Prospects.ac.uk

Law apprenticeships

AuthorJemma Smith, senior editor
Posted on

You don't have to study at university to work in law. Instead, you can train on the job to become a paralegal, chartered legal executive or solicitor. Find out more about law apprenticeships

What legal apprenticeships are available?

Law apprenticeships exist in the form of government-backed, employer-designed 'trailblazer' schemes, which cater for apprentices working towards three broad levels:

There is also a specialist pathway to qualify as a chartered legal executive.

Each can be taken as a stand-alone apprenticeship or can be linked for those who want to progress between roles.

Level 3 Business Administration Apprenticeship

Provided by CILEX Law School takes 18 months to complete. Ideal for those who have no legal experience but would like to work as a legal secretary.

Level 3 Paralegal Apprenticeship

Takes two years to complete. You'll get an introduction to law and practice, legal research and client care skills. Upon completion, you can work towards the Level 3 Diploma in Law and Practice (with exemptions) or the Chartered Legal Executive Apprenticeship.

Level 6 Chartered Legal Executive Apprenticeship

Takes five years to complete and is only available for apprentices who have completed the Paralegal pathway or those who have completed CILEx Level 3 qualifications. The scheme qualifies participants to work as chartered legal executives and provides exemptions from some units of the Solicitor Apprenticeship pathway.

Solicitor Apprenticeship

A six-year, Level 7 degree apprenticeship programme aimed at post A-level students, paralegals and chartered legal executives. The period of study is reduced for those who progress from other legal apprenticeships. The scheme covers all the content in an undergraduate programme and enables apprentices to gain a law degree and LLM (Masters). Once you've completed the apprenticeship and passed the centralised Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) you'll qualify as a solicitor. In order to achieve this, apprentices must sit parts one and two of the SQE. Stage one will form part of the on-programme assessment, while stage two will be the end-point assessment, which must be taken during the last six months of your apprenticeship.

Level 7 barrister apprenticeships

Mirroring the format of solicitor apprenticeships, are in development after being approved by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and the Skills England. The apprenticeship has been designed by a group including barristers' chambers, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the Government Legal Department and the Ministry of Justice (MOJ). A decision now needs to be made on how to move forward and implement the standard; as such, there are currently no barrier apprenticeships to apply for.

To help you weigh up your options read, should I go to university or do an apprenticeship?

What are graduate solicitor apprenticeships?

Basically, they're a fast-track route to qualifying as a solicitor via an apprenticeship.

While traditional solicitor apprenticeships:

  • are aimed at school leavers
  • include studying for a university degree
  • take six years to complete.

By comparison, graduate solicitor apprenticeships:

  • are aimed at those who already hold a degree
  • take less time to complete, usually two to three years.

'Graduate solicitor apprenticeships offer those who have completed a law degree at university the opportunity to complete their studies while training at the same time,' says Rupali Gosai, senior early careers adviser at Dentons. 'The traditional route of first passing the SQE and then completing a training contract is combined together, usually over three years. It can be a really rewarding way to see the practical side of your studies come to life.'

A number of firms offer graduate solicitor apprenticeships, such as:

  • CMS
  • Hill Dickinson
  • Michelmores
  • Kennedy's
  • Weightmans.

However, they remain a relatively new and evolving addition to the way in which you can qualify as a solicitor.

How are law apprenticeships funded?

The apprenticeship route is a popular choice as all study and training costs are funded by the government and your employer. It means that aspiring legal professionals can train without the financial burden of university or training provider fees.

However, recent government adjustments to Level 7 apprenticeship funding mean that funding is only available to those who are 21 years old or younger at the start of their scheme.

Government funding is unavailable for anyone starting a Level 7 apprenticeship aged over 21.

Which law firms offer apprenticeships?

Four magic circle law firms (A&O Shearman, Linklaters, Slaughter and May and Freshfields) run solicitor apprenticeships schemes. Clifford Chance runs a paralegal apprenticeship programme.

This is not an exhaustive list; instead, it's a sample of firms that run apprenticeship schemes. Please be aware that vacancies are not always available year-round. To find out whether an organisation you're interested in offers apprenticeships and is recruiting, search their website. Learn more about top UK law firms.

You could also consider legal apprenticeship training providers such as Datalaw, which offers paralegal, solicitor and graduate solicitor schemes.

Who are legal apprenticeships aimed at?

The majority of law apprenticeships are aimed at school leavers or career changers seeking an alternative to university. However, some legal apprenticeships require you to have more than GCSEs or A-levels.

For example, the Chartered Legal Executive Apprenticeship isn't recommended for school leavers; instead, you'll need to have completed the Paralegal pathway or have completed CILEx Level 3 qualifications in legal services.

