The Apprentice 2.0

While BPP Law School announced its plans to roll out a legal apprenticeship scheme in autumn 2012, Kennedys launched a legal apprenticeship scheme to offer school leavers the opportunity to practice law without a degree.

Kennedys’ legal apprentices will be working towards taking on roles as litigation executives at the firm, and will start on an annual salary of between £14,000 and £18,000 depending on location.

The first part of the apprenticeship is a one-year introductory programme, which will combine a competency element and a knowledge element. The apprentices will then be required to sit the ILEX legal environment paper.

Following the completion of the first year, the apprentice can apply for the two-year advanced apprenticeship that will immerse them in a host of legal work and equip them with key legal skills.

To apply for the unique apprenticeship scheme, Kennedys requires the ideal candidate to have at least eight GCSEs at A* to B grade and be expecting to gain at least three A levels at A* to B grade.

Far, far different from the kinds of apprenticeships envisaged by the words of this 1640 indenture [indentures were the forerunners of our modern apprenticeship agreements]: “Know all men that I, Thomas Millard, with the Consent of Henry Wolcott of Windsor unto whose custody and care at whose charge I was brought over out of England into New England, doe bynd myself as an apprentise for eight yeeres to serve William Pynchon of Springfield, his heirs and assigns in all manner of lawful employmt unto the full ext of eight yeeres beginninge the 29 day of Sept 1640. And the said William doth condition to find the said Thomas meat drinke & clothing fitting such an apprentise & at the end of this tyme one new sute of apparell and forty shillings in mony: subscribed this 28 October 1640.”

Gulp.