International law firm DLA Piper has launched a six-year apprenticeship programme aimed at training school-leavers to become qualified solicitors.
The new apprenticeship will commence from September 2021 and be based in DLA Piper’s Manchester office. It will offer school-leavers the opportunity to earn while working towards a law degree and the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE).
The apprenticeship will comprise four days of on-the-job work experience and one day allocated for study each week, the firm has stated. Apprentices will rotate through DLA’s practice groups and sectors for 6- and 12-month periods, with client and international secondment opportunities to become available as they progress.
Upon completion of the programme, apprentices will qualify as solicitors with a level 7 degree apprenticeship.
DLA Piper has yet to publicly reveal details of its SQE training partner. Also notable is that the new solicitor apprenticeship will run in parallel to the firm’s existing training contract scheme, which focuses on graduates.
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Earlier this year, DLA Piper announced an update to its diversity and inclusion goals. The firm intends to reach a global female partnership of at least 35% by 2025, building on its present 21% female partnership. It expects to double this to 40% by 2030.
