Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group’s EMEA legal team has launched a trainee solicitor scheme in partnership with Flex Legal.

Five new graduates have been hired into the team, with four based in London and one in Dubai. Two of the recruits will join as apprentices.

The bank will offer these trainees the opportunity to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales, participating in Flex Legal’s trainee scheme for apprenticeship training. Flex Legal supports aspiring lawyers from underrepresented backgrounds to qualify in-house via the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).

Co-general counsel James Morgan said in a statement: “We believe that the EMEA legal team at MUFG is leading the way in revolutionising the traditional model in which in-house teams used to operate by offering graduates to qualify as a solicitor within their team.

“Where traditionally there was a tendency to hire mid-level and senior lawyers from a well-established private practice background, we are now combining this with training opportunities for the future generation of lawyers.”

The five graduate lawyers will join a team of 75 spread across nine countries. In an interview with The Lawyer earlier this year, Morgan and o-GC Prabhat Kumar said that their team has grown from 25 lawyers in a decade. Expansion has been organic and is expected to continue for the next 10 years. Kumar stated in the interview: “It is clear that legal is bringing real value in mitigating risk.”

In other MUFG news, the Japanese-headquartered bank renewed its EMEA panel in June, appointing nine firms. A&O Shearman, Linklaters and Clifford Chance were reappointed to the panel, alongside Herbert Smith Freehills and Baker McKenzie.

New firms to make the cut included Addleshaw Goddard, Latham & Watkins and Simmons & Simmons. Slaughter and May was also awarded a contract. Ashurst, BCLP, Dentons and Norton Rose Fulbright have lost their places on the roster, which initially had 10 firms.

Flex Legal was shortlisted for best talent and inclusion initiative at The Lawyer Awards in 2024.