Nine Greater Manchester firms create 100 paralegal apprenticeships

A new skills and training initiative for the legal profession has made over 100 paralegal apprenticeships available across nine law firms in the Greater Manchester area.

Several firms have worked with the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce to form The Legal Sector Employer Skills Group, which is currently chaired by Pannone managing partner Emma Holt. The firms taking part are Pannone, Chafes, Colemans ctts, Slater-Heelis, Hill Dickinson, Horwich Farrelly, Stephensons, SAS Daniels and Weightmans, all of which are offering paralegal apprenticeships as part of the scheme. The apprenticeships will commence in September.

Emma Holt, Pannone's managing partner, said: "The reality of the modern legal world is that, while there will always be highly skilled solicitors and partners within legal practice, law firms are employing more paralegals and this is an opportunity for students who might not otherwise consider the law as an option. There are many law graduates unable to secure training contracts and this is creating a situation where students are incurring significant tuition fees with more limited prospects of securing a position as a trainee solicitor. Under the scheme students will join a firm and spend time practically learning the skills required to be a paralegal while also undertaking a course leading to a paralegal qualification. This will be funded by monies being made available to meet skills gaps."