Kennedys partners with BPP University Law School

International law firm Kennedys has selected BPP University Law School as its provider for six new solicitor and 16 new paralegal apprenticeships.

Apprentices will work in one of Kennedys’ national network of offices including London, Chelmsford, Cambridge, Sheffield, Manchester, Taunton and Birmingham.

Those starting the new Solicitor Apprenticeship will have the opportunity to qualify as a solicitor and be awarded an LLB (Hons) in Legal Practice. BPP is one of the first universities to offer this six-year programme, which will be available across its law school sites.

Paralegal apprentices at Kennedys will also work towards BPP University’s Certificate of Higher Education in Legal Services, which can advance students straight to the second year of the Solicitor Apprenticeship programme.

These new ‘trailblazer’ apprenticeship standards have been developed by a group of leading law firms, including Kennedys, to ensure that all students have the required skills and knowledge needed to thrive in today’s legal services market.

Caroline Wilson, HR Director at Kennedys, said: “The new solicitor apprenticeships provide personal development as well as a route towards the highly valued qualification as a solicitor for those of our current apprentices who have already demonstrated the capabilities and attributes that we would expect of a trainee solicitor.

“Meanwhile, the paralegal apprenticeships will help us attract more people to the business from the widest pool of talent and allow us to offer them a platform for a long term future with our firm.

“We chose BPP to provide the training for the new apprenticeships because of their reputation in the sector for the highest standard of teaching and the quality of their tutors with relevant experience from practice.

“With the on-the-job training we can offer at Kennedys supported by their learning at BPP, our apprentices can build a strong foundation for their careers in law.”

Tricia Chatterton, Director of Legal Apprenticeship Programmes at BPP University Law School, said: “Kennedys has been amongst the first law firms to have embraced apprenticeships. Their new scheme will help consolidate that and we look forward to creating further apprenticeships with them in the future.

“Increasingly, law firms are finding that apprenticeships are a great opportunity to create a new door into their business. They also help firms tap into a pool of highly motivated, talented school leavers who are eager to start work within their chosen legal careers.”

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