Spotlight at the National Careers Service
Advanced and Higher level Legal Services Apprenticeships announced from 2013
There is some good news for young people looking for an alternative learning route to building a career in Law. An exciting new undergraduate level Apprenticeship – ‘Higher Apprenticeship in Legal Services’ is a Level 4 qualification and will be available from 2013.
Also expected to be available from next year is the Level 3 Advanced Legal Services Apprenticeship – another new qualification that will see apprentices on the road to a career in Legal Services.
As well as benefiting new entrants to the sector, the Higher Apprenticeship will also allow some existing staff within law firms to up-skill and gain nationally recognised qualifications. For young people already on a Level 2 Apprenticeship in Business Administration – Legal Pathway, the announcement of both new qualifications signifies how the Apprenticeship route can take an apprentice right through their learning journey to a Level 4 qualification in Legal Services.
This new Apprenticeship means that, for the first time, people in England will be able to follow an Apprenticeship pathway to becoming a qualified fee-earner or "paralegal" within the legal sector. From there, progression to qualified lawyer status (solicitor, barrister or Chartered Legal Executive) or even a judge is possible.
There are currently over 50,000 paralegals across England, in most cases earning between £15,000 and £50,000 a year. They work in many different areas of law, helping individuals and commercial clients with a wide range of issues. Because of changes in the way law firms are able to conduct business, the number of paralegals is expected to grow by at least 18% by 2017. This will create opportunities for many ambitious new entrants to the profession. All apprentices who begin the Legal Services Apprenticeships will be employed full time, usually by a law firm or in-house legal department, and all will earn a salary from day one.
The Apprenticeship is being developed by four partners, Pearson in Practice (the project lead), Damar Training, the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives and Skills for Justice. The project is being funded by the UK Government via the National Apprenticeship Service 
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The Higher Apprenticeship in Legal Services website gives an introduction to the new qualification for anyone who is interested in a career in law as well as parents, teachers, careers advisors and other interested parties.
