Kennedys and BPP link up on new apprenticeships

BPP University Law School and Kennedys have teamed up in relation to the firm’s six new solicitor and 16 new paralegal apprenticeships. Kennedys was among the group of leading firms that helped develop the new trailblazer apprenticeship standards, designed to ensure that students have the required skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the legal services market.

Apprentices will work in one of Kennedys’ offices in either London, Chelmsford, Cambridge, Sheffield, Manchester, Taunton or Birmingham. Those starting the new six-year Solicitor Apprenticeship will have the opportunity to qualify as a solicitor and be awarded an LLB (Hons) in Legal Practice from BPP. Paralegal apprentices will work towards BPP’s Certificate of Higher Education in Legal Services, which can also be used to advance straight to the second year of the solicitor apprenticeship programme.

Caroline Wilson, HR director at Kennedys, said: “The new solicitor apprenticeships provide personal development, as well as a route towards the highly valued qualification as a solicitor for those of our current apprentices who have already demonstrated the capabilities and attributes that we would expect of a trainee solicitor. Meanwhile, the paralegal apprenticeships will help us attract more people to the business from the widest pool of talent and allow us to offer them a platform for a long term future with our firm.”

Tricia Chatterton, director of legal apprenticeship programmes at BPP University Law School, said: “Kennedys has been among the first law firms to have embraced apprenticeships. Their new scheme will help consolidate that and we look forward to creating further apprenticeships with them in the future. Increasingly, law firms are finding that apprenticeships are a great opportunity to create a new door into their business. They also help firms tap into a pool of highly motivated, talented school leavers who are eager to start work within their chosen legal careers.”