Allen & Overy reveals solicitor route for school leavers

Magic circle firm Allen & Overy is set to launch a solicitor apprenticeship scheme for school leavers, through which it hopes to attract a “socio-economically diverse pool of high-achieving pupils”.

The firm will take on six apprentices as part of the six-year programme, which is due to start in September next year and is open to candidates completing their A levels in 2022.

On completion of the scheme, successful apprentices will receive an LLB in law and legal practice, and a solicitor level 7 apprenticeship. They will then be required to complete the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) to qualify as a solicitor.

The solicitor apprentices will spend time in Allen & Overy’s legal practice groups, its tech innovation hub, Fuse, as well as the markets innovation group, legal tech, eDiscovery and project management teams.

The firm’s Graduate Recruitment and Training Principal, James Partridge, said: “I am so excited to be able to launch this important alternative route to becoming a solicitor. At A&O we strive to be open, accessible and inclusive and we understand that we have a key role to play in creating and offering opportunities in the legal profession. This apprenticeship programme is about doing just that. I look forward to welcoming our first apprentices and supporting them on their journey to a career in law.”

Ahead of the SQE’s introduction in September 2021, a number of solicitor apprenticeship programmes have been created by City law firms, accountancy firms, legal aid practices and the BBC, according to the Law Gazette.

You can find details of the latest solicitor, paralegal and legal administration vacancies on our Legal Apprenticeships Vacancies page.