The University of Law (ULaw) has secured a new partnership with leading London law firm Farrer & Co to deliver training and development for its future trainees and solicitor apprentices enabling them to pass the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) and prepare them for practice.
As a result of this partnership, Farrer & Co’s next cohort of trainees joining the firm in September 2022 are currently studying the LPC with ULaw in readiness for the firm’s transition to the SQE with the University in future years. Farrer & Co’s trainees (joining the firm in 2024) will study ULaw’s SQE Master’s in Legal Practice. The University was awarded the contract following a competitive tender process.
From September 2022, Farrer & Co will also welcome its inaugural cohort of solicitor apprentices who will also start their training and additional support and development with ULaw.
Sharing Farrer & Co’s vision for the development of their next generation of lawyers, ULaw’s SQE programmes focus not only on excellent technical skills but also on enhancing those commercial and personal skills and behaviours needed to equip junior lawyers for the future world of work to deliver excellent service in a firm such as Farrer & Co that has an exciting client base.
Katherine Wilde, Director of Knowledge, Learning and Development at Farrer & Co, said: “At the heart of our firm is our people. We were looking for a partner who shared our sense of vision and excitement to support our firm’s transition to the SQE with care and passion. We recognise the importance of creating an inclusive learning environment for all in which our future lawyers from diverse backgrounds can progress and fulfil their potential to deliver superb client service”.
“We value the wellbeing of our people and pride ourselves on being supportive employers. Together with ULaw, we are committed to fostering diversity and inclusion at the firm and providing exceptional pastoral care to all of our early talent from diverse backgrounds. We are excited to be working with ULaw to help our future lawyers become business ready with a thirst for innovation and fresh thinking to enable them to match solutions to our clients’ diverse needs”.
ULaw’s focused SQE 1 & 2 preparation courses are embedded with innovative learning technology and analytics. Farrer & Co’s future trainees and solicitor apprentices will also study tailored and enhanced training with the University on topics such as private wealth, business strategy, innovation, technology, legal project management and professional behaviours.
Professor Peter Crisp, Deputy Vice Chancellor Law at ULaw, said: “Students are at the heart of all we do. We strive to support our students with exceptional pastoral care. We are delighted to be working with Farrer & Co, a firm that is synonymous with the highest level of care and quality of legal advice and service.
“We look forward to supporting the firm’s future trainees and solicitor apprentices on their individual learning journeys to become technically excellent lawyers with the appropriate people and commercial skills. We aim to support the next generation of Farrer’s lawyers to fulfil their ambitions and enjoy their studies with a sense of purpose and excitement.”
For more information about ULaw, please visit https://www.law.ac.uk/about/
For more information about Farrer & Co, please visit https://www.farrer.co.uk/join-us/train-with-us/