Member Article

SAS Daniels building its future with trainees and apprentices

North West law firm SAS Daniels LLP has appointed its first apprentices, under a new scheme being run in conjunction with the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Manchester Metropolitan University. The firm, which has taken on five apprentices, has also hired two trainees.

The apprenticeship is completed over two years, with the opportunity to continue the qualification to become a fully trained solicitor. The apprentices will be assigned to a specific team within SAS Daniels, working in a defined role and filling a genuine requirement in the office. Whilst learning alongside fully trained professionals, participants will also attend Manchester Metropolitan University to complete the theory part of the apprenticeship.

Three apprentices have been taken on in the real estate team, with Lydia O’Brien based in Stockport and Francesca Flanagan in the team in Macclesfield. Caitlin Burger, formerly a paralegal at the firm, is also joining the team in Stockport on the scheme, whilst Carol Tyzack, also a paralegal, is joining the private client team in Macclesfield. Finally, Jack Ramsden is part of the commercial litigation team in Stockport.

He said “Initially, I planned to go to university, and received five offers to study law. However, when I looked into the scheme in more detail I realised I could become a fully trained solicitor in seven to eight years, free of the debt that comes with university and Law College and at the same time gaining first hand experience in a law firm.

“I had the opportunity to look at options from a few law firms on the scheme and SAS Daniels really impressed me, offering me a defined role as part of its commercial litigation team, and I look forward to starting on the path to becoming a paralegal.”

The firm has also taken on its complement of trainees for the year, with Ben Davies and Dan Whittingham joining its Stockport office. Ben studied Spanish and Business at the University of Liverpool, before going on to study at Chester College of Law.

He will be starting his training in the employment team before gaining experience across a variety of different practice areas. Dan completed his law degree at Lancaster University before finishing his post graduate degree at Manchester College of Law, and will be starting his training in the corporate team.

Jonathan Whittaker, senior partner at the firm, said: “As a firm we need to ensure that we have a continual pipeline of new talent coming through. The changing nature of education, and the legal industry as a whole, means that we need to consider new ways of developing the solicitors of the future.

“Traditional trainee contracts are still very important, but the apprenticeships offer an alternative route which reflects the nature of education today. This is the perfect opportunity for school leavers who are seeking alternative methods of further education to university, allowing them to learn a wide range of skills that are essential to the legal profession.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .