Higher Apprenticeship in legal services ‘could challenge degrees’
New qualification launch will confront elitist perceptions of sector
The two-year apprenticeship programme jumps straight from the existing Level 2 apprenticeship for paralegals, and is being pitched as equivalent to the first year of a university degree. It provides both knowledge and competency-based qualifications – including Chartered Institute of Legal Executive qualifications in three areas: personal injury, insolvency & debt recovery and debt litigation. Other qualifications – such as in family law and crime are expected to follow later.
According to Jonathan Bourne, director of Damar Training, which co-developed the qualification, these improvements mean the apprentice route is now a viable option for those who haven’t been to university to become a qualified paralegal, with the potential to progress further to become a chartered legal executive and even solicitor after that.
He said: “A similar apprenticeship has existed in the management and financial sectors for some time. This new apprenticeship recognises the recent growth and importance of the paralegal sector. The Level 4 apprenticeship is a genuine way of enabling school leavers to have a junior fee-earning role at a firm of solicitors. This comes with potential income of between £25-£40,00 pa.”
Government has a target for 750 to have enrolled on a paralegal apprenticeship pathway to Level 4 in the next two years. Already, the first 60 applications for the new Higher Level apprenticeship have been filled, including being supported by Weightmans LLP in its Liverpool office.
Bourne predicts that as more law firms join in, the qualification will challenge elitist perceptions of the sector.
He said: “It’s a big deal getting law firms to think outside of Oxbridge, and even out of graduates entirely, but there is a real desire to make this work.”
He added: “Graduates and apprentices will soon be sat next to each other doing the same job, but I can soon see a time when the graduate is actually at a disadvantage. The apprentice could have been with the firm for three years, have gotten to know clients, will be competent, and will have become a fee-earning member of the firm. The newly-joined graduate is still an unknown entity.”
David Way, chief executive of the National Apprenticeship Service said: “This new Higher Apprenticeship in legal services will enable legal firms to diversify their workforce and to attract and invest in talented young people.”
Alan Woods, chief executive at Skills for Justice, added: “Professionalising paralegals’ roles means full recognition and parity can finally be given to an essential part of the workforce that has been lacking for so long.”
He added: “Firms in the legal services industry are missing a trick if they don’t explore new ways of recruiting staff and developing skills and apprenticeships are certainly one excellent way of doing this.”
Skills for Justice estimates the number of paralegals will grow by 18 per cent between 2012-2017.
The Level 3 apprenticeship in legal services will be launched in September.
LOKESH CHOUDHARY
PGDM 2ND SEM
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