After more than five years at Kaplan, both Nabarro and Holman Fenwick Willan (HFW) have opted for BPP as their Legal Practice Course (LPC) provider over the University of Law (ULaw).
A Nabarro spokesperson confirmed it had moved, saying it considered its options after Kaplan announced it would close its law school. The spokesperson said Nabarro was familiar with BPP from a recent close run tender, and the law school had offered it a ‘high-quality tailored qualification.’
‘As well as the quality of their LPC we are impressed that they can also offer our students the choice of obtaining a Masters through the LPC combined with additional learning on business and finance modules,’ the Nabarro spokesperson added.
HFW also said it would make the switch, having begun a review before the law school closed. It is understood the firm, which provided 15 students per year, was worth about 10% of Kaplan’s LPC revenues.
HFW graduate recruitment partner Toby Stephens said the firm was ‘surprised’ by Kaplan’s decision to move premises and said ‘the time was right’ for a review. Stephens said HFW knew Kaplan was in financial difficulty but did not know the extent to which it had lost clients.
‘There was nothing which prevented us from having a review and we probably should have done it the year before,’ Stephens said.
BPP edged out ULaw because of its optional modules and its better established insurance course, the recruitment partner commented. The City Law School was involved in the early stages of the tender for HFW’s trainees, but Stephens said its pricing was not competitive.
BPP has been on quite a run in recent months, picking up Baker & McKenzie and White & Case from rival University of Law as well as Magic Circle duo Allen & Overy and Clifford Chance.
victoria.young@legalease.co.uk