Legal Cheek‘s Alex Aldridge chats to project mastermind Danielle White about a new way into the City that could change everything
Earlier this month Mayer Brown gave the legal world a jolt as it became the first global elite law firm to launch an alternative route to qualification as a solicitor.
Its new “articled apprenticeship” — for which applications close on Friday — will see Mayer Brown take on a future solicitor before they do their law degree, and then employ them through six years of part-time LLB and Legal Practice Course (LPC) study until they qualify.
Crucially the chosen one will get the same money as trainees after completion of the apprenticeship — £37,500-£42,300 a year — and have an equal chance of bagging a newly qualified solicitor role.
The programme, which is being run with the University of Law, is open to both school leavers and career changers, even if they have a previous degree.
Doubtless it’s a great move for diversity, but it will be “no easy option”, explains the firm’s UK graduate recruitment boss Danielle White (pictured above). In the podcast below she tells Legal Cheek publisher Alex Aldridge that the firm is looking for a candidate who has the stamina to juggle work and study, and the brains to mix it with the best — as Aldridge demands to know whether this could be the beginning of the end for the training contract.
White also shares some insider tips on how to nail the apprenticeship application — which can be made here — and accompanying phone interview.
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Previously:
Mayer Brown and ULaw combine to offer earn-while-you-learn law degree and LPC that bypasses training contract [Legal Cheek]