It’s now possible to get a legal qualification by completing a Trailblazer apprenticeship. This is an alternative to the traditional route to qualification.
You can complete an apprenticeship to qualify as a:
- solicitor
- paralegal
- probate technician
- chartered legal executive
For more information, download our brochure Apprenticeships in the legal sector (PDF 2Mb)
Solicitor apprenticeships
The standards expected of apprentice solicitors are the same as those expected of all solicitors.
As an apprentice you'll spend 20% of your working week studying and the rest of it working in a law firm. The law firm will decide how this 20% will be taken. Many firms give their apprentices one day a week to do course work.
What a solicitor apprenticeship involves
The solicitor apprenticeship is an ideal opportunity if you're looking for an alternative to university or seeking a change in career. A solicitor apprenticeship will last from five to six years. However, any previous legal training you’ve done might reduce this time.
As well as training, day-to-day work might include
- finding information and files in the data room
- researching cases
- working with clients
You can find more information on the Solicitors Regulation Authority website and the government’s apprenticeship website.
Entry requirements
Many employers have their own entry requirements which will be posted on their apprenticeship advert, but the government’s recommended entry requirements are:
- 5 GCSEs, including mathematics and English - grade C or above (or equivalent)
- 3 A Levels (or equivalent) - minimum grade C
and/or
- relevant employer-led work experience
- Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship in a relevant occupation - business administration, legal services, providing financial services
- Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship in a relevant occupation - legal services, professional services and providing financial services (may be entitled to exemptions from training)
- Paralegal Apprenticeship (may be entitled to exemptions from training)
- Legal Executive Apprenticeship (may be entitled to exemptions from training)
- Law Degree/Graduate Diploma in Law/Legal Practice Course (entitled to exemptions from training)
Assessment
Apprentices are assessed by the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE). This is split into two parts:
- SQE1 is a written (mainly multiple-choice) exam to test legal knowledge
- SQE2 is a practical assessment to test skills such as client interviewing and giving advice to clients
Apprenticeship Standard requirements
Your employer will make sure you meet the requirements of the Apprenticeship Standard for a solicitor (England) or the level 7 Higher Apprenticeship in Legal Practice (Wales).
Resources
Apprenticeships: Information for employers
Government guidance on coronavirus and apprenticeships
The government’s ‘plan for jobs’: what’s in it for solicitor firms?
The Lawyer Portal – free guide to law apprenticeships
The Lawyer Portal – expert insight from a solicitor apprentice
The SRA website – Q&As on the trailblazer solicitor apprenticeship
