We are pleased to welcome four new apprentices to join our existing group of eight. These aspiring lawyers will be joining various teams across our offices as we continue to provide opportunities and pathways into the legal profession.

The new apprentices beginning our six year programme are Emily Garner, Libby Daniels, Esme Ghafoor and Aimee Firth.

During the first two years, they will work in a single team before rotating to other departments in years three and four. In the final two years, they will choose their area of specialisation. This structure sets our programme apart from other law firms by giving our apprentices exposure to multiple areas of law as they develop.

On completion, our apprentices will have earned an LLB with Honours in Law and Legal Practice through BPP University and will progress to the Solicitor Qualifying Exams. Once passed, they will qualify as solicitors.

Alongside our new apprentices, we benefit from the contributions of our existing team of newly qualified solicitors and trainees. Their expertise and dedication help us deliver high quality client service and support the professional development of all our people.

Our newly qualified include Abi Miskimmon in the Real Estate team, Victoria Boothby in Corporate, Zoe Halliday in Commercial Services and Kimberly Thao Le in Property Litigation.

The new trainees, who previously worked as paralegals at the firm, include Andrada Frates, Jessica Dolan and Chloe Lamont.

We have a strong track record of developing solicitor apprentices, as well as apprentices in other disciplines such as IT and Business Administration. With the addition of this new cohort, our total number of apprentices rises to twelve, reflecting our ongoing commitment to investing in people and shaping the lawyers and professionals of the future.

Graham Sweeney, Managing Partner at Schofield Sweeney, said: “We pride ourselves on mentoring and developing our young talent so they can fulfil their potential within the firm. It’s fantastic to see so many newly qualified staff and new trainees remaining with the business, and as a firm, we’re exceptionally proud of our retention rate, which reflects the supportive culture and clear development pathways we offer.

“Apprenticeships are really important in terms of social mobility – emphasising that law is not for the elite or those that have been to University but that it is an accessible career open to a wide range of people. We look forward to our apprentices, trainees and newly qualified team take the next step in their legal careers.”

Aimee Firth, who joins the firm after completing her A-Levels, commented: “I decided to begin my law career with Schofield Sweeney because I wanted to develop my skills and build knowledge while gaining real experience on the job. I’m looking forward to working in the Private Wealth and Litigation teams, where I can learn from experienced professionals.”

Libby Daniels, who starts her rotations with the Private Wealth team, added: “I’m eager to learn and gain a clear understanding of what it takes to become a solicitor at Schofield Sweeney. I’m excited to develop my collaborative skills, build a strong professional network and contribute to meaningful client work.”