Apprenticeships allow law firms to support talented young people with a desire to begin their career in law.
If you want to pursue a legal career but the university route isn’t for you, a legal apprenticeship is a fantastic alternative.
Legal apprenticeships are routes into the legal profession that involve working and studying concurrently. Many of our member law firms offer apprenticeship opportunities. Below you will find details for those that are open for applications now or in the coming months.
Ashurst
Ashurst’s structured Solicitor Apprenticeship programme gives you the opportunity to kick-start your career as a solicitor by gaining hands-on legal work experience whilst earning a salary, alongside studying part time with The University of Law.
Applications open: Monday 30 September 2024
Applications close: Friday 14 February 2025
Bird and Bird
Bird & Bird’s Solicitor Apprenticeship is a Level 7 qualification combining study with work to allow you to qualify as a solicitor without incurring student debt often associated with attending university.
Applications open: Thursday 24 October 2024
Applications close: Thursday 20 February 2025
DWF
Our legal apprenticeship is a great opportunity for A-level students looking to start their career within the legal sector, without the cost or time associated with university. It’s also great for people without a law degree looking for a new career in the legal sector.
You will gain valuable legal experience at a global legal business, working towards an LLB (Hons) Law and Legal Practice, complete the Solicitors Qualifying Exam, and receive a competitive salary at the same time.
Applications close: Monday 23 December 2024
HFW
A six-year programme whereby aspiring lawyers can gain ‘hands-on’ experience and study at the same time to qualify as a solicitor.
Applications close: Thursday 27 February 2025
Linklaters
Through our Solicitor Apprenticeship programme, we will provide world-class training, ongoing development and financial support that will allow you to realise your full potential.
Applications close: Friday 31 January 2025
Slaughter and May
Our six-year Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme is designed for bright and motivated school leavers interested in a career in commercial law, and will offer you the breadth of experience and training needed to become a multi-specialist lawyer, equipped to advise on a broad range of legal matters. .
Applications open: Monday 28 October 2024
Applications close: Friday 3 January 2025
Stephenson Harwood
Our solicitor apprenticeship offers you an exciting opportunity to work on deals with international clients while also studying and working towards a level 7 solicitor apprenticeship standard.
Applications close: Friday 28 February
Trowers & Hamlins
We’re pleased to offer our first-ever Solicitor Apprenticeship programme across our four offices in the UK – Birmingham, Exeter, London and Manchester. Not only will you be able to find a more accessible path into law, you’ll be earning while you learn in a top 50 law firm.
Applications open: Tuesday 1 October 2024
Applications close: Monday 3 March 2025
Weightmans
Our solicitor degree apprenticeship is an alternative to full time university, and those student loans and fees! The programme is for aspiring solicitors with a passion for law who have completed, or are in the process of completing, their A-levels.
A solicitor apprenticeship is a paid role which includes a six-year training programme and leads to qualification as solicitor upon completion. You will gain a level 7 apprenticeship award, a qualifying law degree (LLB) and the solicitors qualifying examinations (SQE), alongside work experience.
Applications close: Thursday 28 November 2024
White & Case
We offer a professional-level (Level 7) degree apprenticeship that provides a mix of on-the-job learning and formal study. You’ll graduate ready to start your career as a newly qualified associate, with unbeatable experience of working as a commercial lawyer in the City of London.
Applications open: Monday 9 September 2024
Applications close: Sunday 19 January 2025
Addleshaw Goddard
Kick start your career by gaining invaluable work experience in a top law firm whilst studying towards a recognised qualification.
Applications open: December 2024
A&O Shearman
We believe talented and ambitious people will always thrive with the right investment and support. With our Solicitor Apprenticeship programme, we are giving you the opportunity to gain the qualifications and experience to excel in a leading law firm.
Across the six-year programme you will gain experience across our legal departments including time in our Banking, Corporate, International Capital Markets and Litigation Departments. Each year, you’ll gain a wide variety of experience but with the security of a training principal to guide you, with further opportunities for secondments in years 5 and 6.
Applications open: Monday 2 December 2024
Applications close: Wednesday 19 February 2025
BDB Pitmans
At BDB Pitmans we value all routes to qualification, recognising your potential to carve out a successful career in law. With our six year Level 7 Solicitor Apprenticeship programme you can become a qualified solicitor by completing a law degree and passing the Solicitors Qualifying Exams, with BDB Pitmans covering all of your tuition and assessment fees.
