Solicitor Apprenticeship

[stubiff]

My DC is starting to investigate this (and other sectors), so thought we'd share some findings which may be of use to others.

DS recommends the Legal Cheek 'Virtual event series for sixth formers considering solicitor apprenticeships'. Link

Although it says sixth formers, I think it is too late doing it in Y13, so would aim to do it in Y12 (if DC is considering Law at that point). Mainly because a number of the firms open and close their applications (for a Sep start) before the event happens.

The first two events, already happened, of the series are not on the website (at time of this), and are an intro to Soli App, and then Application Masterclass. The latter had some good insight into what the firms look for in an application, and this should apply regardless of the size of firm (even if the smaller ones don't do online tests and/or assessment days).

Would also recommended DCs start thinking about legal (or any) work experience early in Y12.
Not all firms (small or large) do it, for one, some firms don't advertise they do it, and it gets booked up quickly.
The firms said it was not essential, but it gives another strand of evidence, and it may also confirm whether Law/Solicitor is the right route.

A number of Solicitor Apprenticeships say that law work experience is not required.
However, doing some before applying may give DC a better idea of whether it is the right path for them, so here are a few examples DS has come across.

National:
https://www.pinsentmasons.com/careers/early-talent/england/summer-work-experience#1
and their virtual version
https://www.theforage.com/simulations/pinsent-masons-uk/intro-law-sg3t

https://www.weightmans.com/careers/early-careers/legal-insights-programme/
leading to be able to apply for work experience.

Leeds:
https://www.oakwoodsolicitors.co.uk/work-experience/

Just saw this thread in active. They still have not announced if they will continue
the funding for the L7 solicitor apprenticeship this year. If anyone has a DC who has accepted one, I would highly recommend not declining uni just yet. Happy to discuss over PM.

It would certainly be a bit unfair on large law firms who are forced to pay the relatively recent apprenticeship levy if they could not then use apprenticeships with that funding for the legal profession. They would have to move to funding apprentice solicitor office cleaners or secretaries I suppose if they wanted to use the funding

@Sharpkat I think DC and firms would be mightily miffed if they removed the funding at this relatively late stage (for Sep ‘25).
DS would be looking for Sep ‘26 so that could def be affected in some way. Would affect the Grad version as well I’d guess.

@stubiffthey have not formally made the announcement yet. I am hearing it will impact this year for both points of entry.

Hope the firms cover the cost then.

Funding axed for 22+. So ok for Solicitor Apprenticeships, post A-levels.

https://feweek.co.uk/level-7-apprenticeship-funding-to-be-axed-from-january-2026/

Thanks @stubiff.
It’s frustrating as some firms and organisations (inc where I am) had moved to postgraduate apprenticeship model so recruit those with a degree then they work as trainee or paralegal (2 years qualifying work experience) whilst doing SQE 1 & 2. The 4 days in office, 1 day in uni model seemed a good balance and pass rates for apprentices were good.

@Cakeandusername
Would the Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship still work (for funding), for Law graduates starting it straight after graduation, as they (mostly) will still be 21 (assuming it's the age at start that counts).

https://www.legalcheek.com/2025/05/government-backs-solicitor-apprenticeships-with-continued-funding/amp/

I personally can only see the post A level solicitor apprenticeship continuing. They are like hens teeth at minute.

I can’t see it’s viable to offer postgraduate apprenticeship model if only 21 yr olds still eligible. Anyone with a gap year, 4 year degree, old in school year wouldn’t be eligible.

Our model was Yp join as paralegals (with a law degree) and then if suitable sign up for apprenticeship so 4 days office, 1 day local uni. Yp got 5 days pay, all course fees paid (they had option to add dissertation and get LLM too), SQE fees paid which are £5000. SQE Pass rate for apprentices was very high - I’ve seen a 97% stat versus 50% SQE pass rate.

Without apprenticeship funding option is Degree + postgraduate SQE then 2 years qualifying work experience or Degree plus working and studying SQE at same time pt or online. Bigger firms and city will fund SQE. Rest of aspiring solicitors will self fund. You can get postgraduate loan towards SQE course of £12,000 but need to fund living costs and exam fees.

I’m disappointed by change as I work in a hard to recruit low paid sector of law and postgraduate apprenticeship model was a way to attract and retain bright yp. My apprentice that recently qualified as a solicitor has stayed with us and is now one of a handful of lawyers in country with expertise in very niche area.

