Twelve Students Join Leading Law Firm To Kick-Start Legal Career

Law firm Irwin Mitchell are delighted to welcome their first national cohort of apprentices joining the firm, providing an opportunity for young people to start a career in the legal industry.

After almost 700 applications, 12 candidates were chosen to start their apprenticeship careers at one of the UK’s leading law firms. The students will work in either a Paralegal or Customer Service role across four offices within the firm – Sheffield, Birmingham, London and Leeds. 

Most of the 12 apprentices will be joining the firm straight out of college having just completed their A levels, and have chosen the apprenticeship route over heading to university. 

The Paralegal apprentices will join the firm on a two-year fixed-term contract, with Customer Service apprentices on a 12-month contract, and will gain first-hand experience of working within real legal teams and will help deliver an excellent service to clients. 

As well as experience, students will undertake a professional qualification during their apprenticeship - with the Paralegal apprentices completing CILEx Level 3 and the Customer Service apprentices completing a NVQ Level 2 City & Guilds Customer Service qualification.  

CILEx Law School has strong employer links in the legal sector and law firms are increasingly using this training to develop staff into fee earning roles through apprenticeships. For the call centre scheme, Irwin Mitchell has partnered with Sheffield College.  

The apprenticeship inductions began on Thursday 1 September 2016 and concluded with a speech from Andrew Tucker, Group Chief Executive of Irwin Mitchell. 

Andrew said:

Expert Opinion

“It was great to meet the new team as they start their career with us, and I’ll look forward to hearing how they get on. Apprenticeships can be employed in a number of roles and it is something we are hoping to build on in the future as an additional pathway into employment for young people looking for an alternative route to university.” Andrew Tucker - CEO

The Sheffield office is taking on half of the apprentices; with Lauren Mannion joining the Personal Injury team led by Zoe Brodrick; Emma Thackery to join Motor headed by Robert Watson and Ellie Clarkson to join Paul Gerard’s Commercial Litigation team. The three apprentices to join the Contact Centre with Nelofar Jabeen are; Lorna Boswell, Shelby Grierson and Thomas Peters.

In Birmingham, student Chloe Sharp joins the Personal Injury team headed by Simon Prew, Melissa Ward joins the Personal Injury team headed by partner Stephen Nye, and Alice Spittles-Jackson joins partner Omer Simjee’s Employment law team.

In Leeds, Katie Wallett join’s partner John Flathers’ Real Estate team and in the London office, Megan Bird joins the Personal Injury team led by partner Tracey Storey and Isobel Hecker joins the Serious Injury team headed by partner Colin Ettinger.

John Flathers, who will be taking on an apprentice in his Real Estate team, said: 

Expert Opinion

“I am proud and excited that we are able to provide an opportunity of a career in the law at such a young age. We have offered the apprentice position to some very talented people who I am sure will add to our firm in all kinds of ways.

“I have been involved in our journey to this point from the start and probably the most telling moment for me was attending an apprentice fair in March with an attendance of nearly 5000 people. That is how important the apprentice initiative is. I can’t wait to see how our new recruits develop and forge a long term career in the law."
John Flathers - Partner