Northumbria University Law School has joined forces with national firm Irwin Mitchell to pilot a groundbreaking scheme to train future lawyers.

It now offers a full-time five-year Master of Law (Solicitor) degree, combining the academic, vocational and training stages of qualification as a solicitor, at the end of which graduates can apply to the Solicitors Regulation Authority for enrolment as a solicitor.

The course, made possible by the SRA initiative designed to pilot work-based learning, incorporates a qualifying law degree with the Legal Practice Course and work-based learning, instead of the traditional training contract.

Professor Philip Plowden, dean of Northumbria’s Law School, said: ‘The MLaw (Solicitor) degree is the first law degree of its kind. It will see students starting as undergraduates and graduating with the education and training requirements which will make them eligible to join the roll of solicitors.’

Plowden said the key to the new degree was the university’s award-winning Student Law Office programme, whereby students experience ‘law for real’ under the supervision of practising academics, coupled with its close relationship with existing training providers.

Clare Gilligan, head of education and training at the SRA, said: ‘The new MLaw (Solicitor) degree option is an innovative and interesting variation of the work-based learning pilot. Over the coming months, we will observe students’ progress with interest and monitor the feedback we receive from the candidates themselves, the provider and the employer.’

Angela Kirtley, clinical negligence associate at Irwin Mitchell’s north-east office, said: ‘It will mean that, for the first time, students will complete part of their training to be a solicitor while based at university and continue their academic studies while on placement. We believe this holistic approach will prove to be of enormous benefit to the profession in the future.’