Linklaters is outsourcing part of its litigation training to the College of Law as it dispenses with its ‘short seat’ in the department.
The move is believed to be the first time a major City firm has entered into partnership with an external provider for training in the basic seats required by the Law Society.
Linklaters introduced the six-week ‘short seat’ in litigation several years ago, aimed at providing contentious experience for trainees with ambitions to qualify into corporate or finance.
The new programme is run at the College of Law’s Legal Advice Centre at its Store Street branch and takes place over five weeks, marrying litigation training with pro bono work.
Trainees are supervised in two groups of eight, advising on cases before the leasehold valuation tribunal and the rent assessment committee.
Linklaters litigation head Christopher Style told The Lawyer: “Litigation is a key element of our offering. Does it represent a relatively small percentage of the practice? Yes. But the idea of our people participating in advising real people on real problems is terrific. “
