The University of Law Deepens Training Partnership with Pinsent Masons

LONDON, September 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The University of Law (ULaw) has expanded its longstanding training relationship with Pinsent Masons LLP to include paralegal and business operations-focused apprenticeship programmes alongside a new exclusive contract to continue delivering LPC and GDL training for the firm's future trainee solicitors.

Both apprenticeship programmes will be delivered by ULaw, the UK's longest-established specialist provider of legal education and training, in partnership with apprenticeship specialists, Damar Training.

Pinsent Masons is recruiting up to 20 paralegal apprentices. The new apprentices will study at ULaw's London Moorgate, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester centres from November 2017. The scheme will offer the apprentices a flexible, 'earn as you learn' route to enter the legal profession. The apprentices will benefit from ULaw's longstanding vocational legal studies experience and the support and mentorship of tutors with extensive practical and academic expertise whilst gaining valuable workplace experience with Pinsent Masons. This embodies ULaw's commitment to providing the highest quality legal education, which was recognised by the recent gold ranking awarded in the UK's Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).

Pinsent Masons recruits up to 70 trainees UK-wide each year. Pinsent Masons' students will embark on the GDL and LPC programmes this September at ULaw centres in London Moorgate, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds. The University of Law's programmes encourage students to think like practising solicitors from the start, with a focus on the business context in which clients operate. This equips future trainees with the legal knowledge and professional skills to understand the needs of Pinsent Masons' clients more fully.

The paralegal apprentices will also benefit from the opportunity to network with the Pinsent Masons GDL and LPC students whilst studying at The University of Law.

Up to 6 finance apprentices will follow an Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) programme leading to a professional AAT accounting qualification.

Successful candidates joining the financial apprenticeship programme will begin their studies at ULaw's London and Birmingham centres this autumn.

This latest development marks the next step in a longstanding training partnership between ULaw and Pinsent Masons.

Jason O'Malley, Director of Apprenticeships at ULaw, said: "We are excited to be expanding our training relationship with Pinsent Masons and helping train its solicitors and paralegals of the future. Our partnership with Pinsent Masons is a longstanding one and we look forward to providing the next generation of legal talent with a comprehensive legal and practical education experience that will prepare them for work in an increasingly competitive market."

Deborah McCormack, Head of Recruitment & Graduate Development at Pinsent Masons, said: "We strive to be a market-leading graduate and apprenticeship employer, and developer of both tomorrow's lawyers and business operations' talent. Providing innovative new pathways into our business and profession through a blend of graduate and apprenticeship opportunities widens the talent pool we have access to and the ways in which candidates can engage and connect with Pinsent Masons. Recruiting the most diverse and best talent is critical to our strategy to be market leading in our global sectors. Our new apprentices will have the exciting opportunity to help our business shape and evolve our apprenticeship offering and we know they will have a lot to contribute to that process."

The University of Law works with a number of leading law firms to provide a range of apprenticeships, from school leaver to degree and post-graduate levels. It has an established strategic partnership with Damar Training which reflects both providers' commitment to embrace new pathways and to offer a comprehensive service for employers and apprentices alike, from apprentice recruitment through to qualification.