BCLP’s Award Winning Apprenticeship Offering Extended to Southampton

International law firm BCLP has extended its apprenticeship scheme into its Southampton office, with on-boarding taking place in September 2022.

BCLP began its apprenticeship programme in 2015, when the firm introduced three apprentices into the Manchester office. Since then BCLP has been playing an industry-leading role in developing the new and diverse route to qualification as a Solicitor, with 21 Apprentices currently in the Manchester office across the roles of Paralegal, Solicitor and Trainee Solicitor.  

How the BCLP scheme works

Partnering with BPP University, the scheme has developed over the years with apprentices benefitting from rotations through the teams, gaining on the job training and developing their professional skills. In the final two years of the scheme, apprentices complete their LLB and commence studying for the newly introduced Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE). At this point our trainee solicitor and apprenticeship programmes become aligned, with the apprentices joining the trainee rotations, with the title of Trainee Solicitor – Apprentice. At this stage in the apprenticeship, the apprentices alongside the trainee solicitors, have the opportunity to apply for and complete a client or international secondment, and in the final six month seat all will have the opportunity to apply and be assessed for a newly qualified associate role.

Industry-wide recognition

The BCLP apprenticeship continues to receive industry-wide recognition for the quality of the programme.  In 2021 BCLP has won the following awards: -

• Employer of the year – BPP;
• Employer of the year – Apprentice of the Year awards;
• Apprentice Champion of the year – Michelle Tunney – BPP; and
• Finalist in the Target Job Awards for Best School Leaver Programme

Partner in Charge (Southampton) Anna Robbins commented: “We are really excited to extend the award-winning BCLP apprentice scheme into our Southampton office next year.  It’s so important to continue to broaden the range of routes we can offer towards solicitor qualification and this is a great opportunity to extend our established scheme into our growing Southampton office.”

Partner and UK Head of Real Estate Samant Narula commented: “As a firm and a real estate practice we are committed to I&D and the apprentice programme plays an important role in this regards. We are extremely proud of the apprentices who joined us at the outset and are now trainees at the firm.”