TLT launches new legal qualification pathway in Scotland

UK law firm TLT has launched a new qualification pathway in Scotland, boosting social mobility and improving access to the legal sector.

The ‘Pre-PEAT’ traineeship is an internal three-year work-based route to qualification for paralegals that offers an alternative to university. It will allow candidates to complete the Law Society exams while continuing to gain practical experience as a paralegal, delivering high-quality legal support and fee-earning work while applying legal practice skills, ethics, communication, time management, and research.  

The Pre-PEAT traineeship is a pathway only available in Scotland and will be available to TLT colleagues in the firm’s Edinburgh and Glasgow offices.

The announcement coincides with Scottish Apprenticeship Week and follows the news during National Apprenticeship Week in February that the firm has launched an AI Transformation Specialist apprenticeship with BPP within its FutureLaw team; and supported Bristol Law Centre to fund two new apprenticeships – one non-legal and one legal through an innovative levy share.

Keith Anderson, Scottish training principal commented: “At TLT, we are committed to opening doors to legal qualification for people from all backgrounds, and that’s especially important here in Scotland.

“By offering this new training pathway, we’re helping to remove some of the barriers to qualification and creating opportunities for aspiring solicitors who may not follow a conventional route. These developments reflect our belief in growing our own talent and supporting individuals to build meaningful legal careers, regardless of their starting point.”

John Paul Sheridan, Partner and Head of Location for Scotland added: “The launch of this scheme is a demonstration of how we are setting the pace for social mobility in the Scottish legal sector. By offering an alternative to a university degree, we are challenging the conventional image of who gets to become a lawyer and broadening the potential pool of talent that is available to us. This is a long-term investment in our future and one more example of how we are preparing ‘for what comes next'”.

‍