International law firm Bird & Bird will be introducing a Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme in London starting in September 2023.
The Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme leads to qualification as a solicitor in England and Wales and will provide students with a genuine alternative to the traditional route to solicitor qualification of attending university and undertaking postgraduate legal training.
The programme is aimed at Year 13 students who have studied for A-Levels, or equivalent, but who have chosen not to attend university.
Over six years, solicitor apprentices will undertake a law degree and complete the new Solicitors Qualifying Exams. Alongside studying, solicitor apprentices will undertake on-the-job training, working across the London office and learning professional and legal skills. This exciting new programme will also form part of the firm’s commitment to attracting and recruiting top talent from underrepresented backgrounds, by offering an alternative route into the legal profession that aims to remove barriers to access.
In addition to solicitor apprenticeships, the firm is also hoping to increase Business Services apprenticeships across the London office over the next year.
