The Lowdown on Law Apprenticeships

It’s National Apprenticeship Week, so what better time to talk about the various apprenticeship opportunities that law has to offer? This week’s Feature introduces the different types of apprenticeship, while the Oracle weighs up the pros and cons of pursuing an apprenticeship after your A levels over full-time university study. For more information, see The Law Apprenticeships Guide 2020. Away from apprenticeships, the Commercial Question examines the IP problems faced by McDonald’s in recent years, while the LGBT-inclusive firms being celebrated by charity Stonewall are revealed in News. PS You could put your interest in law, technology, software development and innovation into practice with the Evolve placement year at Simmons & Simmons. Find out more information here.

Meet the Lawyer Charlotte Smith – Walker Morris LLP One of the most appealing aspects of being an employment lawyer is the variety. Charlotte Smith provides a glimpse of what a career in the employment team at Walker Morris is really like, from advising Premier League football clubs to attending employment tribunals. Brochure Focus Osborne Clarke LLP With high-profile clients and award-winning development programmes, Osborne Clarke has the perfect environment in which to succeed. Meet the Recruiter Amy Ruff – Shoosmiths Amy Ruff offers her advice for each stage of the recruitment process at Shoosmiths, from competency-based questions on the application form, to assessment centres, to the summer vacation scheme. LCN Says Five opportunities for the legal services sector offered by the growth of paralegals Amanda Hamilton Anyone working within the legal services sector is perfectly well aware of the increasing number of paralegals operating within it. And these aren’t simply wannabe solicitors. Many of them are individuals who wish to embark on a paralegal career in its own right. LCN Awards winner Macfarlanes LLP | Best Recruiter – Large City Firm Rigour and fairness are the cornerstones of trainee recruitment at Macfarlanes, a firm that goes toe to toe with larger City competitors on clients and work quality, but does things differently when it comes growing its business. Different types of LAW APPRENTICESHIPS | LawCareers.Net Commercial Question A Big Mac-tastrophe: the recipe for trade mark revocation How can a household-name business find one its most famous trade marks being revoked? Sponsored by Womble Bond Dickinson Features A guide to law apprenticeships A legal apprenticeship is a route to becoming a lawyer that combines a paid job at a law firm with studying for formal qualifications, paid for by the government and your employer. It is an alternative to the traditional route of going to university and training to be a lawyer afterwards. The Oracle Apprenticeship or university? I’m considering starting a legal apprenticeship, but are the career prospects the same as the full-time university route? What are the main differences between an apprenticeship and going to university? LCN Blogs Game-based assessments Kat C-W This application cycle, I did my first game-based assessment! It was a fun way of testing skills and I was intrigued to find out a bit more about what is being tested and what some of the rationale is behind these tests. Solicitors' practice areas Aviation/aerospace – Watson Farley & Williams LLP Charlotte Bown Aviation lawyers provide commercial, regulatory and insurance advice and litigation services to the world's airlines, manufacturers and financiers. Jobs Colchester Coram Children's Legal Centre – Paralegal and solicitors CCLC is recruiting a paralegal to join our friendly and committed community care team in Colchester, to work with our experienced senior solicitor. Latest news Diversity at the Bar continues to grow but still needs improvement, BSB reports Coronavirus, Huawei, HS2: your commercial news round-up Stonewall top 100 employers list ranks 2020’s most LGBT-inclusive law firms Chambers to introduce mandatory anti-discrimination training for barristers DWF acquires US legal service firm More news Upcoming events Manchester / Saturday 8 February 2020 JLD forum: helping you to secure a training position Online / Tuesday 11 February 2020 BPP University Law School virtual open evening: barrister training course (BTC) Bristol / Wednesday 12 February 2020 The University of Law solicitor series: assessing trainee skills More events

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Law firm mergers have been a significant trend throughout the last decade – and there is a range of commercial reasons why two or more firms may decide to merge. Understanding these reasons is a key part of building your commercial awareness and appreciating that law firms are businesses above all. This weeks’ Feature provides an introduction to mergers and why they happen. Meanwhile, the LCN Says explores the options available when returning from a career break and there is News on Dentons’ new-look training contract and the discrimination still faced by disabled lawyers and candidates. PS Want to get hands-on experience with one of the world's largest law firms? Apply to become a campus ambassador with Clyde & Co before 31 March. PPS Open days at Latham & Watkins are a great way to gain insight into its culture and the way the firm works. The deadline to apply is 9 February.

Meet the Lawyer Maeve Keenan – Kingsley Napley LLP From “hands on” days spent in police stations to afternoons reviewing complex documentation for white-collar criminal cases, there is always a human element to working in Kingsley Napley’s crime team. Maeve Keenan explains the appeal of the job and provides an introduction to what the firm is really like.   Brochure Focus Burges Salmon LLP Burges Salmon prides itself on its top quality work, high profile clients and cutting edge training. Find out why you can expect more from your training contract with this brochure.   Meet the Recruiter Eleanor Beattie – Trowers & Hamlins LLP Eleanor Beattie offers valuable insights on how to stand out during the application process and secure a training contract at international firm Trowers & Hamlins.   LCN Says Is returning to work difficult for lawyers? Linda Lamb From taking care of a new child to recharging your batteries in a sabbatical, taking extended leave is an increasingly common part of many lawyers' professional journeys.   LCN Awards winner Mills & Reeve LLP | Best Work Placement Scheme – Regional Firm What you see during a vacation scheme always reveals much about what a firm is really like, so it’s no surprise that Mills & Reeve’s work experience programme is so well regarded – the firm has been named in The Sunday Times’ Best 100 Companies to Work For for 16 years running.   COMMERCIAL AWARENESS case study - arts & culture sector | LawCareers.Net   Commercial Question Employment rights for athletes What are the commercial implications for national governing bodies if funded athletes are given employment rights? Sponsored by DWF Group Plc   Features A guide to law firm mergers The reasons that firms decide to merge are as varied as the firms themselves, but there are usually some key drivers – namely, the desire to expand, geographically or in terms of expertise, or to stay afloat.   The Oracle I’m interested in criminal law but don’t want to defend criminals I am interested in a career in criminal law, but not sure how I would feel defending a client who I knew was guilty of a serious crime such as murder. Should I consider a different area of law?   LCN Blogs The top 4 things I've learned from applying to vacation schemes Juliet As a penultimate year non-law student, it is only in the last few months that I have been able to make my first forays into the daunting world of vacation scheme applications.   Solicitors' practice areas Professional negligence – Walker Morris LLP Jennifer Allum Professional services providers - solicitors, barristers, surveyors, accountants, independent financial advisers, insurance brokers, architects, engineers and others - all run the risk of giving negligent advice to clients.   Jobs Norfolk nplaw, Norfolk County Council | Trainee solicitor - three positions nplaw are looking for three new trainee solicitors to start training contracts with us in 2021. One post commences 1 March 2021; two posts commence 1 September 2021.   Latest news Dentons launches modernised training contract with more focus on commercial awareness BSB authorises Cardiff University to deliver new Bar course Disabled lawyers report discrimination across profession Sainsbury’s, Fevertree, ASOS, Tesla: your commercial news round-up     More news   Upcoming events Nottingham / Wednesday 5 February 2020 The University of Law solicitor series: assessing trainee skills Manchester / Saturday 8 February 2020 JLD forum: helping you to secure a training position Cardiff / Saturday 7 March 2020 Free JLD forum: supporting you through qualification and beyond     More events