29 April 2021 / Jason O’Malley Lunn

Issue: 7930 / Categories: Features , Profession , Training & education , Diversity

The case for solicitor apprentices

Jason O’Malley Lunn, director of talent learning & knowledge at Plexus Law, explains why it’s time to embrace the solicitor apprenticeship pathway

Explains how solicitor apprenticeships can benefit a legal services company or law firm.

Solicitor apprentices have been working in the legal sector for nearly five years now and, in 2022, we will see some of the original cohort admitted to the roll after taking the Solicitors’ Qualifying Examination (SQE).

Parts of the profession have been quick to embrace apprenticeships, and apprentices can now be found across the legal sector from the high street through to large corporate law firms. In 2012 my firm, Plexus Law, took on seven of the first legal services apprentices, four of whom are now on the solicitor programme. We have since grown the scheme, recruiting more than 170 apprentices with an 85% retention rate.

For legal services firms, apprenticeship programmes have several benefits.

Retention

The solicitor apprenticeship lasts about six years, and the first benefit is retention. This is

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The case for solicitor apprentices

Jason O’Malley Lunn, director of talent learning & knowledge at Plexus Law, explains why it’s time to embrace the solicitor apprenticeship pathway

Explains how solicitor apprenticeships can benefit a legal services company or law firm.

For legal services firms, apprenticeship programmes have several benefits.

Retention

The solicitor apprenticeship lasts about six years, and the first benefit is retention. This is

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content

If you are already a subscriber sign in

...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

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The case for solicitor apprentices

Retention

Retention

MOVERS & SHAKERS

WSP Solicitors—David Ashcroft & Jessica O’Shea

Duxton Hill Chambers—Lucas Bastin KC & Joshua Hiew

Gilson Gray—Gregor Duthie & Stephen Forsyth