Government-funded apprenticeships that will serve as “training contracts” for support staff are being rolled out in the legal sector.
Two City law firms have already expressed an interest in the scheme for their librarians and accounting staff. However, the scheme, the “Business Administration Framework (Legal Pathway)”, is available to law firms of all sizes as well as in-house legal departments and other legal services employers.
Any new staff hired under the scheme can be employed for as little as £2.50 per hour. The apprenticeships will last about nine months, are flexible and tailored to the needs of employer and employee, and are free where the employee is aged 24 or under, is a UK or EU citizen, and is not a law graduate.
Apprentices will gain a nationally recognised apprenticeship qualification, as well as a Legal Professional Qualification (LPQ) from the Institute of Paralegals. The apprenticeships are available now, and a specific pathway in legal administration will be added in April.
James O’Connell, chief executive, Institute of Paralegals, says: “This could be viewed as the first ever training contract for support staff. It offers definite outcomes, assessment, and national consistency in standards. It’s also a fantastically cheap way for firms to get staff, and on a nine-month probationary period.
“They are getting free or heavily subsidised training for their staff which leads to nationally recognised qualifications. I think it will become the normal way of hiring people.”
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