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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What are the different types of apprenticeships?

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Here's a checklist of the necessary skills to get off to a flying start

Legal apprenticeship vacancies

Discover legal apprenticeship positions available at various law firms and organisations

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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.

Feature

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

Nearly 60% of legal professionals report poor mental health, LawCare report finds

Nearly 60% of legal professionals reported poor mental health, while half said they had experienced frequent anxiety over the past 12 months, according to LawCare’s 2025 Life in the Law report.

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Shoosmiths reveals 76% autumn trainee retention rate

Shoosmiths has announced a trainee retention rate of 76% for its autumn 2025 qualifiers, with 25 of its 33 final-seat trainees staying on as newly qualified (NQ) solicitors.

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Shakespeare Martineau welcomes its first cohort of solicitor apprentices

Leading law firm Shakespeare Martineau has become the latest law firm to support and introduce solicitor apprentices as a route to qualification, welcoming its first cohort onto their six-year journey.

News

SQE pass rate drops to record low of 41%

The pass rate for part one of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) has dropped to 41% in the July 2025 sitting, according to the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) latest statistical report. This is the lowest recorded SQE1 pass rate so far for the assessment, down from the previous record low of 44% in July 2024.

Latest updates

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

Law Society welcomes government’s level 7 apprenticeship funding exemption

BSB announces barrister apprenticeship standard

Apprenticeship data suggests reducing higher learning funding risks growth

Legal training providers call for government to protect solicitor apprenticeships amid funding cuts

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Meet the Apprentice

Ava Mathias

Ava Mathias is a solicitor apprentice at RPC.

Feature

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.