Blacks Solicitors has launched a pioneering paralegal apprenticeship scheme to foster future legal talent.
- The scheme offers an alternative path into the legal profession, bypassing traditional university routes.
- Apprentices engage with various law sectors, gaining valuable training and client interaction experience.
- New recruits Bella Birkett and James MacKenzie joined the Residential Property team.
- Neave Robinson joined the Family Law team under a different solicitor apprenticeship program.
In a strategic move to broaden entry points into the legal profession, Blacks Solicitors has unveiled a new paralegal apprenticeship scheme. This initiative provides a valuable alternative to university education, opening doors for individuals to gain hands-on experience in the legal field while working towards a qualification.
The programme requires 96 UCAS points for entry and spans two years, during which apprentices will rotate through different law sectors. This rotation ensures comprehensive training and significant client contact, essential elements in shaping adept legal professionals.
Bella Birkett and James MacKenzie, the first to enrol in this dynamic Level 3 Paralegal Apprenticeship, have begun their journey in the Residential Property team. They are expected to gain insights across various legal disciplines, enhancing their understanding and operational efficacy within the firm.
Paralegals are indispensable within legal settings, supporting solicitors by preparing documents, managing casework, and conducting research. Their role as the initial point of contact for clients highlights the critical nature of their professionalism and legal knowledge.
Echoing the programme’s importance, Neave Robinson has embarked on the Level 7 Solicitor Apprenticeship, joining the Family Law team. This six-year course, suitable for those without a legal background, demands 128 UCAS points.
Tom Moyes, Training Partner, has been a vocal advocate of this inclusive approach, emphasising that apprenticeship schemes attract diverse talent and provide pathways to legal qualifications beyond conventional academic routes. To date, the firm has successfully guided ten apprentices through their training, marking two recent completions of the Level 7 programme.
Blacks Solicitors’ apprenticeship schemes are redefining pathways into the legal profession, championing inclusivity and practical experience.
