BPP Law School has announced a tie-up with Withers which will see the City firm send its trainees to the school to study the Graduate Diploma in Law and the Legal Practice Course (LPC).

Withers trainees will study the courses at BPP's centres in London, Leeds or Manchester, attending lectures and tutorials alongside students with training contracts at other firms.

The arrangement brings the total number of law firms sending trainees exclusively to study the LPC at BPP to 17. Other firms to have signed up with BPP include Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Slaughter and May and Herbert Smith.

BPP's main rival, The College of Law, has exclusive LPC arrangements with 14 firms, including Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance and Linklaters.

Commenting on the tie-up, BPP Law School dean Peter Crisp said: "Withers is well known for advising individuals, companies and charities around the world and we are delighted that we can work closely together to bring out the best in the trainees and assist in the development of their legal careers."

Last month, the parent company of BPP accepted a £303.5m takeover offer from Apollo Global, a joint venture owned by US education provider Apollo Group and private equity house Carlyle Group.

The College of Law, meanwhile, has recently announced plans to open a new centre in Bristol from September next year.