Addleshaw Goddard is proud to announce the opening of its 2015 Legal Apprenticeship Scheme through its Transaction Services Team (TST).

Following the success of the first year of the scheme which was launched in September 2013, the firm will recruit ten young people to join TST in Manchester and two young people to join TST in Leeds. The 18-month programme which leads to a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship in Legal Services, provides each apprentice with extensive in-house and external training as well as tailored assessments providing them with the legal and administrative skills to progress into other roles within the TST and the firm.

The TST provides a wide range of routine assignments in either a stand-alone or an integrated way alongside the firm's qualified lawyers, and was introduced by Addleshaw Goddard as an alternative, more efficient approach to the conventional delivery of standardised process by law firms. The TST has grown rapidly since its launch in 2010 to over 100 people, including apprentices, paralegals and managers.

Mike Potter, Head of the Transaction Services Team at Addleshaw Goddard, said: “As a firm, we are passionate about providing a different approach to attracting, retaining and developing great people.

"Apprentices provide a whole new talent pool for the future and allow us to be more agile when responding to client needs. They bring new commitment and energy, whilst offering a more efficient way of delivering elements of our legal services, particularly in large transactions and complex cases."

Legal apprenticeships provide an important alternative to the traditional university route, and the firm is currently working in conjunction with The Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) on its Trailblazer Apprenticeships in Law programme, which will bring in new standards and also enable more flexible routes to qualification as a solicitor