For the graduate solicitor apprenticeship you'll need to have completed a law degree, or a non-law degree and a conversion course for entry.

Law apprenticeship entry requirements

Individual law firms set their own entry requirements but the government's recommended minimum requirements for the majority of legal schemes are:

  • five GCSEs, including mathematics and English - grade 4 (C) or above (or equivalent)
  • three A-levels (or equivalent) - minimum grade C.

and/or

  • relevant employer-led work experience
  • Level 3 advanced apprenticeship in a relevant role - business administration, legal services, and providing financial services
  • Level 4 higher apprenticeship in a relevant job - 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 (GDL)/Legal Practice Course (LPC) (both may be entitled to exemptions from training).

Research your chosen apprenticeship pathway carefully and contact potential employers to ensure that you have the qualifications to gain a place on the scheme.

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What do law apprenticeships involve?

This depends on which apprenticeship pathway you take. Most schemes enable you to carry out paid employment in a law firm or an in-house legal team while gaining professional qualifications. You'll typically work 30 hours per week under the supervision of a mentor.

If you take the Paralegal Apprenticeship, you'll carry out tasks such as:

  • attending court hearings where appropriate
  • carrying out legal research
  • communicating with internal and external clients
  • drafting legal documents and client correspondence
  • handling sensitive information
  • managing data and records.

Those on the Solicitor Apprentice pathway can expect to:

  • draft documents
  • meet with clients
  • prepare court documents or business development projects
  • research legal cases
  • rotate through different practice areas (departments)
  • undergo a client or international secondment.

'At Dentons, our six-year Solicitor Apprenticeship sees apprentices spend four days a week working in the firm and one day studying towards an LLB with BPP University,' explains Rupali. 'Apprentices rotate through eight different practice areas, gaining exposure to international and complex work. This can also include undertaking a client or international secondment. As they progress through the programme, they are fully supported in taking on increasing responsibility, building valuable experience and developing the skills needed to qualify as a solicitor.'

Expect to spend 20% of your working week on your studies.

How much are legal apprentices paid?

All apprentices are entitled to the National Minimum Wage (NMW), which as of April 2026 stands at £8 per hour for apprentices under 19 and those over 19 in their first year.

Apprentices who have completed their first year and are aged 19 or over are entitled to the NMW for their age range.

However, the majority of legal employers pay their apprentices considerably more than the NMW, so don't let the idea of low pay put you off. Some firms also offer benefits such as:

  • childcare vouchers
  • discounted travel schemes
  • pension contribution
  • private medical cover.

For example:

  • A&O Shearman pays its solicitor apprentices £32,000 in the first year, with salaries rising in subsequent years.
  • Charles Russell Speechlys pays a starting salary of £28,000 to apprentices on their solicitor scheme in London and £26,000 for those in Guildford.
  • CMS solicitor apprentices in London earn a starting salary of £30,000.
  • Irwin Mitchell pay their London solicitor apprentices £24,479 or £26,936 depending on the scheme.
  • Norton Rose Fulbright pay fist year solicitor apprentices £30,000.

'At Dentons solicitor apprentices are paid a starting salary of £31,000 in London and £28,500 in Milton Keynes,' says Rupali. 'Salaries are reviewed on an annual basis, and there's progression across each year of the programme. They also receive a starting work bonus of £1,500.'

Will I qualify as a solicitor?

This depends on which apprenticeship pathway you complete.

The Paralegal pathway doesn’t qualify you to work as a solicitor, although it may be possible, upon completing this apprenticeship, to carry out further study and training (such as the solicitor apprenticeship) to qualify in this role.

The only direct route to qualifying as a solicitor through an apprenticeship is by completing the Solicitor or Graduate Solicitor pathway.

How do I apply for law apprenticeships?

'They're advertised in many places, including Prospects' job board. You can also find further information on law firms' early careers websites,' states Rupali.

Competition among school leavers for legal apprenticeships is fierce, so make sure that you research the firms you're applying to in order to tailor your application. Vacancies usually coincide with the end of the academic school year.

Application procedures vary between employers but typically require you to submit a CV and cover letter directly to the firm. For some vacancies you may need to fill out an application form.

‘Then there will be subsequent stages like an online test or interview before an assessment centre, which you would need to pass before being receiving an offer,' adds Rupali. 'It may sound like a daunting process, but at Dentons the process is very much geared towards assessing for your overall potential and strengths, rather than your legal knowledge or technical capability.'

Discover more about applying for an apprenticeship and take a look at our apprenticeship cover letter example.

Find out more

Written by Jemma Smith, senior editor

Prospects · August 2026