Has teamed with nine firms in Manchester
Manchester law firms to create 100 paralegal apprenticeships
Manchester Chamber of Commerce has collaborated with nine local law firms to deliver around 100 paralegal apprenticeships, it has been reported.
Participating firms, Pannone, Slater Heelis, Chafes, Colemans-ctts, Hill Dickinson, Horwich Farrelly, Stephensons, SAS Daniels and Weightmans have secured funding from an GBP8.5m chamber fund in place to boost economic growth. Apprentices are due to be taken on from September.
Emma Holt, the chamber’s Legal Sector Employer Skills Group chair and Pannone‘s managing partner said: “The reality of the modern legal world is that, whilst there will always be highly skilled solicitors and partners within legal practice, law firms are employing more paralegals and this is an opportunity for students who might not otherwise consider the law as an option.
“There are many law graduates unable to secure training contracts and this is creating a situation where students are incurring significant tuition fees with more limited prospects of securing a position as a trainee solicitor. Under the scheme students will join a firm and spend time practically learning the skills required to be a paralegal whilst also undertaking a course leading to a paralegal qualification. This will be funded by monies being made available to meet skills gaps.”
