Nurturing future talent

Social mobility

DAC Beachcroft is working to improve social mobility by helping disadvantaged young people enhance their employability, and by widening access to the legal profession. We operate a CV-blind recruitment process for all Trainees, and we run Unconscious Bias training for those involved in ongoing recruitment and people management at the firm. We also run workshops, mentoring and work experience to encourage a diverse range of student applications, through the Social Mobility Foundation and Aspiring Solicitors.

In addition to our volunteering programmes in disadvantaged local schools, we encourage job applications from those from poorer backgrounds. The firm runs BPP Trainee, Paralegal and Business Services Apprenticeships which combine work and study. A Paralegal Level 3 Apprenticeship lasts 2 years with a Certificate of Higher Education (Legal Services) awarded. Once completed this can be continued to become a Trainee Solicitor Level 7 Apprenticeship, which last 6 years, and incorporates a law degree. We are working with 2 of our partner schools to develop a bespoke pipeline to our ‘Aspiring Solicitors’ Apprenticeship programme.

Recently, CILEx (Chartered Institute of Legal Executives) confirmed that we are the largest employer of CILEx members, with 111 employees currently being funded through qualification. CILEx is the unique, non-graduate route to qualification as a lawyer, enabling participants to work and study at the same time, thus avoiding student debt and securing employment at the end. 73% of the 75 employees who have completed their CILEx qualification have stayed with DAC Beachcroft.