Browne Jacobson launches two new apprenticeship programmes as part of National Apprenticeship Week

As National Apprenticeship Week 2018 launches, Browne Jacobson – one of the profession’s earliest adopters of legal apprenticeships – has announced plans to add to its stable of apprenticeship programmes. Over 100 new positions will be offered across the firm’s various offices in two new schemes, with a commitment to invest 100% of its apprenticeship levy into the new programmes.

Launching this month, the firm’s ‘Career Boost’ programme offers formal apprenticeship qualifications to employees in existing roles, including in business administration level 3 and team leader/supervisor level 3, among others.

Launching in September 2018, the ‘Career Start’ programme will create two cohorts of apprentices, including one of 12 paralegal positions via a legal assistant role. In the second year of the paralegal apprenticeship, participants will have the option to apply to join the firm’s solicitor apprenticeship scheme. Career Start will be available in the firm’s Nottingham, Birmingham and Manchester offices.

Sally Swift, head of the firm’s legal support services, said: “Browne Jacobson is committed to developing talent and building a strong future for our business. The introduction of the apprenticeship levy presents a lot of opportunities to employees who are prepared to support it and we are keen to lead the way in how law firms can make it work for their business too.”

Claire Stripp, head of talent & knowledge, added: “We continue to be a leading supporter of the apprenticeship route into law and have adopted an apprenticeship-first approach to development opportunities within our business. Apprenticeships are fast becoming considered on equal par to a formal university qualification because they can offer industry recognised qualifications alongside valuable hands-on experience which you can’t get through the traditional university route.”