Scrapping the minimum wage for trainee solicitors without a thorough impact assessment goes against ‘common sense’ and could bar candidates from less affluent backgrounds from entering the profession, junior lawyers warn today.

The Law Society Junior Lawyers Division says in a statement that the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) should delay its consultation into the future of the minimum wage while it awaits the findings of the Legal Education & Training Review (LETR).

In the meantime, the division has made a freedom of information request to the SRA for more details on how much trainees are currently paid.

Camilla Graham Wood of the division’s executive committee said: ‘Apart from the obvious fact that the economic climate remains unstable, there is also the uncertain matter of what impact alternative business structures will have on trainees and their pay. Add to that the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders bill’s impact on young lawyers working in legal aid and it is clear that the timing of this consultation is atrocious.

‘With legal services going through drastic change, removing the minimum wage could be a risk. There is a real danger that without the minimum salary protection in place, those from less affluent backgrounds could be denied entry to the profession.

‘At the very least, the SRA should opt for common sense and await the outcome of the LETR before even contemplating scrapping the minimum wage.’