Adequate Supervision of Apprentices
For the Attention of all Master Solicitors and their Apprentices
The Law Society has received a number of complaints regarding the excessive responsibility which is being delegated to apprentices at the early stages of their training, and in particular prior to attending their initial training course in the Law School.
Masters are reminded that apprentices must receive an adequate level of supervision at all times in the course of the apprenticeship. If the master is unable himself/herself to give such supervision, appropriate alternative supervision should be arranged. This, in the first instance is the responsibility of the master. In the initial stages of training the Society strongly recommends that the master should accompany the apprentice to the closing of at least a few sales before such apprentice can attend a closing alone. It is not the duty of the solicitor acting on the opposite side of the transaction to train the apprentice of a colleague.
The Society strongly disapproves of apprentices carrying out duties in an unsupervised manner, possibly to the detriment of the clients concerned and to the reputation of the profession at large. Furthermore, without the requisite level of supervision and training, the risks of claims against a firm's Professional Indemnity Insurance could be substantially increased.
In addition members are also reminded that it constitutes discourteous and unprofessional behaviour to send an apprentice to close a sale without the consent of one's colleague on the other side of the transaction. This is the case even if the apprentice is in the latter stages of his/her training.