Solicitor Apprenticeships – Graduate Entry & School Leavers Entry

Introduced in 2016, the Solicitor Apprenticeship was introduced to expand the routes someone can take to become a solicitor in England and Wales. Like other apprenticeships, you do not need to have a degree and will be working in the legal profession alongside studying for your apprenticeship. Graduate apprentices typically qualify over a shorter period than school-leaver apprentices, depending on prior academic study. Apprentices benefit from structured study time, supervision, and practical experience integrated into their working week, with the ability to earn while they train.

▪ Starting your Apprenticeship:

The standard requirements are 5 GCSE’s including mathematics and English at Grade C or above and 3 A-Levels at Grade C or above. Once a candidate joins us, they will then study their apprenticeship alongside working in the law firm. An apprentice would spend 20% of their week studying and the rest would be working. You are paid for a full time role. We currently work with apprenticeship provider Damar and training is provided through Barbri. If you have a qualifying law degree then you would usually start with us as a paralegal for 6 months and would then complete an 18 month apprenticeship program.

▪ Studying during your Apprenticeship:

During the apprenticeship, a candidate will build their legal knowledge up to a Level 7 Qualification. The culmination of the studies will be undertaking the Solicitors Qualifying Exams which are two sets of exams (SQE 1 and SQE 2) which will test a candidates knowledge and skills across multiple areas of legal practice. A candidate will also work towards meeting the Solicitors Regulation Authority (The SRA) standards. During this time you will also gain Qualifying Work Experience (QWE). QWE provides practical legal experience in line with the requirements of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). At Ward Gethin Archer, you can expect your QWE to include:

• Meaningful involvement in client matters
• Supervision by qualified solicitors
• Opportunities to develop core solicitor competencies
• Ongoing feedback and mentoring

▪ Finishing your Apprenticeship:

Once a candidate has passed their SQE exams and met the suitability requirements set by the SRA, they can then apply to become a solicitor, a process known as “being admitted to the Roll.”