Flex Trainee opens 2026 intake as employers look to build more inclusive legal teams 

Flex Trainee has opened its 2026 intake, offering organisations a supported way to diversify their early careers talent pipeline, as socio-economic representation in the legal profession continues to decline. 

The programme, founded by Flex Legal in 2021, places aspiring solicitors and company secretaries from under-represented socio-economic backgrounds into in-house legal teams as SQE trainees. By employing trainees directly and seconding them into host organisations, Flex Trainee removes common barriers linked to headcount, risk and administration, while giving individuals paid, structured experience towards qualification. 

The launch comes at a time of growing concern around inclusion and social mobility in professional services. The share of lawyers in Solicitors Regulation Authority-regulated firms from lower socio-economic backgrounds has fallen from 21 per cent in 2015 to 18 per cent in 2023, raising questions about access, progression and long-term workforce diversity. 

More than 100 trainees have completed the scheme over the past three years, with placements at organisations including Vodafone, Tesco, Diageo, Amazon, Centrica, National Grid and the Crown Estate. For employers, the model supports fairer recruitment while strengthening culture through broader perspectives and lived experience within legal teams. 

Mary Bonsor, founder of Flex Legal, said the programme was designed to address structural inequalities that continue to shape legal careers. 

“Our ambition is to be the biggest provider of lawyers from under-represented backgrounds in the UK,” she said. “There is a wealth of talent, but too many barriers remain. A relentless focus on background rather than potential means capable people are still being overlooked. We now have 100 success stories and want to create many more.” 

Alongside placement experience, trainees receive comprehensive wraparound support, reflecting the growing link between inclusive career development and workplace wellbeing. This includes a three-week readiness programme, regular check-ins for both trainees and host organisations, funded Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) exams and preparation through Barbri (Bar Review and Integrated Method)), and access to a peer network of others on the same pathway. 

AI training also forms part of the programme, helping trainees build confidence and capability in modern legal environments, while reducing the anxiety often associated with entering professional roles without traditional networks or sponsorship. 

Jeremy Mavor, UK general counsel at National Grid, said the scheme had enabled access to talent his organisation would otherwise have struggled to reach. 

“Flex Trainee have provided us with brilliant and aspiring individuals from under-represented backgrounds who have made an impact in our legal team,” he said. “It is something we could not have pulled off ourselves.” 

Flex Legal has set a target to enhance 50,000 careers by 2035, positioning social mobility as a core people and culture issue rather than a standalone diversity initiative. Recruitment for the trainee scheme is delivered in partnership with social mobility charity Strive and the Social Mobility Business Partnership, reinforcing the role of cross-sector collaboration in building more inclusive and sustainable workplaces.