In what constitutes a major overhaul of its training programme, Allen & Overy (A&O) has announced today (16 December) that it will work with BPP law school to provide its young lawyers with an enhanced Legal Practice Course (LPC) with a Masters business component from 2015. The firm has also chosen BPP to run its Graduate Diploma in Law course from September next year.
The change in legal training institution came after a competitive tender process in which BPP was selected over the firm’s incumbent provider, the University of Law.
The firm’s new LPC aims to ensure that its lawyers develop commercial awareness as well as legal expertise. The business modules will be fully incorporated into the LPC and be taught via a combination of online and face-to-face classes, designed exclusively for A&O.
‘Launching this Masters programme ensures we continue to lead the market on training: this will further improve our junior lawyers’ business knowledge and their ability to provide our clients with commercially relevant advice. This will better equip them for a career in commercial law and provides the added benefit of a Masters-level qualification,’ said David Campbell, a partner and training principle at the firm.
On completion of the course, not only will trainees receive their LPC but during their training contract at the firm, trainees will also carry out a business intelligence project on a relevant topic, which may be an industry sector, a client or other related subject. After completing this element of the training contract, they will receive an MA(LPC with Business).
A&O recently announced its spring newly qualified lawyer retention rate stood at 84% but in the summer announced that it would reduce its trainee intake by 15% from 2015. The firm currently takes on 105 trainees a year.
david.stevenson@legalease.co.uk
