City firm launches groundbreaking six-year apprenticeship route to qualification as solicitor


exam

Apprentices to face a central assessment test

Eversheds and BPP University Law School have launched a six-year apprenticeship scheme leading to qualification as a solicitor.

The law firm is believed to be the first to launch a scheme at this level, but its shape depends partly on the fate of the Solicitors Qualification Examination (SQE), which is far from clear.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has admitted that a “significant majority” of the 250 or so responses to its consultation on the SQE expressed concerns about the plans.

Tricia Chatterton, director of legal apprenticeships at BPP University, told Legal Futures that the level 7 standard – the apprenticeship that leads to qualification as a solicitor – included a central assessment test at the end of the six years.

“We will have plenty of notice as to what the test will be before the students sit it, and they will be fully equipped for their assessment.

“They will all be studying for a law degree. It is not part of the apprenticeship standard, but we believe that people who go through that amount of training should want and deserve a degree.”

Ms Chatterton said that among the advantages for apprentices would be training to be a solicitor without any debt, along with “wonderful work-related skills and networking opportunities”.

Under the scheme, Trailblazer level 7 apprentices will receive a starting salary of £15,200 outside London and £17,200 in London, which will increase year on year.

Eight apprentices are being recruited for the scheme, and will start in September this year.

Eversheds chief executive Bryan Hughes said: “We are committed to unlocking and developing talent at all levels at Eversheds and I look forward to welcoming more apprentices into our team as a result of this new scheme.”

The scheme builds on the firm’s existing apprenticeship programme launched last year and known as Eversheds Aspire, which currently involves 15 apprentices.

The Trailblazer Level 7 apprenticeship requires a minimum of five GCSE grades A-C (including Maths and English) and who are expecting “good A-level results”, equivalent to at least 300 UCAS points.

Tags:




Leave a Comment

By clicking Submit you consent to Legal Futures storing your personal data and confirm you have read our Privacy Policy and section 5 of our Terms & Conditions which deals with user-generated content. All comments will be moderated before posting.

Required fields are marked *
Email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Blog


Keeping the conversation going beyond Pride Month

As I reflect on all the celebrations of Pride Month 2024, I ask myself why there remains hesitancy amongst LGBTQ+ staff members about when it comes to being open about their identity in the workplace.


Third-party managed accounts: Your key questions answered

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has given strong indications that it is headed towards greater restrictions on law firms when it comes to handling client money.


Understanding vicarious trauma in the legal workplace

Vicarious trauma can happen to anyone who works with clients who have experienced trauma such as domestic or other violence, child abuse, sexual assault, torture or being a refugee.


Loading animation