regulation Authority has opened a consultation on whether it should continue to set the annual minimum rate of pay for trainee solicitors.
The minimum wage policy, which dates back to 1982, was designed to protect trainees from being exploited and to encourage high calibre graduates into the profession before the introduction of a national minimum wage.
The current minimum salary levels are £18,590 in Central London and £16,650 outside—the rates have been frozen in the past two years to reflect the current economic downturn. The consultation closes in April 2012.
The consultation, which can be viewed and downloaded from the SRA website at www.sra.org.uk/consultations
