Watch: a solicitor apprentice sets the record straight

Third-year apprentice Aqsa Ullah shares her thoughts on common misconceptions about apprenticeships, how the pathway offers great opportunities for career progression – and why persistence was key to her application process.

Did you know that in April 2023 97% of solicitor apprentices passed their SQE2 exams?

Despite being launched in 2016, there’s still a huge amount of misinformation around solicitor apprenticeships. In this video, A&O Shearman apprentice Aqsa sets the record straight with her own first-hand experiences.

“I’m not just printing and photocopying all day,” she says. “It’s not a backup.”

“No one makes you feel like your any less than a trainee because you haven’t gone to university,” she adds.

Solicitor apprenticeships allow candidates to qualify as a solicitor without studying at university full-time. These six-year programmes provide apprentices with paid, on the job training and upon completion they gain a level 7 qualification – equivalent to a master’s degree.


Become an apprentice solicitor

You can qualify as a solicitor by completing a level 7 apprenticeship.

To learn more about what’s involved, what qualifications and experience you need, and how to apply, read our solicitor apprenticeships guide.

Hiring an apprentice

Apprenticeships are an established route into the profession for aspiring solicitors in England.

To learn more about what’s involved, the benefits for your organisation, and how to get started, read our hiring an apprentice guide.