Law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has launched a new graduate solicitor apprenticeship route to qualification at its Newcastle hub.
The global business opened its office on Newcastle Quayside five years ago and has grown to employ around 220 people.
Now the business has announced it is expanding legal career opportunities, with the creation of new solicitor roles and the new graduate solicitor apprenticeship, for its existing and future paralegals.
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The firm is hiring 10 new associate solicitors into its corporate, banking, dispute resolution and real estate practices in the city.
It is also introducing the graduate solicitor apprenticeship route from September 2021, which follows the launch of the firm’s new UK school leaver apprenticeship programme.
The programme includes a two-year paralegal programme in Newcastle and a six-year solicitor programme in London, both beginning next month.
Kiran Radhakrishnan, commercial director and head of Norton Rose Fulbright’s Newcastle hub, said: “Our Newcastle office has gone from strength to strength over the past five years and our people have worked on some of the firm’s most complex cross-border mandates, delivering innovative and more efficient solutions for our clients.
"The addition of these associate roles in Newcastle, along with a new route to qualification for paralegals, is the next step in our evolution. Our ambition is to recruit and retain the most talented lawyers and future lawyers in the North East region.”
Norton Rose Fulbright’s Newcastle office opened in 2016 and has a full range of business services teams as well as the firm’s global change and innovation programme, NRF Transform.
Peter Scott, managing partner, Europe, Middle East and Asia at Norton Rose Fulbright, added: “We are creating new opportunities for the many talented students, paralegals and lawyers outside of London, and particularly across the North East, to work with us.
“Our Newcastle office is an integral part of our practice internationally, and these roles give a wider and more diverse group of talented individuals the opportunity to forge successful legal careers at Norton Rose Fulbright.
"The last 18 months have seen a fundamental shift in cross-office teams operating as one and this presents an opportunity for qualified lawyers based in Newcastle to work in teams across our international platform.”
