‘I specifically opted for the breadth of experience – six years under your belt before you qualify. And of course, the chance to earn a wage at an early age before qualification,’ says Mayer Brown solicitor apprentice Cyril Lekgetho, of his decision to skip university and qualify on the job.
It’s a stance that’s becoming increasingly common. For years, the path to becoming a solicitor followed a well-trodden route: university, LPC, and then training contract. But with the number of firms offering solicitor apprenticeships increasing all the time, it’s an alternative approach that is becoming ever-more popular.
Attracted by the prospect of earning while learning, more school leavers are opting for apprenticeships over the traditional university route, making it one of the fastest-growing pathways into the legal profession.
For firms, too, the appeal is clear. With apprentices spending six years embedded in legal teams before qualifying, they are able to start their careers as qualified fee-earners with far more hands-on experience than those joining the profession fresh from university.
Six years, no debt, full qualification
The solicitor apprenticeship is a six-year programme for school leavers, offering a direct path to qualification. Apprentices spend the first four years rotating through different practice areas, before completing a two-year training contract similar to the traditional route, though the exact structure can vary by firm. Apprentices split their time between working in a law firm and studying for a part-time law degree, before sitting the SQE at the end of the scheme.
Although solicitor apprenticeships have been around since 2015, they are no longer flying under the radar and interest in this alternative way into the profession is surging. At least five major City players are set to take on their first solicitor apprentices next month, including Freshfields and Slaughter and May, while the first six months of the 2024-25 cycle saw 1,000 sign-ups recorded nationwide, according to legal training provider Datalaw.
‘We saw the value early on,’ says Rachel Speight, partner at Mayer Brown, which adopted the scheme back in 2015. ‘Apprentices gain real experience before they even qualify, applying their learning in a live legal environment.’ That practical exposure is a key part of the appeal. ‘Nothing feels out of reach,’ says Lekgetho. ‘There’s a real range of opportunity from client work to varied legal teams.’
Little wonder then that many of the firms with established programmes are committed to growing their ranks. Charles Russell Speechlys currently has 14 solicitor apprentices and reported a 100% retention rate for its 2023 cohort – a clear sign of the model’s success. With plans to welcome at least three additional apprentices in September 2025, the firm is among a growing number expanding their intake in response to rising interest.
Rethinking the norms
For many of the apprentices spoken to for this article, the decision to skip university wasn’t taken lightly. It was, however, grounded in a desire for real-world experience, financial independence, and a faster – and more certain – route into the legal profession.
As Yazmin Adrissi, now an associate at Osborne Clarke, where she was previously an apprentice, explains: ‘It just seemed too good to be true, getting paid a salary and my law school debts covered, and six years of legal experience from day one. It was a no-brainer when I was offered, and I haven’t looked back since.’
That sentiment is echoed by others. ‘Earning while learning sold it for me,’ says Lewis Whittaker, a solicitor apprenticeship graduate at Browne Jacobson. His colleague Gee Bhamra adds: ‘I was really keen to learn on the job, and, honestly, I was scared of debt. Seeing friends and family burdened with it made me cautious.’
At Bevan Brittan, Herbie Dyer saw the apprenticeship as a practical, future-proof choice: ‘While a lot of my friends were applying to university, I knew that route wasn’t for me. I’ve always liked to keep busy, and the chance to gain experience straight after A-levels was exactly what I wanted.’ He adds: ‘Another big factor was how competitive training contracts are – they can take years to land after uni. With an apprenticeship, I got my foot in the door early. I’m in my fifth year now, earning a salary with no university debt. All those benefits really add up.’
From school to the City
While the idea of working in a law firm full-time straight out of school may seem daunting, apprentices describe a steep but rewarding learning curve – with many already handling their own matters, taking on client-facing work, and feeling like valued team members.
‘I wasn’t really aware of what I didn’t know,’ admits Lekgetho. ‘But as my confidence grew and my reputation within the firm developed, so did the trust. Senior associates and partners start giving you work because they know what you’re capable of.’
That trust builds over time – and so does the experience. ‘That’s one of the biggest advantages of the apprenticeship,’ says Adrissi. ‘With more time in the firm, you get exposed to more departments – I’ve done up to eight different seats. It gives you space to figure out where you fit and what you enjoy.’ Dyer agrees: ‘You develop this strong sense of proactivity – you know what needs doing, and you just get on with it.’
And it is not just about legal knowledge – it’s also about learning how to navigate a workplace, ask the right questions, and step up when it matters. As Tania Kahlon (pictured), early careers lead at Bevan Brittan, puts it: ‘The trajectory might be gentler at the start, but it ramps up quickly. The key is knowing when someone’s ready – and giving them the space to grow into that responsibility.’
Tips from the inside
The solicitor apprenticeship route may be growing in popularity, but the increasing interest means competition is fierce. Those who’ve made it in have valuable advice for anyone thinking of applying.
‘Opportunities aren’t out of reach just because you’re an apprentice,’ says Lekgetho. ‘If you show you’re capable, there’s no reason you can’t be trusted with high-level work. I’ve led matters, sat in client meetings – the exposure is there if you earn it.’
For Amy Lewis at Osborne Clarke, the key is to treat every day as a learning opportunity: ‘You’re still learning, but you’re doing it on the job, with support all around you.’
