Paralegal Apprenticeship Review
at DWF
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Legal/Law
Manchester
Review Submitted: May 2021
Overall Rating
3.3 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
3/5
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Overview of Role
3/5
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Skills Development
3/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
3/5
My role is similar to that of a qualified paralegal to draft legal documents and instructions such as but not limited to the following:
Collating Court Bundles, contacting and locating experts for legal disputes, calling Court for updated on cases, drafting financial litigation Request for Judgments, anddrafting financial litigation Letters before action.
Collating Court Bundles, contacting and locating experts for legal disputes, calling Court for updated on cases, drafting financial litigation Request for Judgments, anddrafting financial litigation Letters before action.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
3/5
I enjoyed the varied workload varying from commercial litigation matters to financial litigation matters. However, the amount of work that I have varies from week to week. I could have a large amount of instructions one week and surpass/ double my chargeable time goal but the next week I could have very little instructions and struggle to meet my daily chargeable goal.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
3/5
I have developed various skills during my apprenticeship such as my problem- solving skills, attention to detail skills and communication skills. I have also developed my confidence through speaking to external clients. I have also developed my time management skills through having to meet various deadlines including urgent and last minute deadlines.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
2/5
We receive the documents and timetables that we need from BPP University. However, there is a lack of communication from BPP University (except face to face days). We are given documents and expected to fully understand what is required. However, I would benefit from a face to face and info day more regularly, especially for the Paralegal EPA.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
3/5
I have quarterly meetings with BPP University's Apprenticeship Manager and my supervisor regularly communicates with me, even out of one-to-ones. If I have a concern I know that I can urgently contact my current Supervisor for help of support. I can also contact DWF's Apprenticeship Manager for some support.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
I receive the documents and timetables that we need from BPP University. However, there is a lack of communication from BPP University (except face to face days). We are given documents and expected to fully understand what is required. However, I would benefit from a face to face and info day more regularly, especially for the Paralegal EPA.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
I have found that within several topics- Tort Duty of Care and dispute Resolution linked to the work that I undertook in the workplace. Another example is drafting Particulars of Claim and a Claim Form in my BPP classes and then drafting the same within the workplace (when instructed to do so).
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
4/5
There is volunteering work to take part in within my workplace and digital socials (I believe monthly).However, due to lockdown some these have been held online. There have also bee several amazing workshops such as BAME workshops and workshops for young BAME employees. However, I feel as though activities are not advertised as much as they could.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend DWF to a friend?
Yes
Why?
There is a lot to get involved in and colleagues are extremely friendly. There is an opportunity to develop personally and technically. Apprentices are not expected to have any legal knowledge upon starting. Depending on the department, there is a wide range of different tasks to be undertaken and to help develop skills.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to DWF?
Apprentices are not expected to have any legal knowledge upon starting so it is ok to make mistakes in order to learn. Bear in mind that which department that you join determines the type of work that you will undertake. There are also points of progression such as the highly competitive solicitor apprenticeship.
