Baker & McKenzie unveils new legal apprenticeships

Global law firm Baker & McKenzie has unveiled a new apprenticeship scheme that will give six school leavers the chance to build a career in the legal industry.

The firm's inaugural legal administration apprenticeship programme will be run in accordance with the intermediate apprenticeship in legal administration, provided by CILEx Law School.

The apprenticeship offers a new alternative to higher education enabling entrants to develop the administration and business skills necessary for a career in the legal industry while completing a formal qualification.

Sarah Gregory, Baker & McKenzie inclusion and diversity partner, said: 'We have met some extremely bright young people through these programmes, some of whom have taken the decision to start their career immediately after their A-Levels.

'The apprenticeship initiative now gives us a route through which we can harness some of that talent for the benefit of the business, while contributing to our social mobility commitments.'

Based at the firm's London office, the apprentices will rotate through six departments during a two-year period exposing them to a variety of specialisms while completing the CILEx qualifications.

Pupils will complete the level 2 intermediate apprenticeship in legal administration with the opportunity to progress to CILEx level 3. Three apprentices will join in September 2016 while a further three will join in September 2017.

Business director at CILEx Law School, Jenny Pelling, said: 'Baker & McKenzie's apprenticeship programme is a great opportunity for young people to begin their careers with a global law firm, without taking on any student debt.'

This is the latest move to broaden access to the legal profession by Baker & McKenzie. In 2011 the firm set up BakerOpportunity, a social mobility network that aims to provide opportunities to students from less privileged backgrounds.