Legal apprentice scoops award in Wales

18 November 2014

Amanda Jones, a Higher Apprentice in Legal Services at JNP Legal in Merthyr Tydfil and Nelson, Wales picked up the Skills for Justice Apprentice of the Year Award at a celebration event on 12 November at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium which marked the success of three pilot programmes.

The Higher Apprenticeship, set at Level 4 and awarded by the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx), is an earn-as-you-learn route for aspiring lawyers to achieve professional legal qualifications. On completion of the apprenticeship, students can continue their vocational studies with CILEx to become a Chartered Legal Executive lawyer.

On winning the award, Amanda said: “When JNP Legal offered me an apprenticeship I was absolutely delighted. For me it was an excellent opportunity to gain new skills and a formal qualification which would further my career in the legal profession. I was working as a Secretary at JNP Legal for over a decade before starting the apprenticeship. Although the apprenticeship has been very challenging, I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience so far, and hope that in time I will progress and become a Chartered Legal Executive at JNP Legal.”

Amanda’s mentor, Rebecca Rees, also picked up the Mentor of the Year award at the event. Rebecca said: “JNP Legal has a culture of nurturing its own legal talent. All of the Solicitors working at JNP Legal were trained within the firm, and then chose to continue their careers at JNP Legal post qualification. The Higher Apprenticeship in Legal Services has allowed JNP Legal to up skill a hard-working, bright, and reliable staff member from and administrative role to a fee earning role. As a workplace mentor I have had the pleasure of assisting and guiding Amanda through the challenges of the apprenticeship journey. She has shown a real commitment to the apprenticeship, and JNP Legal. JNP Legal is delighted with the positive impact Amanda as an apprentice has on productivity within the firm.”

Frances Edwards, CILEx’s first Welsh female President, said: “The success of this pilot will encourage legal sector employers in Wales to recruit apprentices and discover the range of benefits they bring. CILEx is proud to be enabling aspiring lawyers to achieve their dreams and to see legal apprentices flourishing in Wales is really fantastic.”

For the last two years Skills for Justice has worked with employers across Wales to develop and deliver three apprenticeship pilots in the legal, justice and community safety sectors:

• Legal Services employers in Wales have been trialling the use of a Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship in Legal Services for new entrants to the legal profession.
• Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service have had the opportunity to trial the delivery of a Level 2 and Level 3 Apprenticeship in Courts, Tribunals and Prosecutions Administration with existing staff gaining qualification recognition for their abilities.
• For the first time in the UK the police have been trialling an apprenticeship for uniformed police officers. New entrant Police Officers have been able to gain a recognised Level 3 Apprenticeship in Policing.

At the awards event, eight awards were handed out to those participants who had been praised for their achievements during the pilots.

The pilots were funded via the Sector Priorities Fund Pilot (SPFP) programme – a European funded project initiative managed by Welsh Government’s Department for Education and Skills.

Full list of award winners:

Apprentice of the Year, Higher Apprenticeship in Legal Services:

Amanda Jones, JNP Legal
Mentor of the Year, Higher Apprenticeship in Legal Services:
Rebecca Rees, JNP Legal

Employer of the Year, Legal Sector Apprenticeships:

Lyons Davidson

Apprentice of the Year 2014, Courts, Tribunals & Prosecution Operations:

Gail Morgan

Mentor of the Year, Courts, Tribunals & Prosecution Operations:
Nicola Morris

Star Apprentice Student Officer:

Steve Phillips, South Wales Police,

Sophie Lambert, Heddlu Dyfed Powys Police,
Robin Fuller, Heddlu Gwent Police

Ends