DWF has become the latest law firm to agree an exclusive deal to send all of its future trainees to study at the College of Law.

The College will provide the Legal Practice Course (LPC) to all of DWF's future trainees from later this month, with the students able to study at any of the law school's eight UK locations.

The course will also involve trainees studying commercial and insurance law in a firm-specific group based in the College of Law's Manchester branch at a later stage of the course.

DWF is keeping on all of its 2011 newly-qualified lawyers, with the firm retaining all 16 of the lawyers qualifying as part of its autumn intake.

Training partner David Blaquiere said: "The DWF course that we've agreed with the College offers our trainees valuable opportunities to spend time together prior to the start of their training contracts, as well as meet and work with DWF lawyers as part of their LPC studies."

The deal is the latest in a string of tie-ups between law firms and the College of Law and its rival BPP. Osborne Clarke and Beachcroft signed similar deals with the College of Law last year, while a three-year agreement with Ashurst was announced in 2009.

News of the tie-up comes as Pinsent Masons prepares to take on its first school-leaver apprentices, who will qualify as lawyers with the firm via the non-graduate Institute of Legal Executives route.

The pair have been selected based on their A-Level results, with the initiative intended to help widen access to the profession.