Legal apprenticeships gain momentum among firms and in-house legal departments

Last week, law firms and legal departments across the country promoted legal apprenticeship vacancies as part of National Apprenticeship Week. Organisations that took part included Clyde & Co and the BBC, with the broadcaster announcing that it will be hiring three legal apprentices into its in-house legal team in London.

Elsewhere, Kennedys announced that it will expand its existing apprenticeship programme by recruiting at least five more legal apprentices to start in 2014, while Lance Mason Solicitors in Blackburn revealed that it will be recruiting eight apprentices as part of its growth strategy. Clyde & Co, Weightmans, Kennedys, Lodders, Lupton Fawcett Denison Till and Gordon Brown Law Firm are all also advertising apprenticeship vacancies. Meanwhile, Oldham Council has launched a recruitment process to hire two apprentices into its in-house legal team - a move that highlights the growing career opportunities presented by the apprenticeship route across a wide range of different organisations.

Apprenticeship qualifications are taught and awarded by the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx). Stephen Gowland, president of CILEx, commented: "Legal Services Apprentices have a bright future ahead of them. I urge the legal sector to follow these early adopters and realise the great potential these talented individuals can bring to your business."