Norton Rose Fulbright launches UK legal apprenticeship pledge

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright announces the launch of a pledge to recognise UK legal apprenticeships as an equal pathway into a legal career, joining forces with a group of leading law firms to make the public commitment.

The pledge has been formed to highlight the firms’ commitment to apprenticeships and to publicise, for the benefit of current and future apprentices, the recognition of alternative paths to qualification as equivalent to more traditional routes, such as training contracts. 

The pledge, which has been signed by 16 other firms across the UK, commits to recruiting and developing talent in line with a set of principles, to ensure that solicitor apprentices will be treated in an equivalent manner as those from the traditional training contract route throughout their careers.

A number of law firms who have participated in the pledge will continue to collaborate with the aim of further driving forward the adoption of legal apprenticeships and providing career, networking and other opportunities to apprentices. Earlier this year, Norton Rose Fulbright hosted a first of its kind networking event for more than 70 solicitor apprentices from law firms across the City, providing them with an invaluable networking opportunity in the early stages of their careers. 

Farmida Bi, global and Europe, Middle East and Asia (EMEA) chair, Norton Rose Fulbright, commented: “For many, legal apprenticeships offer an essential route into the legal profession by providing on-the-job studying without incurring the costs of university. Through this pledge, we as law firms are collectively making a public commitment to recognise the rights of individuals to have equal access to opportunities and progression throughout their careers, regardless of their route to legal qualification.”

Clementine Hogarth, corporate and early careers recruitment partner, Norton Rose Fulbright, said: “It has been inspiring to see so many leading law firms come together to help level the playing field across the industry – the enthusiasm in the market about legal apprenticeships is really exciting. As we continue to further diversity and inclusion in the workplace, it is essential that we are recognising alternative routes into legal careers, and recruiting and progressing people based on talent and merit alone. The pledge is designed to highlight this commitment."

Notes to editors

1. The law firms that have signed the pledge in the UK include:

Addleshaw Goddard
Ashurst
Burges Salmon
Clifford Chance
CMS
Charles Russell Speechlys
DAC Beachcroft
Eversheds Sutherland
Fenchurch Law
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Hogan Lovells
Linklaters
Norton Rose Fulbright
RPC
Simmons & Simmons
Trowers & Hamlins
Watson Farley & Williams

2. Norton Rose Fulbright has committed to a number of social mobility projects, including working with Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO), Rare Recruitment, the Sutton Trust Pathways to Law initiative and Aspiring Solicitors. The firm is also a signatory to the Social Mobility Pledge and a founding member of PRIME, an alliance of law firms in the UK committed to improving access to the legal profession. In 2020, the firm launched its Advance network whose aims include helping the firm widen access to more socio-economically diverse talent in the UK.

3. The pledge is one of a number of initiatives Norton Rose Fulbright has initiated and supported to promote the apprenticeship route. It notably follows the launch of the firm’s own legal apprenticeship programme in the UK in 2021, which aims to enable high-performing school leavers from socio-economically diverse backgrounds access legal careers. Over the course of the apprenticeship, 20% of working time is ringfenced for studying, with the tuition fees funded by the apprenticeship levy.

4.  In 2021, Peter Scott, managing partner, Europe, Middle East and Asia, Norton Rose Fulbright and Clementine Hogarth were appointed to support the City of London’s first taskforce on socio-economic mobility, which is focused on supporting socio-economic diversity and career progression at senior levels.