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 barrister apprenticeships are in the works. Find out more about the different legal apprenticeship options in this guide.

As a LawCareers.Net reader, you may have already kicked off your legal career or you may be just beginning your studies. Regardless of where you’re at, learning an effective method of studying is always useful. If you’re already working, you can employ this knowledge to improve your ability to work and learn on the job.

Magic circle firm Allen & Overy LLP retained 37 of its 40 trainees, revealing a 93% autumn retention rate – all 40 of the firm’s trainees applied for newly-qualified solicitor roles, with 37 offers being made and accepted. 

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Looking for an ‘in’? Open days and insight schemes are invaluable opportunities to meet the people that work for the law firms you’re interested in. You’ll learn about life in the organisation, its culture, the work on offer and much more. Plus, if prepped well, it’s your chance to ace that initial interaction to set yourself up nicely for future encounters that could eventually lead to you securing your qualifying work experience (eg, a training contract or apprenticeship).

Corporate partner John Rife offers an insight into the relationship-building and negotiation skills that are vital for lawyers working in the private equity industry, as well as the culture of excellence and collegiality on which Debevoise & Plimpton prides itself.

Isabel Elsey explains why completing a vacation scheme at Milbank is integral to securing a training contract with the firm. She also sets out the skills she wants to see from aspiring solicitors in their applications and highlights the best way to research the firm. 

Should the hack of toy maker VTech, the latest in a series of major data security breaches, represent a wakeup call for the growing number of industries poised to embrace connected technologies?