A pledge to treat students qualifying through ‘alternative routes’ such as apprenticeships the same as those undergoing the more traditional training contract has been signed by at least 17 large law firms, including some Magic Circle firms.
The pledge was created by global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright.
CILEX chair Professor Chris Bones said: ‘An acknowledgement that candidates should be judged on ability and merit rather than their route to qualification will go a long way towards opening up the profession to groups who have traditionally been underrepresented in the law. We would like to see firms like these go further, giving equal treatment to those who have undertaken the CILEX route to qualify as specialist, CILEX Lawyers.’
