Outfit takes on around 15 trainees each year
The University of Law (ULaw) has put pen to paper on a deal to provide legal training for future trainees at TLT.
The tie-up will see ULaw become the exclusive training provider of the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) and Legal Practice Course (LPC) for TLT, a national law firm that recruits around 15 trainee solicitors each year.
Under the new arrangement, which kicks in this month, ULaw will also supply the Professional Skills Course (PSC) — the final, compulsory part of training before qualifying as a solicitor.
Commenting on the deal, Peter Crisp, pro vice chancellor external at ULaw, said:
“The practice of law and the role of lawyers is changing rapidly, and the training of future lawyers needs to reflect this new dynamic, not least as we prepare for the introduction of the SQE. The University of Law’s partnership with TLT will see us providing the GDL, LPC and PSC for all of the firm’s future legal talent.”
Ed Fiddick, training principal at TLT, added: “We were impressed by ULaw’s forward thinking approach and in particular the coverage of legaltech on its programmes. Our trainees will be introduced to the application of legaltech on the LPC. ULaw also has an innovative Legal Tech module as part of its PSC offering: ideal preparation for a role supporting TLT’s objective to remain at the forefront of innovation in the legal sector.”
The 2020 Legal Cheek Firms Most List shows that TLT pays its London trainees £37,000 in year one, rising to £39,500 in year two, while in Bristol (where the firm is headquartered) they receive £31,000 and £33,000 respectively. Its newly qualified (NQ) solicitors in London start on £61,000 and those in Bristol earn £44,000.
In our Trainee and Junior Lawyer Survey 2019–20, TLT chalked up As in seven categories including quality of work, peer support and partner approachability.
ULaw already has tie-ups with the likes of Linklaters, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (BCLP), Ashurst and, just this week, Deloitte. Meanwhile, BPP University Law School has similar deals with Allen & Overy, Freshfields and Herbert Smith Freehills, among others.
The training deal comes despite plans to replace both the GDL and LPC with the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) in September 2021.