Addleshaw Goddard is to launch a legal apprenticeship scheme this autumn linked to its rapidly expanding transactional services team (TST).

The 18-month programme, which is based in Manchester, will lead to an National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship in Legal Services, with those successful able to apply for paralegal roles.

The firm has made ten spaces available in the first year's intake and is currently adverting through schools, colleges and recruitment agencies to students completing A-levels or an equivalent qualification this summer.

The starting salary is £12,000 with the apprentices initially undertaking administrative tasks including completing standard forms, processing documentation and creating reports. However, over time, this will progress into legal work such as checking legal documents for quality, consistency and content, legal research and undertaking document reviews as part of a litigation case or corporate due diligence exercise.

Each apprentice will have the benefit of a dedicated supervisor and mentor and will receive in-house training as well as tailored assessment and training from an external training provider to complete the NVQ.

The news comes after Addleshaws client delivery head Andrew Chamberlain told Legal Week in March that the firm was looking to hire a number of school leavers to work under paralegals within the TST.

The TST team handles routine tasks which form the constituent parts of transactional and advisory work, including e-disclosure, due diligence, document management and review. These and other processes are separated out at the start of each assignment, with tasks delegated to the individual best qualified for the job.

The team has grown from five to 80 paralegals since launch in 2010, and the firm is considering relocating it to a separate Manchester base. The increase in manpower comes as part of a firmwide efficiency drive intended to result in the TST delivering at least 10% of its work by 2015.

Chamberlain said: "Going to university is not the right option for all, and this new structured career development opportunity is a credible alternative for talented, ambitious young people who prefer vocational learning as an entry point into an dynamic, long-term and rewarding career in law."

Earlier this year, Addleshaws brought in former Berwin Leighton Paisner Lawyers on Demand business development director Andrew Loach as TST COO.

For more, see Addleshaws eyes flexi-work push as low-cost base grows with new hires.