The Law Apprenticeships Guide

A law apprenticeship combines paid work and training at a law firm with part-time study for professional qualifications. It is an alternative path to going to university that offers the same career destinations, but avoids the expensive fees.

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Meet the Apprentice

Cyril Lekgetho

Cyril Lekgetho is a first-year solicitor apprentice at Mayer Brown. He’s currently studying in the employment (global legal projects) department.

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Ask the Oracle

Should I do an apprenticeship or go to university?

I’m considering starting a legal apprenticeship, but are the career prospects the same as the university route? What are the main differences between a paralegal/solicitor apprenticeship and going to university?

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The Beginner's Guide to a Career in Law

Everything you need to know about launching a career in law.

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Legal apprenticeships: an alternative route to a legal career

For many, rises in university tuition fees have created a financial barrier to law, but legal apprenticeships can make legal careers more accessible to those with motivation and talent, as well as diversify legal training to match the increasing liberalisation of legal services, most clearly evidenced by the ongoing rise of alternative business structures.

Key questions

What skills and strengths do you need to be a good lawyer?

Who can become an apprentice?

Do I have to study A-level law to be an apprentice?

News

Foot Anstey sets new standard with parental leave policy

National law firm Foot Anstey LLP has expanded it parental leave policy to include six months full parental leave to employees of all genders – “a vital step towards achieving greater equality in caregiving responsibilities”.

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Dentons partners with legal AI platform to expand AI capabilities across Europe

Global law firm Dentons has partnered with collaborative generative AI platform Legora, giving its lawyers Europe-wide access to advanced AI tools and new ways of completing legal tasks.

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Law Society proposes 10 steps to restore legal aid services after cyberattack

The Law Society of England and Wales has called for “immediate actions” to restore the justice system, following a major cyberattack on the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) in April 2025, which compromised up to 15 years of sensitive legal aid data.

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LawCare and University of Leeds introduce reverse mentoring in legal profession

LawCare and the University of Leeds have launched a reverse mentoring toolkit to help law firms and organisations build a more inclusive and fair workplace culture, prioritising meaningful change over performative gestures.

Latest updates

What’s the difference between a solicitor and graduate apprenticeship?

Costs lawyer apprenticeship on the horizon

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Magic circle law firm to introduce solicitor apprenticeship from 2025

Barrister apprenticeships to improve access to legal profession

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Meet the Apprentice

Cyril Lekgetho

Cyril Lekgetho is a second-year solicitor apprentice at Mayer Brown. He’s currently studying in the employment (global legal projects) department.

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A guide to law apprenticeships

Legal apprenticeships are an increasingly popular route to becoming a lawyer that combine a paid job at a law firm with studying for formal qualifications, funded by the government and your employer. It’s an alternative to the traditional route of going to university and training to be a lawyer after graduating. Graduate solicitor apprenticeships are also on the rise and new details have recently emerged regarding the introduction of barrister apprenticeships too. Find out more about the different legal apprenticeship options in this guide.

The Rookie Lawyer

What does a solicitor apprentice do?

In this article, we'll take a look at what solicitor apprenticeships entail, what they offer, and how they differ from other routes to qualifying.