DWF and CoL hook up

DWF has announced an exclusive partnership with The College of Law (CoL) that will see the firm's future trainees study their LPC at the institution from September 2011. Trainees will be able to choose to study the first stage of the course in any of the CoL's eight nationwide centres before gathering together in Manchester to complete the second stage.

DWF partner and training principal David Blaquiere said: "The DWF specific course agreed with the College offers our trainees valuable opportunities to spend time together prior to the start of their training contracts and to meet and to work together with DWF lawyers as part of their LPC studies. We see that as a major advance in producing a cohesive and integrated group of trainees who will work together to drive forward the growth of the business in a values-based environment in the years to come."

In other DWF news, the firm is setting up a paralegal academy in partnership with ILEX in order to offer school leavers an alternative route into the profession. Six apprentices have already been accepted onto the six-year £7,000 training programme, joining the firm this month as administrative assistants. 

ILEX chief executive Diane Burleigh told Legal Week: "From 2012 the issue of tuition fees will see more and more school leavers look for alternative routes into their chosen career, but with schemes such as this, those students will have more opportunities than ever to still enter a career of their dreams."