University vs Solicitor Apprenticeship-is anyone using the apprenticeship route for Law?

[judgementsrule]

I wondered if anyone could advise about the pros and cons of these routes into law. In particular, does anyone have a son or daughter who is taking the apprenticeship route and what feedback do they have?

My daughter has offers from Russell Group Universities to study Law and has also been offered an assessment day for a Solicitor Apprentice at a v well respected, international law firm, probably based in London but with other UK branches.
The apprenticeship is a relatively new route for aspiring lawyers. They work for the law firm and attend a local Uni one day per week to get a degree. I expect they would be expected to work pretty hard but they also get paid a salary and would not get into tens of thousands of pounds of debt like typical students do. Also, they would have the connection with a v well respected law firm on their CV and would probably be more likely to be offered a job afterwards if they do well. On the negative side, they would miss the Uni experience, with all that involves, including the social life.

Any experience would be really helpful.

Oh and on the diversity front, I’m from a low income state school background but went to Cambridge so feel as if I slipped through the net in some ways. City law firms are still dominated by private schooled Russell group (actually more bristol Durham types than Oxbridge, make of that what you will) educated white men.

In recent years I’ve seen a shift to recruiting more “diverse” or “international” trainees but in general that seems to mean wealthy people from India or Singapore rather than socially diverse. The apprentices however were more socio-economically diverse, which is great. I suspect the apprenticeship intake which actually become more middle class over time as people cotton on to it as a shortcut into the profession.

You must have done particularly well. Laughing at the wealthy Singaporeans/ Indians being recruited as part of a 'diversity' drive! Positive that this may be different for the apprentices. I have to admit that we are comfortable and middle class, although not part of the wealthy/ privately educated group that you describe.
It will be good experience for her to go through an assessment day whatever the outcome.

“You must have done particularly well. Laughing at the wealthy Singaporeans/ Indians being recruited as part of a 'diversity' drive! Positive that this may be different for the apprentices. I have to admit that we are comfortable and middle class, although not part of the wealthy/ privately educated group that you describe.
It will be good experience for her to go through an assessment day whatever the outcome.”

DD has some friends who have gone the apprentice route. These are London grammar girls, both Muslim, parents from a nursing/bus driver type background (being a bit vague deliberately), immigrants. Incredibly keen to get earning and not have debt. My concerns are that they will not experience the gamut of university and critical thinking by joining the corporate wheel too early. I think what would be good is if the apprenticeships would allow those apprentices to do a Masters in Law at some point in their career, if they wanted to, for example.

The other point I would like to highlight is that yes, these are good for social mobility. However, it is essentially a Government fail these companies are trying to plug - aka too much uni debt/pressure on young people from disadvantaged backgrounds being put off by it all. I think the companies should also consider alternative structures which include sponsoring during uni years rather than just making them work so incredibly early. It rings of a hotel structure to me - this is a well known phenomenon that you join early, work every type of job and work your way up to general manager eventually, understanding every aspect of the business. It is commendable, but with something as intellectual as law, I do wonder what the long term implications will be and also the relationships between the two groups of traditional route vs apprenticeships. They will have to be very careful to make sure career progression is similar further down the line.

I suppose someone going the apprenticeship route may not "change class" in the way some teenagers choose to do at university.. I am not saying anyone should try to change class or how they speak or dress at university but some do. If you remain at home that is less likely but of course that might be a good thing. I am middle class from NE England. My parents paid for elocution and then speech and drama lessons for us and they had gone to state grammar schools in the NE. For my mother it was going to residential teacher training college away from the mining village, for 2 years that changed her life, led to her meeting my father and led to her teaching career; but it was passing the 11 plus to grammar school that was the key to it all and that was always interesting because it tended to make the child change, have new interests, different friends, different uniforms etc.

Consider what happens if your daughter decides that being a solicitor is not for her; what does she leave the apprenticeship with if she drops out after 2 years? And does she owe the firm for education fees they’ve incurred? Bear in mind that a lot of people study law without becoming lawyers and a law degree is well regarded for other business options. She’s making a major commitment to stick with a decision she’s made at 18 and presumably with very little other work experience. The apprenticeship may leave her less scope to pivot.

I think around 18,000 study law each year with around 6000 jobs available to become solicitors. Very few for barristers. Plus 50% of both don’t have a law degree so they bring in other skills.

@judgementsrule
Hi, what was the outcome in the end?
Any insights on the Apprenticeship route.
Thanks.

Would be interesting to know. I just read the thread again as had forgotten it - there are some good points above.

Or anyone else go through the same. Or going through it now.
Thanks.