Research by the UK's Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has shown that since the removal of the minimum trainee salary, trainee numbers have increased and they are more positive about their salaries, even though average trainee salaries have dropped.

In 2014, the SRA said it would no longer set a minimum salary. Firms would instead need to pay at least the national minimum wage and be guided by the market.

The SRA has now analysed the data on 33,000 trainee solicitors between 2011 and 2016 to assess the impact of these changes.

According to the research, the removal has coincided with a continued growth in the nu...