Several apprentices stress the importance of curiosity and confidence. ‘Don’t be afraid to ask questions,’ says Browne Jacobson’s Whittaker. ‘When you’re eighteen, someone might throw an acronym at you, and you just nod along, but people don’t realise what’s unfamiliar to you unless you speak up.’
Time management and communication are also essential. ‘You’re allowed to say no,’ notes Bhamra. ‘Being able to say, ‘I can’t manage that right now,’ shows you’re thinking seriously about your workload.’
And before applying? ‘Do your homework on the firm,’ advises Bevan Brittan’s Dyer (pictured). ‘It’s not just about impressing them, you need to know what they’re offering you in return. It’s a two-way street.’
Dispelling the myths
With more law firms investing in apprenticeship schemes and the SQE reshaping qualification pathways, solicitor apprenticeships are no longer a niche offering – they’re a central part of the profession’s future.
At Browne Jacobson, emerging talent manager Zena Comrie notes the firm’s longstanding commitment to social mobility: ‘We’ve been part of the solicitor apprenticeship trailblazers. The firm as a whole has really embraced social mobility, and for us, it’s all about empowering people who might not think they can pursue this career. You don’t have to go to university or take on all that debt – that’s something that can put a lot of people off.’
Still, apprentices and firms alike acknowledge the stigma that initially surrounded the route. ‘When I first started, I felt like I was having to explain what an apprenticeship was because people just didn’t know,’ recalls Bhamra. Kahlon says her firm was conscious of the misconceptions early on: ‘We’ve tried to dispel some of the myths – that it’s an easier route, or that apprentices are seen as less valuable than traditional trainees.’
Now though, perceptions are shifting fast. ‘The stigma that was around when I first started has really diminished; it’s barely there now,’ says Whittaker, who is now an associate. ‘More people are aware of the route and, importantly, more people appreciate just how much work and effort goes into it.’
That change is also reflected in policy. ‘I definitely feel like we’re on a level playing field now, especially on projects,’ Whittaker adds. ‘That’s why when the firm made the decision to stop distinguishing between trainees and apprentices and started calling everyone ‘future lawyers’, it really meant something.’
Visible support from leadership is helping drive that momentum. As Olivia Sinfield, partner and international transformation lead at Osborne Clarke explains: ‘One of the most important factors is the support and endorsement from the most senior levels. That visible backing makes a real difference, not just for the people you’re trying to attract, but also for the apprentices themselves and the wider firm. It signals that we’re all fully behind this.’
Many now view the apprenticeship route not just as a viable option, but as a preferable one. As Adrissi notes: ‘Honestly, so many people we speak to internally – even trainees – say, ‘I wish I did this route.’ It just wasn’t available when they were making their decision. And some of the older partners say, it reminds them of how they qualified – through hands-on experience. In a way, it feels like it’s come full circle.’
And it’s not just within firms where interest is growing. ‘There’s also been a lot of interest from clients,’ says Sinfield. ‘Many of our larger, more established clients are considering apprenticeships themselves, so they come to us for advice on how to set up schemes. Some of our solicitor apprentices have even spent time on secondment with them, which has been a brilliant development.’
While some firms are only just getting started with their programmes, many of those with more established schemes are still discovering new benefits. ‘We just brought in five new paralegal apprentices,’ says Comrie, ‘and even though their course hasn’t started yet, they’re already working in the business. Teams are seeing the benefits of having someone around for longer. My gut feeling is that over time, we’ll see more and more teams wanting to bring apprentices in.’
Annie Hellberg, early talent adviser at Bevan Brittan, sums it up neatly: ‘For us, these routes are viewed equally, each offering a different journey to the same endpoint. There are no roadblocks or barriers for either route, as both bring unique strengths to the table.’
A different plan
Solicitor apprenticeships are shaking the legal industry, offering a fresh, inclusive and increasingly respected path to qualification. And, for many aspiring lawyers, they’re proving that it’s not just about following tradition, but finding the route that fits.
The fact that Freshfields and Slaughters are following Linklaters and A&O Shearman down the path to solicitor apprenticeships is evidence of just how established apprenticeships now are. As firms use them as part of their efforts to improve social mobility, from September there will be just two UK top 30 firms not currently offering apprenticeships – Macfarlanes and Clifford Chance. This level of adoption is a clear signal that solicitor apprenticeships are not a backup option, but a trusted path into the profession.
New firms offering solicitor apprenticeships from September 2025
- Freshfields
- Slaughter and May
- Travers Smith
- White & Case
- RPC (London office)
UK top 30 firms already offering apprenticeship route to qualification
- DLA Piper
- Hogan Lovells
- A&O Shearman
- Linklaters
- Norton Rose Fulbright
- CMS
- Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
- Eversheds Sutherland
- Ashurst
- Clyde & Co
- BCLP
- Pinsent Masons
- Gowling WLG
- Simmons & Simmons
- Bird & Bird
- Womble Bond Dickinson
- Taylor Wessing
- DWF
- Addleshaw Goddard
- Fieldfisher
- Osborne Clarke
- Irwin Mitchell
- DAC Beachcroft
- Kennedys
- Withers
- Stephenson Harwood
US and international firms in London
If you’re thinking about taking the solicitor apprentice route, the Future Lawyers Apprenticeship page – an interactive hub where you can explore and compare firms based on intake numbers, salary, office locations, and more – is a great place to start.
