National Apprenticeship Week (running from 10 to 16 February) should be something for us all to celebrate, however, the government is currently rethinking its funding for level 7 apprenticeships, which has the potential to seriously impact social mobility in the legal profession. Launched in 2016, the level 7 (higher or professional) apprenticeships create a qualification path for graduates that is the highest level of apprenticeship in the UK. Apprentices spend 80% of their time working for their employer, and the rest of their time working towards their level 7 qualification through a training provider. How this route differs from many others into the legal profession is that the apprentice is paid, and they don’t have to pay for training.
City Century, a collaboration of 50-plus City of London law firms, was launched in 2022 to help promote these apprenticeships. It described the path as ‘a debt-free option where students can earn
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