City firm Wedlake Bell has joined a City of London Law Society (CLLS)- led collaboration aimed at bringing more solicitor apprentices to London.
The initiative, which brings together over 50 of the largest firms in the City of London, and will identify, attract, recruit, educate, qualify and develop the solicitor apprentices, giving member firms access to a pool of diverse emerging talent.
Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education Robert Halfon, Shadow Attorney General Emily Thornberry and UCAS Chief Executive Clare Marchant have all praised the programme, which aims to have the first cohort of solicitor apprentices of each registered firm enrolled by Autumn 2024.
Wedlake Bell Managing Partner, Martin Arnold, said of the firm’s participation: ” We are very pleased to join such a roster of well-respected firms as a part of City Century. As a firm we have always been passionate about the importance of alternative routes to law, and we have previously supported a number of our lawyers on their different paths. We are delighted to see a wider uptake and look forward to welcoming our first cohort in 2024.”