BIRD & BIRD JOINS FORCES WITH KAPLAN LAW SCHOOL TO OFFER TAILORED LPC

15 October 2008, London -- International law firm Bird & Bird today announces an exclusive partnership with Kaplan Law School, offering future trainees a new tailored Legal Practice Course (LPC).

The deal will see all the firm’s UK future trainees studying with Kaplan Law School from September 2009. This tailored LPC will benefit future trainees and the firm’s clients through its commercially-focused approach and by its emphasis on the firm’s sectors of expertise. Students will use Bird & Bird precedents and research facilities and will work alongside Bird & Bird lawyers on the course. They will participate in a “Bridge to Practice” Programme which will simulate typical scenarios they will encounter at Bird & Bird.

Kaplan Law School teaches Nottingham Law School’s market leading LPC. Kaplan Law School was recently awarded the top quality rating for its LPC by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority.

Commenting on the new deal, Rod Pails, Learning and Development Director at Bird & Bird, said: “We are delighted to have joined forces with Kaplan Law School to offer our future trainees a tailored LPC of the highest quality. They will be exposed to our culture, documents and processes from the earliest stage, helping them to integrate even more smoothly into Bird & Bird at the start of their Training Contracts.”

Lynne Walters, Graduate & Trainee Manager at Bird & Bird, said:  “Kaplan Law School’s location, facilities and innovative teaching approach will ensure our future trainees will have an outstanding LPC experience. The School’s strong focus on individual attention and care for LPC students was a differentiator for us, matching our own very personal approach to trainee development during their Training Contract.”

Giles Proctor, head of Kaplan Law School, said: “We are delighted to be working with Bird & Bird, recent winners of The Lawyer’s International Law Firm of the Year Award and one of the fastest growing of the top 30 City firms.  Kaplan’s strong international presence, as one of the largest education and training providers in the world, will provide an excellent foundation for developing an LPC programme tailored to Bird & Bird’s requirements.”

About Bird & Bird

Bird & Bird is a full service international commercial law firm with offices in Beijing, Bratislava, Brussels, Budapest, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, The Hague, Helsinki, Hong Kong, London, Lyon, Madrid, Milan, Munich, Paris, Prague, Rome, Stockholm and Warsaw.  For more information on Bird & Bird please go to www.twobirds.com

About Kaplan Law School

Kaplan Law School delivers Nottingham Law School’s market-leading LPC in London for university graduates recently hired or seeking employment as solicitors.  London students can participate in Nottingham’s award-winning pro bono scheme and innovative Bridge to Practice programme, designed to ease the transition from the LPC into a firm by allowing students to work in small law firm groups on tasks set by the firms or by the law school.  For more information, please visit: www.kaplanlawschool.org.uk

Kaplan, Inc., which had 2007 revenue of $2 billion, is an international education services provider that offers higher education, professional training, and test preparation.  Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO).  For more information, please visit: www.kaplan.com

Press contacts:

Derek Gilmour or Ben Girdlestone, Bird & Bird

Tel: +44(0)20 7415 6079 / +44(0)20 79826470

Email: derek.gilmour@twobirds.com or ben.girdlestone@twobirds.com

Elizabeth Hess, Kaplan Law School

Tel: +44 20 7645 8968