BDB Pitmans signs UK Legal Apprenticeship Pledge

BDB Pitmans has joined 28 other firms in committing to the UK Legal Apprenticeship Pledge. As a firm that strongly believes in increasing opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds wishing to get in to law, BDB Pitmans is proud to make a public commitment to recognise the value that legal apprentices help add to the legal profession.

This pledge, launched by Norton Rose Fulbright, outlines three recruitment and development principles created to demonstrate that the Legal Apprenticeship route is no less valuable than traditional paths to qualification.

Following BDB Pitmans’ participation in the #CityCentury initiative earlier in the year – a collaboration between 52 City law firms led by City of London Law Society (CLLS) which aims to significantly increase the number of solicitor apprentices in the Capital – this pledge serves to cement the firm’s continued commitment to creating opportunities for all, regardless of background.

The principles state that candidates must be screened in a fair and inclusive way, with their suitability for the role based on an assessment of their experience, behaviour and competence rather than the academic route taken to qualify. In this way it is expected that the pledge will help remove barriers and open up further opportunities for all who wish to practise the law, no matter their background or circumstances.

Solicitor Apprenticeship Partner Sponsor, Nick Le Riche, commented:

‘We strongly believe that there are a number of equally valuable routes into the legal profession – including solicitor apprenticeships. We’re very pleased to join forces with other law firms to widen access to a career in law and are confident that the solicitor apprenticeship route will open up the legal sector to a wide pool of exceptional talent. We are proud to make this pledge to ensure that the same networking and wider opportunities are available to Legal Apprentices as to any other individual wishing to practice law.’

BDB Pitmans’ first cohort of Solicitor Apprentices will start in our London office in September 2024. Applications open in December 2023.

If you or someone you know would be interested in exploring a Solicitor Apprenticeship at BDB Pitmans, please register your interest at [email protected] or visit our webpage.