Niche areas might have few promotion opportunities though? I also think it’s wrong to advertise degree apprenticeships to school leavers and then hand them out to adults. The majority have gone to adults in all workplaces and that’s why 18 year olds cannot get them and there’s immense competition. It makes 6th form careers advice very very difficult if only degree holders are accepted onto apprenticeships. The best people just have to be recruited earlier.

https://www.sra.org.uk/become-solicitor/sqe/solicitor-apprenticeships/
Just to clarify the post A level apprenticeships are still available called ‘trailblazer’ apprenticeships by sra here. Very few offered. There’s a legal cheek list giving firm names and places available.
It’s the graduate apprenticeships affected by today’s announcement.

By niche I mean hard to recruit to and in demand. People can progress upwards in organisation or similar organisations or move to private practice or consultancy or locum if they want money.
I’ll be interested to see what model we move to.

Problem is, you choose non traditional LLB route so no degree, what happens if you want to change career slightly and most other professions require a degree. You are excluding a lot of other options. If you’ve got a bring hard working young person why not just do the degree?

They get a LLB degree under under post A level 6 year solicitor apprenticeship. My friends’ dc is at a post 92 university locally, looked on LinkedIn quickly and bigger firms inc some city firms seen to use BPP. It won’t be from a prestigious University - see debate on this thread earlier about whether that may affect career.
They will also probably get LLM as most institutions offer SQE course with optional dissertation which gives LLM.
The attraction of solicitor apprenticeship from 18 if you know you want to qualify is it saves student debt and avoids roulette of trying get a legal job to qualify post degree. But there are so few apprenticeships offered they are extremely competitive to secure.

Found these stats - 1352 solicitor level 7 apprenticeships started year 23/24. I can’t see a breakdown between post A level ‘trailblazer’ and graduate type apprenticeships.

@Cakeandusername Age of apprentices are key data. 140 below 19 years old. So school leavers get barely anything. If dc are choosing between apprenticeship and degree, around 18,000 law degrees available for 18 year olds. Huge difference. Most of the others will be employees or other degree holders.

The 19 - 24 category will include school leavers too. But yes the number of solicitor apprenticeships going to 18/19 yr old school leave market is minuscule.
Bar were getting ready to launch their version of post A level apprenticeship, will be interesting to see if they actually do. www.legalfutures.co.uk/compliance-and-regulation/barrister-apprenticeships-to-go-live-next-year

Not quite sure who (chambers) would do that. Some Chambers are 100% Oxbridge. The Bar has at least 85.% RG. They will probably want criminal barristers as the pay is atrocious (self employed bar) or it could be CPS.

I don't think we should be surprised that the numbers (for school leavers) are low. They are new and take 6 years to get to qualification stage, so firms initially will stick to what they know.
Preference should be for school leavers, so agree with the restriction.

The idea of the trailblazer apprenticeship is to increase diversity.
The article lists the chambers involved in setting up, I don’t use them so don’t know their areas but scheme won’t just be restricted to them.

www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/training-qualification/barrister-apprenticeships.html

My frustration is graduate apprenticeship was providing a way to qualification for people in lower paid but in demand areas of law.
I’ve had one solicitor recently qualify via graduate apprenticeship and it worked well from employer and employee side.
I’ve another young person in my team who wasn’t apprenticeship eligible and they are working ft and doing SQE via distance learning. They have recently had to push back exams as can’t currently afford exam fee of £2974.
Obviously route of self funding SQE prep and exam fees remains for graduates who don’t train at one of the large firms that offer funding. Even with postgraduate loan it’s still thousands to be self funding. There’s very limited scholarships via Law Society Diversity access scheme but other than that it relies on yp being able to self fund (or having parents who will fund them)

@Cakeandusername They aren’t big names. Most legal apprenticeships are used for aiding diversity it seems if S&M are anything to go by. When they don’t make £25,000 at the criminal bar, they might have an alternative view about the career at the bar. It’s a slightly odd idea as barristers in chambers are self employed. Also who exactly is holding back these super intelligent dc? I don’t see what difference the route makes if the career wasn’t for them in the first place.

The new system is certainly not the cheap alternative it was originally said to be as the SE1 and 2 exam fees along paid to Kaplan are about £4k and then course fees paid elsewhere unless someone self studies are on top of that and the masters student loan graduates can get only just or not quite covers the course fee but not exam fees and not rent etc.
For someone with very little money a student loan funded LLB and masters loan funded SQE1/2 course the year after probably still does remain the "easiest " route given that 18+ and post degree graduate apprenticeships are so hard to find.