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I have to question Jacqueline Emmerson's comments on three main grounds:

1. A training contract is 'on the job' training. Trainees should have a perfectly good grasp of degree-level law, and should be developing their practical skills (including researching unfamiliar law) as part of their job or in their down-time. There shouldn't be any need to dedicate every Monday morning to training. Give your trainee a task to get on with and check it at the end. If you're using them correctly, they should be assisting the team not slowing it down.

2. You shouldn't be losing your trainees "for weeks at a time" to training courses. The PSC is the equivalent of 36 hours per year (i.e. one week), which isn't much higher than the old annual CPD requirement for qualified staff.

3. Your trainees shouldn't be a financial drain on the firm if you are giving them proper work to do and are billing it properly. I won't try to guess what your hourly rates are, but a trainee billing about half a day's work per day should be able to meet your target.

You seem to employ very few qualified solicitors. I sincerely hope you don't treat all of your paralegals with the same contempt that you do your trainee(s).