News
Freshfields supports CityCentury to increase access to the profession for solicitor apprentices
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) has today announced its support for CityCentury, an initiative led by the City of London Law Society (CLLS) comprising 50 leading law firms aimed at bringing significant numbers of talented solicitor apprentices into the City of London.
The new initiative will assist Freshfields to identify, attract, recruit, educate and develop committed solicitor apprentices, giving us access to additional diverse emerging talent for the long-term.
Through 2024 and 2025, many of CityCentury’s registered firms will be enrolling their first solicitor apprentices. The numbers starting on this qualification path will then increase significantly over the next few years. By 2040, CityCentury envisages that at least 100 new partners will have qualified through the solicitor apprentice route.
In a joint statement, Freshfields’ London Managing Partner Mark Sansom, and early careers partner Craig Montgomery, said: “We are delighted to be working with CityCentury and to continue our efforts to diversify access routes into the profession. Alongside other participating law firms, we will continue to modernise and develop our routes to qualification and to help preserve the City of London as a world leading hub for diverse legal talent.”
Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education Robert Halfon, said: “Apprenticeships are an essential component of the Government’s skills agenda, extending the ladder of opportunity and helping to grow the economy by boosting the skills pipeline. It is fantastic news that these 50 City law firms have committed to increasing the number of London-based solicitor apprentices. Giving more people from all backgrounds the chance to enter this prestigious career without a student debt is a significant step forward in building a skills and apprenticeships nation and I commend their commitment to social mobility.”
Notes To Editors
The City of London Law Society (CLLS) is the professional representative body for the largest national and international law firms in the City of London. Its membership includes almost 60 firms practising in the City which employ 18,000 solicitors.
Further info and regular updates on CityCentury and today's announement can be found here.
