Solicitor Apprenticeship - Level 7 - London - EXTEND

This job is with BBC, an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community. Please do not contact the recruiter directly.

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contact

Location: London

Salary: £32,500 (+ £5,318 London Living Allowance) 

This role is advertised as part of our BBC Extend programme for disabled people. To apply for this role you should identify as deaf, disabled or neurodivergent and must meet either: the definition of disability in the Equality Act (2010), or the definition of disability in the Disability Discrimination Act (1995) if applying in Northern Ireland. You're broadly defined as disabled under both acts if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative or adverse effect on your ability to do normal daily activities. This definition includes both apparent and non-apparent conditions and impairments, and medical conditions such as Cancer, HIV or Multiple Sclerosis. 

We are committed to making the process of applying for this role as accessible as possible. If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the application process, or have any questions about our Extend programme, please contact us via the Early Careers Recruitment contact form and choose the 'Reasonable Adjustments' option.

The BBC are fully committed to providing workplace adjustments to help eliminate barriers in the workface that disabled people face. To do this, we have our own dedicated BBC Access and Disability Service that provides assessments and support throughout employment with us. If you are successful in applying for this role and require workplace adjustments, we will work with you to get your adjustments in place.

If you'd like more information on BBC Extend, please visit the BBC Extend webpage.

An apprenticeship at the BBC gives you the opportunity to kick-start your career in a job you'll love. We're the industry leaders in early careers and are committed to your skills and talent development. As one of the world's most creative and technologically advanced organisations for the last 100 years, an apprenticeship at the BBC means the opportunity to learn from the most respected and experienced professionals in the business.

BBC Legal is at the heart of helping to produce global content that resonates with audiences worldwide, celebrating the rich tapestry of cultures and perspectives. Its a hugely varied role working with a wide range of business areas and with diverse colleagues. We're all about authenticity here, inviting you to bring your true self to the table. Plus, we're proud to be a Disability Confident employer, always ready to support your needs and make sure you have what you need to shine.

We are offering at least one graduate the opportunity to work as part of the BBC's extended legal team whilst studying for both parts of the Solicitors' Qualifying Exam (SQE). That means you will be part of the family from day one, whilst earning a full time salary.

You've got to be interested now, right?

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

What will you be doing on the apprenticeship?

As a Solicitor Apprentice you'll join the BBC Legal team and develop your skills in areas like:

• Intellectual property
• Information Rights (Data Protection)
• Employment and Competition
• Litigation and Commercial
• Contracts, Licensing and Negotiation

What will you be studying?

You'll study for your industry recognised apprenticeship qualification, learning both on and off the job.

This scheme is delivered via a 'day release' model. This means you'll be provided with dedicated time outside of your full time role at BBC each week, in order to study for the SQE.

For more information on this apprenticeship standard, you will be studying please visit here.

Where could the role take you?

On successful completion of your apprenticeship, you will be able to look for qualified solicitor and other legal job opportunities inside or outside of the BBC.

This scheme starts in September 2025, and you will be on a fixed term contract which means your contract is for the duration of the apprenticeship only. The duration of this scheme is 30 months.

ARE YOU THE RIGHT CANDIDATE?

We're interested in your passion for working at the BBC and your enthusiasm for delivering world-class content and operational excellence to our audiences. We look for positive people who live our values and ensure our culture remains inclusive and full of opportunities. We're not focused on your qualifications; instead, we look for potential and offer you the opportunity to apply your transferable strengths and experience to work in different ways.

Throughout the selection process, we'll be looking for evidence of how you demonstrate each of the BBC's values and behaviours. Our values guide everything we do. They define what you can expect from the BBC and what the BBC expects from you. Find out more about our values here.

Solicitor Apprentices are those who can demonstrate they:

• Can solve problems creatively and quickly alongside their team and the business areas
• Are organised, and able to negotiate effectively
• Can understand, apply and explain complex legal concepts
• Can manage multiple deadlines and demands on their time
• Have a calm and focused approach to changing circumstances
• Have an interest in the BBC and how people consume content, bursting with fresh ideas to introduce new perspectives
• Are a self-starter, flexible and adaptable to out-of-hours working

This scheme is aimed at graduates. If you do/do not have a degree and you're interested in other roles at the BBC, we recommend applying for jobs at careers.bbc.co.uk or having a look at our other apprenticeship schemes.