Applications open: December 2024
Applications close: February 2025
CMS
On our six-year Solicitor Apprenticeship programme, you will be enrolled onto a law degree in Legal Practice and Skills (LLB) at the University of Law at a location appropriate to your apprenticeship. Following successful completion of your LLB you will sit your Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQE). One day per week will be dedicated to your study, with the remainder of your week spent working at CMS.
Applications open: Monday 10 February 2025
Applications close: Wednesday 12 March 2025
Dentons
As a Dentons apprentice, you’ll embark on a unique journey. You’ll start working towards your LLB university degree alongside your day job. It’s an opportunity to learn, grow, and earn simultaneously.
Applications open: Monday 11 November 2024
Applications close: Friday 20 December 2024
DLA Piper
Explore the intersection between law and business. Discover how an international law firm makes an impact in the UK and around the world. Develop the foundation of skills you need for a global legal career. You’ll do all this and more on our six-year Level 7 Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme.
Applications open: November 2024
Farrer & Co
You will gain an LLB (Hons) in Legal Practice and will qualify as a solicitor. All of your tuition fees will be paid, and you will earn a salary whilst you are training and gaining your qualification.
You will combine on-the-job training with guided, independent study and skills coaching. Four days a week will be spent working in one of our teams and one day will be allocated to study. You will work in our London office in a variety of departments including Commercial, Contentious, Private Client, Property and Business Services.
Applications open: Friday 1 November 2024
Application deadline: Wednesday 19 February 2025
Freshfields
We will launch our first solicitor apprenticeships from September 2025, offering driven, curious and resilient solicitor apprentices the opportunity to kick-start their legal career with us. Over six years, you will study at one of the UK’s leading law schools, BPP, alongside getting hands-on, commercial work experience to enhance your learning and to build the necessary skills to become a successful commercial solicitor.
Applications open: Thursday 28 November 2024
Applications close: Monday 17 February 2025
Hogan Lovells
You’ll start your journey to becoming an exceptional lawyer by joining our six year programme of work and study. You will spend one day per week at university, studying for your degree and then legal qualification (SQE) and four days putting the theory into practice in the office.
Applications open: Friday 1 November 2024
Applications close: Friday 28 February 2025
Irwin Mitchell
Our Solicitor Apprenticeship lets you train to become a solicitor and get valuable experience at a top UK law firm – all while earning a salary. You’ll be fully qualified at the end of six years with a real head start on a legal career. During the apprenticeship, you’ll get a mix of practical, work-based learning and formal academic study. You’ll gain valuable, real-life experience in the UK’s largest full service law firm, enhancing your legal and commercial understanding and growing your confidence in a work environment.
Applications open: January 2025
Applications close: Monday 17 February 2025
Norton Rose
We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to develop to their full potential, which is why we have launched our 6 year Apprenticeship Programme in our London office. Whether university isn’t the right choice for you or you are keen to start working straight away, our Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme gives you to a great alternative route to qualify as a Solicitor.
Applications open: Monday 4 November 2024
Applications close: Sunday 23 February 2025
Osborne Clarke
Our Solicitor Apprenticeship programme is a fantastic opportunity to gain a law degree (LLB) and qualify as a solicitor whilst working in a leading international legal practice.
The Solicitor Apprenticeship is a 6 year level 7 programme, which combines practical work-based learning with formal study towards an LLB (Hons) in Legal Practice at BPP University Law School (BPP).
Applications open: Friday 31 January 2025
Applications close: Friday 14 March 2025
Fladgate
We will be offering up to 5 Solicitor Apprenticeship positions. This combines practical work based learning with formal study at the University of Law.
The solicitor apprenticeship is a six year programme working alongside lawyers in our core fee earning departments, whilst simultaneously working towards an LLB hons with The University of Law. In year 5 and 6 you will join our trainee cohort whilst attaining your SQE qualification, in order to be admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in England and Wales. You will start at an administrator level, and your work will increase in complexity as you gain experience.
We recruit apprentices every two years, the next round of applications will be opening in 2025 for an apprenticeship commencing in 2026.
Lewis Silkin
Solicitor Apprentices complete the Solicitor Level 7 Apprenticeship. They will also work towards an LLB (Hons) and Legal Practice.
Apprentices sit the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations during the six-year programme. Assuming they pass all assessments, apprentices will qualify as a Solicitor in England and Wales at the end of the six-year scheme.
Applications for our September 2026 Solicitor Apprentices will open in the Autumn of 2025. The apprenticeships will be available in our London office.
