What is the BCLP Academy?

The BCLP Academy is a unique programme delivered by Aspiring Solicitors in partnership with BCLP, designed exclusively for first-year AS members from diverse backgrounds.

The Academy provides tailored support to help you develop key employability skills and prepare strong applications to BCLP. As part of the programme, you will receive:

  • Practical employability and commercial skills training
  • Insight into BCLP’s culture, values and approach to diversity
  • Application guidance specific to BCLP
  • Group workshops and 1-to-1 coaching

This programme is ideal for members who are serious about pursuing a career at BCLP.

The Academy is delivered by Aspiring Solicitors’ expert coaching team, made up of former lawyers, Graduate Recruitment Managers and experienced qualified coaches.

Launched in 2023, the BCLP Academy is the first initiative of its kind in the legal market: a five-year coaching programme spanning from first-year university through to BCLP traineeship. The Academy’s overarching purpose is to identify exceptional high-potential talent from a cross-section of backgrounds and then to coach, mentor, develop and nurture them from their undergraduate degrees through to qualification.

Please note that this opportunity is open to first-year AS members only, with further eligibility details outlined below.

Academy impact

Feedback from our June 2025 Academy cohort was overwhelmingly positive:

  • 100% rated the Academy as excellent.

  • 100% said the programme helped them become stronger BCLP applicants.

Sign up deadline

Sunday 1 February at 11pm.

To apply, you must:

  • Be an Aspiring Solicitors member;
  • Be either (i) in your first year of a three year undergraduate Law degree (ii) second year of a four year undergraduate Law degree, or (iii) penultimate year of a non-law degree;
  • Want to pursue a legal career at a commercial law firm; and
  • Not have accepted a training contract with any law firm or legal team.
I’ve definitely benefited from the programme as the one to one calls have really allowed me to gain a personalised experience in developing my commercial ability as well as truly understanding BCLP as a firm and what they value in candidates and what candidates can value about the firm.
I feel more confident about how to write an application, my strengths that I will further add to, my weaknesses that I will work on and BCLP generally. I now know how I can write an application that will help me to stand out from the crowd.
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