8 February 2011
Apprenticeships come in all shapes and
sizes
As National Apprenticeship Week 2011 continues the Institute of
Legal Executives (ILEX) is reminding everyone that apprenticeships
are often in the most unlikely of places. You can even ‘earn as you
learn’ while studying law.
According to UCAS figures, whilst over 115,000
university applicants applied to study law in 2010, only 20% were
accepted, leaving more than 95,000 ambitious people wondering what
to do next. This clearly shows there is a genuine need for aspiring
lawyers to seek apprentice-style learning to achieve the career
they want.
Those that have taken the ‘legal apprentice’
route have nothing but praise for the option. Kate Smith, 20,
currently works in the Personal Injury department at Kenneth Bush
Solicitors in Norfolk. Although given little information about any
options other than University, Kate found that there were other
avenues available: “I thought my dreams of a career in law were
over, but then I found the ILEX route into law and it turns out not
getting into university was a blessing in disguise.
“Already I am earning money by working at a
law firm and am a valued member of the team. The studies can be
hard, as you’d expect, but they are funded by my employer and I am
due to finish my first stage of ILEX exams in June 2011, following
which I will be commencing my second and final stage of ILEX
qualifications. After having passed Level 6 and completing two
years of qualifying employment I will be a fully qualified lawyer
and be able to use the title Legal Executive. This is in addition
to the two and a half years I have already been working at Kenneth
Bush Solicitors so far, gaining vast amounts of experience to
support my academic knowledge.
“At College we were led to believe that the only natural step
after A-Levels was University, especially if we wanted to be become
something like a lawyer. But that simply isn’t true, and there are
other options out there that can often be better for individuals
than the more traditional routes.”
Figures already released this year show that
ILEX is increasingly being seen as a viable option to gaining
qualifications in law:
- There has been a 40 per cent increase (from 2009 – 2010) in the
number of exams being taken for the Level 3 Professional Diploma in
Law and Practice, which is the first stage of ILEX exams and
equivalent to A-Level standard
- 77% of ILEX students have their membership fees paid by their
employers
- 60% of ILEX students have all their course and exam fees paid
for by their employers.
Chief Executive of ILEX, Diane Burleigh, said:
“Going to university is not the only route to getting the career
you want. ILEX offers aspiring lawyers the chance of an alternative
apprentice route to get qualified whilst working in the legal
sector. The practical business and client care skills they pick up
whilst working are highly valued by employers, and so their career
prospects are just as good as those who graduate from university.
We even hold our own graduation ceremony so that family and friends
can share in the proud moment.”
ENDS