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?

Intermediate, paralegal, solicitor apprenticeships: here are the career options

Legal apprenticeship skills checklist

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.

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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

Major law firms reveal latest trainee retention rates

Several leading law firms have announced their autumn 2025 trainee retention figures, with Baker McKenzie, Pinsent Masons LLP, Bird & Bird and Lewis Silkin all confirming how many newly qualified (NQ) solicitors will be staying on.

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Junior lawyers leaving law firms in record numbers amid mounting pressures

An increasing number of lawyers are leaving the legal profession, with new research based on responses from more than 800 law firm leaders across the UK and US revealing that associate attrition has nearly doubled in the past year.

News

Addleshaw Goddard keeps NQ salaries firm during pay war

City law firm Addleshaw Goddard has announced that its salaries for newly qualified (NQ) lawyers will remain at £100,000, as it opts to allocate an extra £1 million to bonuses at the company instead. The firm’s bonus pot is now worth a total of £19 million.

News

Government plans to limit short sentences to reduce prison overcrowding

Ministers are expected to introduce new legislation to the House of Commons after the summer recess, with the aim of reducing the use of short prison sentences and toughening community punishment.

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.

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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.