A Guide to Law Apprenticeships

It’s a common misconception that you need to go to university to have a successful career in law. For many years, the traditional university method was the only entry into legal life, but there are more options nowadays.

Law – or legal – apprenticeships are a direct route into the profession. Law apprenticeships involve working practically at a firm whilst studying for recognised qualifications and allow students to earn whilst they learn.

Here at BPP, we offer a broad range of law apprenticeships, as well as partnering with some of the country’s best legal practices. We’ve composed this guide alongside some of our expert partners, including BCLP, DWF, Bevan Brittan and Burges Salmon, to help students and employers alike gather information on law apprenticeships and the benefits they can bring.

What is a law apprenticeship?

As we’ve already mentioned, these courses combine academic study with a practical element. BPP work alongside employers to find apprentices to study at their firms whilst gaining hands-on experience.

These are innovative programmes helping to train future talent, diversify the legal profession, and introduce new career routes.

Apprenticeships are funded either by the Apprenticeship Levy or split between your employer and the Government. This makes them a viable choice for people from disadvantaged backgrounds, as it provides a route into the legal profession with less of the attached student debt.

Aside from this, you can also earn a salary while you learn. So, you can support yourself whilst gaining a valuable entry point into the career of your dreams.

What do law apprenticeships involve?  

The work that you will do in your law apprenticeship depends on multiple factors. It will primarily depend on the type of apprenticeship you study and the legal firm you choose.

Generally, apprentices spend the majority of their time working in a hands-on position within a law firm. There, they will develop skills, commercial awareness and legal knowledge in a wide variety of different areas. At DWF, apprentices rotate around various departments and teams every 12 months until the final two years of their course, whereas solicitor apprentices rotate every 6 months alongside trainee solicitors.

Daily tasks could include things like:

• Attending court

• Negotiating contracts and other documents

• Conducting legal research

• Drafting correspondence with clients

• Attending meetings and interviews and taking minutes

In many law firms, you may also need to keep notes of your daily tasks. Even where this isn’t required, it’s a valuable practice to track your progress and the skills you have gained and used.

BCLP says, “The initial 6 months are a steep learning curve. The apprentices need to understand how to conduct themselves in a professional manner whilst learning key skills such as time and financial management. We constantly review our structured training programme, which is delivered in both technical and soft skills by our Learning and Development team and our Knowledge Development Lawyers.”

Alongside your working week, you’ll be afforded  time for your academic courses. This could involve in-person or online classes and workshops or independent study. In both environments, you will be supported by a mentor or tutor, to whom you can direct any questions or concerns. You will complete qualifications along the way, and work toward the End Point Assessment, which concludes every kind of apprenticeship.

Why are law apprenticeships beneficial?

Law apprenticeships are beneficial to students and employers alike.

For students, they provide a valuable entry point into the previously inaccessible legal profession, opening the door to any candidate with the ambition and drive required to have a successful career in law. Law apprenticeships also provide opportunities to those who feel the university route is not for them, or who would prefer to learn while they earn.

For employers, law apprenticeships offer the chance to snap up fresh talent and train them to be the perfect professionals. Helping someone gain their qualifications through practical experience allows you to impart the exact skills required to excel at your firm and further afield. Bevan Brittan states, “A key driver for Bevan Brittan was to attract candidates with different and diverse backgrounds, to be more inclusive when looking at our future generation of lawyers.”

Additionally, it often costs little to nothing, with the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy.

Different types of law apprenticeships

There are two kinds of law apprenticeship at BPP:

Paralegal apprenticeships

Studying for a paralegal apprenticeship with BPP and one of our partners will allow you to combine practical experience with academia in to gain their qualifications. With BPP, you will work toward your Paralegal Level 3 Apprenticeship Certificate of Higher Education (Law and Legal Practice). This is typically a 2-year course and requires a minimum of three A-Levels (96 UCAS points) and five GCSEs at grade C (or 4) and above.

As a Paralegal, you will develop an understanding of legal matters, client requests and other demands. Following your qualification, you can remain working as a Paralegal. Paralegals are required in every industry to provide advice, and you could find yourself working anywhere, from media to government.

Solicitor apprenticeships

Solicitor apprenticeships are a viable route towards becoming a legal professional. BPP’s course will help you gain your Solicitor Level 7 Apprenticeship LLB (Hons) Law and Legal Practice, studying core topics like legal writing, case analysis and legal research. The entry requirements are a minimum of three A-Levels (128 UCAS points) and five GCSEs at grade C (or 4) and above.

This is a 6-year course, so it requires dedication and commitment. However, balancing study with practical work-life will prepare you for the high intensity of the legal profession, and give a realistic view of the work you will be expected to put in. It is a passport to a busy, satisfying, and lifelong career.

Burges Salmon says, “Apprentices start out as paralegal apprentices, but the business looks for people with the potential to go through the six-year solicitor apprenticeship programme, and the scheme is promoted externally in that way.” So, you may find you begin as a paralegal apprentice and end with your solicitor qualification.

Law apprenticeship application processes

The application process can vary from firm to firm, but they are often very similar to job applications. Some firms may require a CV and cover letter, whilst others pose firm-specific questions or tasks like aptitude tests.

The application process at Bevan Brittan, for example, is generally as follows:

“We follow similar recruitment processes to our trainee recruitment – an online application and verbal reasoning test followed by an assessment centre with group exercises and an interview with a partner and HR.”

How to get a law apprenticeship

Again, there isn’t really a straight answer on this one. Law, in general, is one of the most competitive professions there is, and legal apprenticeships aren’t any different.

The only cemented advice we can offer is to do your research - and do it well. Many different firms offer law apprenticeships, so try to find a firm that suits your ambitions and will allow you to excel.

Because an apprenticeship is designed to provide you with practical experience, this won’t be as important as your personality and the skills you demonstrate. Firms will be on the lookout for someone who fits in well with their company culture, so it’s important that you’re aware of what that is.

DWF looks for these qualities in their apprentices: “We look for those candidates with the potential and drive to progress from the paralegal to the solicitor apprenticeship, and those who are eager to learn. This means that as well as good academics, we look for candidates who are resilient, motivated, and proactive. They should also have good oral and written communication skills and attention to detail. We want to see candidates who we think will be a good fit with the values of the firm and who will fit in well with our people.”

You should also demonstrate the skills directly related to law through your existing experience. Skills that firms look out for are:

• Strong interpersonal skills

• Commercial awareness

• Excellent communication, both written and verbal

• Initiative and independence

• Ability to work in and lead a team

Which law firms offer apprenticeships?

A vast range of law firms employ apprentices nowadays, as it’s a great way to diversify their workforce and seek out new talent that they can train from the ground up.

Again, do some research and reach out to firms you are interested in to see if they offer apprenticeships. For more information on the law apprenticeships we offer, visit our website.