Apprentice Solicitor Trainee - Legal Services - 105746AP - Apprentice Grade 4
Apprentice Solicitor Trainee - Legal Services - 105746AP - Apprentice Grade 4
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Job Description
Position Details:
Department: Legal Services
Location: University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary21733 per annum rising to 27166 after 12 months service.
Apprentice Grade 4
Full Time / Fixed Term for75 Months
Apprenticeship Standard:Solicitor
Training Provider:BPP
Closing date: 2 June 2025 please upload a CV with your application.
Eligibility: The training delivered in apprenticeships is funded through the apprenticeship levy which is subject toDepartment for Education funding rulesfor apprenticeships. When reviewing applications the University and the training provider will be checking candidates meet thiseligibility criteria. Further information is available on ourwebpage.
You have normally been a resident in the UK for the last 3 years. For exemptions please refer to the government funding rules for apprenticeships.
Our offer to you
The University of Birmingham is a 945m turnover charity. We are one of the most ambitious higher education institutions in the UK and are determined to be placed in the global top 50 universities. With more than 8500 staff 38000 students and 350000 alumni across the globe we think recruit and compete worldwide. We are a proud member of the prestigious Russell Group which consists of the UKs foremost researchintensive universities.
Our heritage as the original redbrick University is combined with one of the most compelling and ambitious agendas in higher education. The University has been transformed in recent years characterised by major investments in academic staffing investment of 1 billion in campus facilities strong and improving outcomes for our students and annual growth in research performance.
Apprenticeship context
Legal Services is one of the Universitys Professional Service departments led by the Registrar and Secretary. We are a part of the Universitys Executive Support Division which is led by the Chief of Staff and brings together the teams which support policy planning data analysis governance legal advice and change management.
Our inhouse solicitors office provides high quality legal advice to both Academic and Professional Services departments on a complete range of the Universitys activities. These include international projects groundbreaking research supporting an excellent experience for our students the commercial arrangements which frame those activities and a whole host of community alumni and sectorbased initiatives underpinning the Universitys strategic aims.
Recent projects in which Legal Services have been involved include the creation of the UKs only University Training Secondary School the construction and establishment of the Universitys Dubai Campus the Birmingham Health Innovation Campus and the Universitys involvement in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and World Blind Games 2023.
We are looking for a talented and enthusiastic individual to join our wellestablished and highly regarded team as a solicitor apprentice.
The successful applicants responsibilities will be split between:
- The generalist work of Legal Services which provides legal advice across a full range of the Universitys activities. Those activities include commercial contracts procurement and construction projects charity law regulatory/compliance matters research projects employment law safeguarding equality issues and studentrelated matters.
- The work of the Freedom of Information and Data Protection team which sits within Legal Services and is responsible for:
- Ensuring consistently high levels of compliance of GDPR (including SAR) FOIA and other relevant legislation relevant to personal and institutional data;
- Advising on the application of GDPR (including SAR) FOIA and other relevant legislation in a higher education context;
- Embedding and continuously improving GDPR and FOIA compliance across the institution including for example the Universitys ROPA DAR Data Retention Policy and related statutory requirements;
- Working with Professional Services and Academic departments to provide expertise in the management of the Universitys records to ensure that the Universitys data records and information are appropriately managed stored accessible and retrievable drafting and developing frameworks policies and procedures where necessary;
- Developing and supporting regular training and knowledge dissemination in relation to good practice on data protection and records management.
The terms of employment are generous; with 40 days holiday each year (including Bank Holidays and University closed days) reduced membership fees for the Universitys Sport & Fitness Centre on campus and subject to eligibility membership of the Universities Superannuation Pension Scheme where the employers contribution is significant. There are also a range of employee benefits cycle to work scheme onsite nurseries and a range of cultural and social activities.
The role is based on our beautiful Edgbaston campus. The successful applicant will be permitted to attend off the job training as required by their trading provider. For the remainder of the role and notwithstanding the Universityshybrid working policy full office attendance is required.
