Contributors
Womble Bond Dickinson has welcomed another five apprentices who join the firm's Plymouth office.
Joseph Williams, Abigail Mansell, Rebekah Putnam and Sophie Dumont join as Paralegal Apprentice and Chloe McGuinness as Legal Administration Apprentice. The apprentices will work across the firm's Corporate and Commercial, Real Estate and Dispute Resolution teams.
Joining them is also James Dawson, who progresses his career in law and starts a paralegal apprenticeship after successfully completing his two year legal administration apprenticeship.
Womble Bond Dickinson was amongst the first in the legal profession to make legal apprenticeships available in 2014. There are now 18 apprentices working in the firm including solicitor apprentices, paralegal apprentices and apprentices working in support teams including HR, facilities and IT.
Craig Moore, Partner and Head of Womble Bond Dickinson's Plymouth office, said: "We're committed to supporting social mobility, opening up new routes into the legal profession and improving employability for young people and so hiring apprentices is absolutely the right thing to do in our sector.
"We wanted to create alternative avenues for young people who believe that university isn't the right path for them. We've been amazed by the success of the scheme and the commitment shown by our apprentices. We are committed to developing and expanding our apprenticeship offering and to providing continued learning opportunities following our apprentices' graduation."
Commenting on her apprenticeship, Rebekah Putnam, added: "I've always wanted to pursue a career in the legal sector, mainly because I believe that law is a fundamental part of our society and I love problem solving. The apprenticeship was a perfect choice, learning and acquiring a legal qualification whilst gaining invaluable experience and working for a top transatlantic law firm. I am really excited about my future at Womble Bond Dickinson."
The firm also recently launched a new solicitor apprenticeship scheme in its Newcastle offices, recruiting three new apprentices who will complete the higher level 7 apprenticeship, a trailblazing new programme which will eventually see them qualify as solicitors.
Womble Bond Dickinson's apprenticeship scheme has already been recognised by the National Apprenticeship Service when the firm won Newcomer Large Employer at the National Apprenticeship Awards earlier this year. It was also named in the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer list, which is compiled annually by the National Apprenticeship Service.
As well as being the largest law firm in Plymouth, Womble Bond Dickinson is also be the only transatlantic firm in the region. Ranking in the UK's top 20 law firms, it offers legal advice across eleven sectors of expertise and provides an enviable transatlantic platform for further local, regional and international growth.
