Traditionally, those wishing to pursue a career in law had little option but to enrol on a university course. However, in recent years, an alternative route has begun to open up in the form of a new Trailblazer apprenticeship scheme which offers students the chance to become a qualified solicitor without the crippling tuition fees, making a career in law more attainable. Sara Duxbury, head of people at Fletchers Solicitors, explains the importance of removing financial barriers to encourage diversity in the law profession and why more firms should be getting on board.
As is the case with the majority of university courses, a degree in law requires students to foot the bill for their tuition, which can make it difficult for some to obtain the qualifications required to become a lawyer. And following the 2012 tuition fee reforms, the cost of attaining a university degree has tripled, meaning the financial burden placed on students is even greater. On average, students can rack up debts upwards of about £40,000 by the time they come to finish their university course.
This is where apprenticeships are a valuable alternative, especially for those who can’t afford to fund a university education. Traditionally in the legal sector, apprenticeships have been a very rare offering. However, the number of apprenticeships available for aspiring lawyers has grown steadily since 2011. Fletchers Solicitors, for example, has recently launched a six-year Trailblazer apprenticeship in partnership with The University of Law, to offer aspiring lawyers an alternative route into the profession.
However, with apprenticeship schemes still a new phenomenon within the legal sector, some firms are unsure as to whether they are right for the business. So why should more firms be opting to recruit apprentices?
Removing financial barriers
Unsurprisingly, the financial benefits are one of the main pulls of legal apprenticeships. Offering apprenticeship schemes to budding young lawyers helps to remove the burden of university fees, while also allowing them to earn a wage while they study, meaning that more have the opportunity to pursue a career in law.
This helps to attract those who might otherwise have been put off by the huge expense of undertaking a legal degree, and encourages talent from a diverse range of backgrounds to join the sector. Closing the diversity gap is of particular importance to the legal industry, given the sector’s social class imbalance – a recent report from the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission found 71% of senior judges went to independent schools and 75% went to Oxbridge.
Building a strong, dedicated workforce
Taking on apprentices gives budding lawyers the chance to gain real life work experience within a law firm, working alongside industry professionals. Often with very little experience in the working world, these young people will be enthusiastic and keen to learn new skills, and will bring with them a fresh perspective and possibly new ideas. These attributes can make apprentices a valuable addition to a law firm and help to build a strong and dedicated team that is loyal to the business that trained them.
During their time as a trainee, apprentices will provide a valuable source of support for busy lawyers. Creating the right support team helps take off some of the pressure, and ensures that all cases receive greater care and attention. Junior staff can help to acquire all the crucial information and research for each case, so when lawyers come to make legal judgments, they know that all documents are in good order.
Not only this, but at the end of the six-year course, students will be fully qualified lawyers and will have earned the same qualifications as they would have via the university route. For example, those enrolled on a course with Fletchers Solicitors will undertake a period of recognised training, whilst completing their undergraduate degree (LLB), Master’s degree (LLM), and a Legal Practice Course (LPC) at the University of Law.
Apprentices are cost effective
Perhaps one of the most common misconceptions about apprenticeship schemes is that they’re an expensive way of recruiting new staff. As this is likely to be their first job, trainees will require a substantial amount of training, all which will come at a cost to the business. However, the cost of training new apprentices isn’t actually as high as may be assumed. Those apprentices enrolling on a Trailblazer course before the age of 19 are eligible to have the full cost of their training paid for via Government funding. And for those aged between 19 and 24, the Government will cover 50% of the cost.
On top of this, firms recruiting apprentices between the ages of 16 and 24 can also receive grants of up to £1,500 for up to five trainees to cover the costs. As a result, this method of training staff is actually cost effective and can help to boost the firm’s efficiency and productivity.
Ultimately, encouraging greater diversity and opening up better training opportunities needs to be a priority for the sector. Anyone who is really passionate about entering the legal sector should be able to do so without the huge cost of university hanging over them. The legal industry is constantly changing and now is the time to really strive to remove these financial barriers. If more and more law firms opt to get on board with initiatives such as the Trailblazer scheme, more people will have the chance to pursue their dream career, and the sector will have access to a much more diverse talent pool.
For more information, please visit www.fletcherssolicitors.co.uk