Aspiring lawyers offered alternative route by local firm

16 September 2014

Four talented school leavers have been given an opportunity to become qualified lawyers without having to gain a law degree via the Legal Apprenticeship route offered by the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx).

Blake Morgan’s South Coast offices have recruited the apprentices who will study the CILEx Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship in Legal Services at Highbury College in Portsmouth, awarding them with a nationally recognised qualification which could ultimately lead to them qualifying as lawyers.

Kevin Chard, Blake Morgan’s training manager said: “For Blake Morgan, the key advantage of the advanced apprenticeship route is access to the ‘not going to university’ school or college leaver market. We apply the same selection criteria as we do for our graduate intake and we look for the same qualities – we’re just recruiting at an earlier stage. We intend to use the scheme to help us to develop our Chartered Legal Executives, solicitors, and partners of the future.”

He continued: “There are clear commercial benefits of any apprenticeship scheme including lower recruitment and training costs, but I think more importantly it creates opportunities that both the Firm and the apprentices can benefit from.”

Apprentice, Meg Kirkwood (pictured far left), said: “I chose the Legal Services Apprenticeship over university as I could get hands on experience and earn as I learn without having to worry about student debt. I have worked with Blake Morgan for a year and have learnt so much whilst enjoying every moment. Studying the apprenticeship means I now have a great deal of opportunities and an excellent start within my chosen career.”

The apprentices will study one day a week at Highbury College (Ofsted Outstanding) which has been newly accredited by CILEx to deliver the programme.

Rebecca Milner, solicitor and Highbury College’s lecturer in law, said: “Highbury College is proud and honoured to be the first college on the South Coast to launch the new apprenticeship programme. Portsmouth and its surrounding areas has a long standing tradition of Chartered Legal Executives succeeding at local law firms, and by establishing this new programme, Highbury College can contribute towards this continued success.”

ENDS

Photograph from left to right: Blake Morgan’s Legal Apprentices: Meg Kirkwood, Juliette Moule, Daisy Butcher and Georgia Slater