At least 19 City firms have signed a public pledge to ensure legal apprentices are treated equally with employees on training contracts. Firms signing the pledge, created by Norton Rose Fulbright, commit to demonstrating that the legal apprenticeships route is no less valuable that the traditional route to qualification.

Recruitment professionals will screen candidates in a ‘fair and inclusive’ way and assess their suitability based on experience, behaviour and competence. Hiring managers will assess CVs against the experience needed to fulfil the needs of the role rather than the academic or training route undertaken to qualify as a solicitor. Promotion and development policies will contain ‘fair and inclusive’ competencies that do not disadvantage candidates who have completed an alternative route to legal qualification.

Farmida Bi, chair at Norton Rose Fulbright, said: ‘For many, legal apprenticeships offer an essential route into the legal profession by providing on-the-job studying without incurring the costs of university. Through this pledge, we as law firms are collectively making a public commitment to recognise the rights of individuals to have equal access to opportunities and progression throughout their careers, regardless of their route to legal qualification.’

Clementine Hogarth, corporate and early careers recruitment partner at Norton Rose Fulbright, said it was essential that firms recognise alternative routes into legal careers ‘and recruiting and progressing people based on talent and merit alone’.

The pledge has been signed by Addleshaw Goddard, Ashurst, Burges Salmon, Clifford Chance, CMS, Charles Russell Speechlys, DAC Beachcroft, Eversheds Sutherland, Fenchurch Law, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Hogan Lovells, Linklaters, Norton Rose Fulbright, RPC, Simmons & Simmons, Trowers & Hamlins and Watson Farley & Williams.

Professor Chris Bones, chair of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives, said the pledge will go a long way towards opening up the profession to groups traditionally underrepresented in the law. However, he wants firms to go further and give equal treatment to those who have undertaken the CILEX route to qualify as specialist CILEX lawyers.

'We know that our members can face discrimination and a lack of respect despite their qualifications and experience. Our ‘earn while you learn’ route into the law means our members are a far more diverse group than other branches of the profession. Giving them the same equality of opportunity as their solicitor counterparts should be next on firms’ diversity and inclusion agenda,' he said.