To be eligible for an apprenticeship at the BBC, you must:

• Be aged 18 or over when the apprenticeship starts in September 2025.
• By the start of the apprenticeship in September 2025, have lived in the UK or European Economic Area (EEA) for a minimum of 3 years.
• Be eligible to work in the UK full time for the duration of the apprenticeship contract.
• Not currently taking part in an apprenticeship scheme supported by the BBC or another organisation.

To apply for this scheme, you must also:

• Have a qualifying law degree* or a non-law degree plus the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) in the last 5 years, at grade/award 2:1 or above by the start of the scheme in September 2025.
• Have achieved Maths and English GCSE at Grade 4/C or above or National 5 (Scotland) at C or above or an equivalent qualification
• Not have achieved the LPC or SQE. If you have already achieved the Legal Practice Course (LPC) or Solicitors Qualifying Exams (SQE), you will not be eligible for this scheme.
• Identify as disabled under the Equality Act

*A qualifying Law Degree means a Law Degree in England and Wales or another Law Degree together with a LLM from an English or Welsh institution.

WHAT YOU GET

During your Apprenticeship:

• A starting salary of £32,500 (+ £5,318 London Living Allowance) 
• Industry-leading training through the BBC Academy and our learning providers (this may involve travel to locations across the UK)
• A dedicated Team Manager and Scheme Specialist to help with your development
• Training and Mentoring by industry professionals 
• A 35-hour working week, 25 days of annual leave and a defined pension scheme. Plus discounted dental, health care, gym and much more.

Towards the end of your apprenticeship:

• An industry recognised qualification
• Lots of experience to help you seek out new challenges and work opportunities within the BBC and wider industry
• Employability and networking training to help you secure your next role

NEXT STEPS

Don't leave yourself thinking 'what if?' - this is your chance to be part of something special. Think you're the right candidate? Click on 'Apply Now'!

Once you've set up your candidate profile, you just need to complete the questions in the job specific information section on the application. We don't require you to upload a CV or Cover Letter. We are looking for your potential to bring difference to the BBC.

If you're eligible for the scheme, you will receive more information about the stages of the process and what to expect. A general overview of the application process can be found here.

This advert is for roles in London based office locations. Please note that you must live a commutable distance from the BBC location to which you are applying for this apprenticeship. (LSP25)

Apprentices starting at BBC from 2025 will be placed on a 'Fixed Term' contract. This means your contract is for the duration of your apprenticeship only. The BBC is committed to investing in new talent and as you approach the end of your apprenticeship, we will work with you to support you and offer you employability and networking training to help you secure your next role - this might be a job here at the BBC, or somewhere in the wider media industry.

Applications for this role/scheme are due to close on 18/11/2024.

EX2324

ABOUT THE BBC

Diversity matters at the BBC. We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, enabling all of our employees to thrive and achieve their full potential.

We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to be part of the BBC - whether that's to contribute to our programming or our wide range of non-production roles. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.

We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.

To find out more about Diversity and Inclusion at the BBC, please click here.

Support with your application

Our ambition is that the BBC is for everyone and should include everyone. We are proud to be a Level 2 Disability Confident Employer and committed to removing disability-related barriers.

We take inclusivity seriously and want to ensure all candidates who are disabled or have long-term health conditions receive the support and adjustments they need. If you require reasonable adjustments for the application process or have access needs, you'd like to let us know about, please contact us here and we'd be happy to have a conversation in confidence to discuss how we can support you through the process. The job requisition ID for this role is 19345.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PLACEMENTS

During the 30 month legal apprentice programme, apprentices will sit in four different departments within Legal, Commercial Rights and Business Affairs and BBC Studios, for a period of six months each. Teams are all located in London and the seat rotations provide a wide range of experience, ultimately forming part of their SQE 2 portfolio.

#LI-DNI

Location: London, GB

Posted Date: 11/5/2024