Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons has partnered with The College of Legal Practice to launch MLS Qualify, a novel route to qualification as a solicitor for paralegals working within its Vario Managed Legal Services function. The application process for MLS Qualify launched in March, with an initial cohort of two MLS Trainees due to start their roles in September.
Led by Richard Coffey, Head of Vario Managed Legal Services Delivery, MLS Qualify seeks to recognise and address the challenges of social mobility for those pursuing a career as a lawyer. The programme builds on Vario’s Paralegal Centre of Excellence which has already introduced an apprentice pathway for paralegals who can join the firm as apprentices and progress to specialist manager roles in the technology and legal solutions space.
The learning provided by The College of Legal Practice will offer online and flexible accredited training for the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQE) that fits seamlessly into the MLS Trainees’ client work across the week. SQE assessment study preparation will be delivered over a year to maximise the learning time and facilitate the commitments necessary to these dual streams of work. This partnership is the College’s first collaboration with an international firm to support their paralegals through to qualification.
On the launch of MLS Qualify, Head of MLS Delivery, Richard Coffey said: “MLS Qualify was designed to reflect the changing nature of legal practice and the myriad routes by which people can choose to pursue a career in law. For us at Vario, the emphasis has always been on ensuring there’s no glass ceiling to the paralegal career pathway.
“With our partners at The College of Legal Practice, we’ve worked to build a rewarding and rigorous programme that will capitalise on the unique knowledge and experience of paralegals working within Vario and provide the fundamental legal training needed to get them qualified. This initiative is specifically designed to offer MLS Trainees experience of legal technology teams and other non-traditional work as part of their training, to ensure that innovation in legal services delivery is a core part of their learning.
We hope that this initiative will encourage greater social mobility and remove some of the barriers to accessing education and training that can sometimes dissuade people from pursuing qualification as a solicitor earlier in their careers.”
Dr Giles Proctor, Chief Executive Office of The College of Legal Practice said: “We are delighted to have been selected to train Vario’s first MLS Trainees and be part of this new pathway to SQE success. The College shares many of Vario’s values and ethos, focusing on flexibility, responsiveness and innovation, and ensuring a good work life balance for our students. Good luck to the new MLS trainees as they embark on this new programme.”
Following a rigorous application and interview process, our first trainees are due to start their SQE training on 8 September, with an expected completion date of Summer 2027.
About Pinsent Masons
Pinsent Masons is a multinational professional services business with a robust legal foundation, operating with a clear purpose-led strategy. The firm prides itself on its commitment to making business work better for people, placing clients and communities at the forefront of its operations. With law at its core, Pinsent Masons transcends traditional legal services by integrating a diverse range of skill sets from its professionals, innovative technologies, and efficient processes to deliver a competitive advantage to its clients.
Pinsent Masons has over 490 partners and 3500 people operating from 29 offices around the world. Our deep sector focus across Infrastructure & Real Estate, Energy & Natural Resources, Financial Services, Technology, Science & Industry, Retail, Sport & Hospitality and Professional & Public Services means that we are supporting clients at the forefront of the industries shaping our world, providing business-critical advice in increasingly complex regulatory environments.
- Pinsent Masons’ office network extends across the major international business centres of London, Dublin, Munich, Amsterdam, Luxembourg, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Madrid, Paris, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai, Riyadh, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Shenzhen, Johannesburg, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth - and the key commercial centres in the UK. Please refer to our Legal Notices for further details.