Magic circle firm Clifford Chance is hiring apprentices to train as legal project managers. The programme, aimed at school-leavers, will teach recruits general project management skills such as how to liaise with clients, track work streams, monitor resourcing, and manage budgets.

Apprentices will be paid a starting salary of £24,000 and will complete an 18-month training contact, after which they might be offered a permanent position. The scheme has been developed in partnership with apprenticeship specialist WhiteHat. 

The firm says it is responding to a growing demand from clients for project managers.

Six students with school qualifications – level 3 BTECs, National Vocational Qualifications or equivalent awards – have been recruited so far for the firm’s London office. Apprentices are not required to have any legal knowledge.

Kerstin Morgan, best delivery programme director for Clifford Chance, said: ‘With demand for legal project management on the increase, this is an exciting opportunity to recruit legal project executives. We hope that in working together [with WhiteHat] we can open up careers in the legal sector for students who might not have otherwise had the chance.'