Linklaters backs UK Legal Apprenticeship Pledge

Linklaters has joined a pledge to ensure that UK legal apprenticeships are recognised as an equal pathway to a career in law.

The Legal Apprenticeships Pledge, signed by 17 law firms across the UK, demonstrates firms’ public commitment to recruiting and developing solicitor apprentices – making clear that the legal apprenticeship route is no less valuable than more traditional routes to qualification. The pledge aims to highlight the recognition of alternative paths to qualification for the benefit of current and future apprentices.

The firms participating in the pledge will continue to collaborate with the aim of further driving forward the adoption of legal apprenticeships and ensuring that clear career, networking and wider opportunities are available to solicitor apprentices.

Patrick McCann, Director of Learning at Linklaters, comments:

“The solicitor apprenticeship route is an important avenue for talent and should be recognised for the benefits that it brings to both firms and apprentices. The traditional routes to qualification can put a career in law out of reach of many, particularly those from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and solicitor apprenticeships can help level the playing field and open up access. It’s great to see so many firms publicly demonstrating their commitment and making clear to current and future solicitor apprentices that their route to qualification will be treated on a par with those more traditional routes.”