Apprenticeship schemes launch at Shoosmiths and Addleshaws

Two new apprenticeships schemes have launched this week, further cementing the importance of this new route into the legal profession.

Shoosmiths is recruiting for legal apprentices to work in its Recoveries Service Practice Group. They will be among the first to be recruited for the Higher Apprenticeship in Legal Services qualification. The apprenticeship will be delivered by CILEx Law School and successful candidates will need to have three good A levels and will take part in the Debt Recovery and Insolvency pathway of the Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship.

Lisa Keating, recoveries manager at Shoosmiths, said: "This is an exciting opportunity for school leavers to join us as an apprentice working with our banking clients in the Northampton office. We are a modern, forward-looking national firm with a focus on people, relationships and results. We see the legal services apprenticeship as an opportunity to nurture prospective legal advisers in the ethos of our firm alongside the study of law and practice."

In other apprentice news, Addleshaw Goddard has launched its own Legal Apprenticeship Scheme, which will offer 10 apprenticeships with a starting salary of £12,000. Starting in Autumn 2013 and based in Manchester, each apprentice will have a mentor and supervisor in the Transaction Services Team (TST). The TST currently has 80 paralegals, and exists to provide a wide range of routine assignments in either a stand-alone or an integrated way alongside the firm's qualified lawyers. It was introduced by the firm as a more efficient approach to the delivery of those standardised tasks that needn’t be done by qualified lawyers.

Andrew Chamberlain, head of client delivery at Addleshaw Goddard, said: "By resourcing work differently, we are creating an environment that is attractive to talented individuals across all levels of our business and we're excited about providing students with an alternative path into an international law firm. Going to university is not the right option for all, and this new structured career development opportunity is a credible alternative for talented, ambitious young people who prefer vocational learning as an entry point into a dynamic, long-term and rewarding career in law."

To find out more, click here for Shoosmiths and here for Addleshaw Goddard. And visit LC.N’s More Law page for general info on apprenticeships.