Osborne Clarke makes long-term investment in trainees programme

•    The Firm announces partnership with BPP as its SQE legal education provider 
•    Appoints Development Manager for new legal education development role 

International legal practice Osborne Clarke continues to invest in its 2025 strategy by providing future lawyers with excellent training and an outstanding introduction to practice. The Firm has chosen BPP University Law School as its provider for the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s new Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) preparation courses. 

Building on a well-established relationship, the BPP partnership will focus on an integrated programme of legal, technical, commercial and personal development skills for trainees and solicitor apprentices starting in September 2024. 

Alexandra Gower, Partner and Training Principal at Osborne Clarke, commented on the Firm's programme: “People often ask me 'what the future of business may look like,' and this is a real opportunity to consider what it means for the way our lawyers learn about the law, apply the law and, importantly, translate the law to meet the needs of the clients of the future. And that's not just about legal technical expertise, it's the full package of developing the person as well as the lawyer.

"At a minimum, junior lawyers should expect firms to support them in developing their communications skills and building relationships with peers, colleagues and clients. Our culture is at the heart of our business and drives how we support our people's development, both as lawyers and individuals. And so our programme will go beyond to cover everything from legal technology and sector innovation through to reflective learning, inclusivity and personal well-being."

Osborne Clarke has also invested in appointing Dimitri Vastardis as Development Manager (Legal education and training), a new dedicated role that will support the future lawyer programmes. Having qualified and practiced as a corporate solicitor, he joins from BPP University where he lectured and shared responsibility for the corporate practice areas at the Law School.  

"With his background in legal education Dimitri is well placed to undertake this unique role in the sector where he will focus on the development and delivery of every aspect of our SQE and QWE programmes, responding and preparing our talent to truly embed future of work skills and behaviours," said Gower. 

"It's so exciting to be in a law firm working alongside students and supporting the next stage of their development. Osborne Clarke's new path to qualification will place a particular emphasis on the practical experience leading to, and immediately following, qualification. Our future colleagues will develop a very strong understanding and appreciation of the Firm's culture, the relationship we have with our clients and our passion to embrace what the future will hold for both our business and our clients," said Vastardis.

Osborne Clarke is widely recognised for the outstanding experience it offers its solicitor apprentices, trainees and newly qualified solicitors. It was awarded Best Law Firm for Legal Tech and highly commended in six additional categories at the Legal Cheek Awards in 2021 and the firm has reported a trainee retention rate of over 90% for the last three consecutive years.