The Solicitor Regulation Authority (SRA) has introduced 'a period of recognised training' as an alternative to the traditional training contract route to legal qualification.

Changes to the requirement for solicitor training mean that experience gained outside of a training contract, for example as a paralegal, can equate to the traditional trainee framework, and be recognised as such by the SRA.

An SRA spokesperson said: "We have retained the requirement for training in terms of content, breadth, level, supervision, but we no longer require it to be undertaken in terms of an SRA training contract. This has been replaced by a 'period of recognised training (PRT)'.

If an individual can demonstrate that they have achieved the outcomes required, we will recognise that, even though they may not have been done through a formal training contract."

"The view of the institute is that it is a good thing," said head of policy at the Institute of Paralegals, James O'Connell who has been in consultation with the SRA about the changers. "They are looking at standards rather than the process used to get there."

O'Connell believes the change will give more people the chance to pursue a career as a qualified lawyer, as the traditional training structure meant "good people are being kept out because of circumstance not ability."

"The possible changes will give greater flexibility to individuals in terms of how they are trained," commented Hogan Lovell's head of graduate recruitment, Claire Harris.

However, O'Connell also expressed concern as to the level and area of work traditionally undertaken in a law firm by paralegals, compared to that of trainees.

"The problem is that paralegals specialise and that is going to be quite hard for a paralegal to tick all the boxes," she said.

This apprehension is echoed elsewhere.

"There is the question of the quality of work done under a training contract," said one graduate recruitment partner. "How does that compare to two or three years of paralegal work? For a firm, there will also be a big question of clients – should they pay the fees for a newly qualified lawyer for someone who has been a paralegal for two years?"

Alexander Griffith, graduate recruitment partner at DLA Piper, added: "Most of the paralegals are focused on a particular project or area, between them the nature and the substance of the work they are doing can vary to a large degree."

This can be viewed in contrast to the prescribed seat rotation system in place in most training contract programmes.

The impact of the changes is not yet clear, with some believing the traditional training structure will not be affected.

"It is likely most large city law firms will continue to run a graduate recruitment programme and offer trainee development initiatives," said Harris.