Bristol Graduate Apprenticeship IFPD 2023

Clyde & Co has grown to become a leading global law firm in our core sectors. With over 2,500 legal professionals operating from over 50 offices and associated offices across six continents, we offer a comprehensive range of legal services and advice to businesses operating at the heart of global trade and commerce.

From developed to emerging markets, we aim to support our clients by putting the power of our globally integrated firm at their disposal with a range of seamless and efficient services and the very best, commercially minded, legal advice. This, together with our sector expertise and regional understanding, allows us to help clients identify and manage risk and liability, navigate challenges, harness commercial potential, and achieve sustained growth in today's complex and volatile business environment.

We are currently recruiting graduates, who have either a degree in law or a non-law degree plus a Graduate Diploma in law, but who have not undertaken the LPC to work for Clyde & Co's Bristol Projects and Construction team.

What is Insurance, Financial & Professional Disputes (National PI)?

Our National PI business line co-ordinates our insurer-led professional liability work across our UK offices. We defend claims against the full range of non-medical professionals: our expertise includes the traditional professions (solicitors, accountants and other financial professionals, insurance brokers, surveyors and construction professionals) as well as the non-traditional and emerging professions (such as recruitment agents, estate agents, IT consultants, media companies and patent attorneys). Members of our team also provide professional indemnity coverage advice to insurers, including in relation to sensitive issues such as dishonesty.

The ability to build and maintain strong client relationships is key to our success: our lawyers are "market people", and we offer them a wide range of business development opportunities including secondments to major insurers.

What does the job involve?

• Research into specific legal issues, case law and the CPR
• Reviewing documents received from clients to undertake preliminary liability and quantum analysis of a new claim
• Preparing bundles for trial/arbitration/mediation/disciplinary hearings
• Document reviews for disclosure in litigation or compliance with SRA/FRC production notices
• Instructing and liaising with counsel and their clerks
• Instructing and liaising with expert witnesses
• Drafting letters, reports and other documents (eg witness statements)
• Attending client meetings and court hearings
• Assisting with the preparation of articles and seminars
• Reviewing and interpreting PI insurance policies

About the programme

Our graduate solicitor apprenticeship is a fast-track route to qualify as a solicitor and will support you through the new pathway to qualification by completion of the Solicitors Qualifying Exams (SQE1 and SQE2) and an internationally recognised Master's qualification (LLM), alongside gaining two years qualifying work experience. You will study with our nominated provider, the University of Law, in Bristol, and will undertake the majority of your study by way of block release for the first seven months of the apprenticeship.

After that, for the remainder of the 32-month programme, you will work full time in the Firm's IFPD department, subject to time off for any further necessary study or to sit SQE2. From day one, you will be involved in a variety of legal work whilst under the supervision of lawyers who are experts in their field.

This apprenticeship prepares students for day 1 as a qualified solicitor with a particular focus on the skills of Interviewing, Advocacy, Case and Matter Analysis, Legal Research, Legal Writing and Drafting. Upon successful completion, subject to the SRA Character & Suitability test, you will become a fully qualified solicitor with the SRA and subject to your performance on the programme, we hope to be able to offer you a newly qualified solicitor position in our Bristol IFDB team.

What we are looking for

• We are looking for those who are interested in projects and construction law and committed to a career as a solicitor at Clyde & Co as well as the following:
• You will need to have, by the start date in September 2023, a law degree or a non-law degree plus the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL).
• You will be expected to have AAB at A-level and a 2:1 degree, although we will take into account mitigating circumstances using the Rare contextualised recruitment system.
• As apprentices have employed status you must have the right to permanently live and work in the UK. Apprenticeships are not covered by student visas.

What we offer

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package as a newly qualified solicitor. You will also be entitled to a range of rewards and benefits:

• Private medical
• Pension scheme
• Group income protection
• Maternity and paternity pay
• Holiday purchase
• Season ticket loan
• Cycle to work scheme
• Gym subsidy

We'll make sure you have plenty of support throughout your programme - alongside having support from your dedicated supervisor, University of Law skills coach and tutor, you will also have regular one to one session with the early careers team and will be allocated a mentor from one of our newly qualified lawyers, enabling you to get peer-to-peer support and guidance. You can also look forward to a tailored induction programme and on-going internal training designed to ensure you have the skills, knowledge, and commercial acumen you need to become a well-rounded solicitor.

The application processes

We are looking for applicants with the motivation to join our firm and potential to be successful in the role throughout our process. The application process varies slightly from programme to programme, but this is what you'll need to do for this opportunity:

• Explore the programme specific information to understand which opportunity is the right one for you.
• You'll need to make your application online via our online application system.
• You will need to make your application online via our online application system. Application deadline is the 20th February 2023.
• You will then be invited to complete our digital immersive assessment which simulates a realistic preview of the role of a trainee solicitor. It looks to assess specific strengths and skills required in the role and asks you to complete a series of motivational and strengths-based questions though video interviews.
• Following this, if successful we will be in contact to invite you to our assessment day which will consist of a Group Exercise, Role Play, Written Exercise and Interview.

For more information, hints and tips please view our careers website.