Degree apprenticeships: bridging the legal sector skills gap

Ongoing changes to the current training regulations in the legal sector are fundamentally altering the routes to qualifying as a solicitor. An apprenticeship is one alternative route to the traditional graduate route to qualification. After passing the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) at the end of an apprenticeship, it will be possible to qualify as a solicitor. The standards expected of apprentice solicitors will be the same as those expected of anyone being licensed as a solicitor, with rigorous assessments before they are admitted to the profession. However, the number of law firms employing solicitor apprentices is small compared to those taking the traditional route to qualification. This is because of the uncertainty about the details of the SQE which are still emerging – not least in relation to the cost. That said, the number of firms taking on solicitor apprentices is growing. Apprenticeships offer a valued workforce beyond the lawyers. They have provided an effective way to meet the needs of the non-lawyer staff base in the delivery of legal services. From administration to finance, marketing and communications – these staff roles and their skills are vital to the success of modernday law firms. There are far greater numbers of paralegal apprentices and apprentices in a range of other business areas within law firms.

COLLABORATION IS KEY

With the range of law firm roles and evolving recruitment practices and strategies for employing apprentices, education providers are continually transforming their programmes to address the needs of businesses; and those needs go far beyond legal knowledge and skills. At Manchester Metropolitan University, we have consulted with employers about the knowledge, skills and attributes that they need in their graduates. We are now seeing a continual increase in demand for skills including digital literacy, legal technology and project management. As a consequence, further and higher education programmes are being transformed to address those needs. Education and training for tomorrow’s workforce in a range of areas goes beyond traditional legal knowledge and skills. A major success story in bridging these skills gaps across a range of industries is in the delivery of degree apprenticeships. These practice-focused apprenticeship programmes allow participants to achieve a full degree and drive the development of specialist workplace skills and behaviours demanded by Britain’s business community.

BRIDGING THE SKILLS GAP

Degree apprenticeship programmes are designed to address the skills gaps in digital, technology and managerial skills. It means that the opportunity is there for law firms to take advantage of partnerships with education providers and to capitalise on a fully-funded and aspirational route to qualification. Degree apprenticeships are a fantastic way to inject new energy and ideas into a business and build the talent base needed for sustainable growth and success. There are many reasons to hire an apprentice or to enrol existing employees. From increasing diversity to continuity planning, degree apprenticeships offer a huge range of business benefits that can be advantageous to the legal sector. Given that they are employed, full-time members of staff – degree apprentices are able to develop the skills and knowledge that are directly relevant to the business. What’s more, 75 per cent of employers with apprentices have reported an improvement in productivity since the government launched the apprenticeship programme back in 2015. This alternative route to qualification can also help law firms recruit new talent by offering a package of study and work that attracts enthusiastic and talented employees – often in areas of strategic skills shortages. Working together, education providers and law firms can also tailor the businessfocused programmes with a sharp focus on the skills required of the business, informed by advisory boards of leading regional and national employers.