During this apprenticeship with appropriate supervision you will learn the following duties:
- Negotiate and draft contracts in consultation with colleagues across Academic and Professional Services departments in order to fully support the teaching and research undertaken by the University;
- Identify and solve both legal and practical problems associated with the Universitys activities and to be proactive in identifying methods to reduce potential risk or liability to the University;
- Review and draft responses to Subject Access and Freedom of Information Act requests and provide a view on the application of data protection law in line with statutory deadlines;
- Implement enhance monitor and report on effective compliance practices in relation to data protection Freedom of Information Act requests and records management across the University effectively collaborating with a broad range of stakeholders to promote and facilitate compliance across the University;
- Join and contribute to University committees and/or larger crossdiscipline projects providing legal and practical advice where appropriate;
- Give clear and concise explanations of legal issues to nonqualified members of the University at all levels and provide training on existing and new legal initiatives and areas of statutory compliance;
- Prepare and issue Instructions to external solicitors or Counsel in accordance with the Universitys protocol which requires that all instructions to external legal advisers are issued and managed via Legal Services;
- Manage your own time and caseload balancing competing priorities and taking appropriate action to keep matters on track anticipating future requirements and acting always proactively in good time and in the best interests of the University;
- Conduct legal research be willing to acquire new skills and to cover for other members of the team as appropriate.
- Support equality and diversity moderating your behaviour as appropriate to avoid unfair discriminatory impact or bias on others.
You will be expected to engage fully with the University of Birmingham apprenticeship scheme attending mandatory group days and contributing to the successful promotion of the scheme by representing your department in a positive manner.
As regards the academic programme of study forming part of the apprenticeship youmust successfully undertake and complete the required elements of the Level 7 Solicitor Apprenticeship Standard to achieve qualified solicitor status including but not limited to:
- attending College / University / study sessions as required;
- undertaking private study as and when required;
- completing any assessments or examinations as required including preparation of any workbased portfolio of evidence;
- working with any assessor mentor tutor or coach for the duration of the programme;
- developing skills knowledge and experience in all aspects of the role through on the job training attending training / study sessions and completion of the Apprenticeship in order to satisfy the SRAs competence requirements;
- utilising knowledge and skills gained at College / University into practice in the workplace;
- undertaking any mandatory or statutory training as required.
The apprenticeis required to be flexible in developing their role and will from time to time be required to undertake any other duties commensurate with the grading of the position.
This apprenticeship would suit:
- Someone looking to develop as a solicitor.
- The role will require someone who can organise their own time and complete the tasks required of them.
- We are looking for someone who is keen to learn and can develop to apply legislation to a wide range of scenarios
Required Knowledge Skills Qualifications Experience
- Predicted or achieved three ALevels equivalent to 128 UCAS points. BPP will accept other qualifications and UCAS points at their discretion.
- Five GCSEs with grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) including English and maths
- Demonstrable interest in or experience of being a paralegal/legal executive.
- A willingness to acquire new skills and areas of expertise and to learn about statutory compliance within the University. Additional training will be provided although the ability to carry out extensive independent study will also be essential;
- The ability to work both unsupervised and under supervision and to proactively assist their supervisor as required;
- Organisational skills attention to detail and written communication skills including the ability to write for different audiences and to required deadlines with particular attention to accurate spelling grammar punctuation and presentation of documents.
- Interpersonal skills with a proven ability to build effective and trusting partnerships and work in a collaborative way;
- Oral communication and presentation skills and confidence and presence in meetings with stakeholders within the University;
- Flexibility pragmatism and resilience with an ability to work effectively under pressure and deliver to targets;
- A high degree of professionalism tact and diplomacy and the ability to exercise discretion regarding the handling and management of sensitive information/issues.
- A commitment to promote and adhere to the agreed values of the University and the Executive Support Division.
- An understanding of the importance of equality and diversity in the workplace.
- The ability to identify and respond to equality and diversity issues in line with relevant policies and procedures and how to respond to issues in line with relevant policies and procedures.
Career Pathway
On completion of this apprenticeship you may be able to progress into the following role:
- Solicitor
View our staff values and behaviourshere
We believe there is no such thing as a typical member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability which is a key part of our strategy.You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyoneon our website.
Required Experience:
Intern
Employment Type
Full-Time
