Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme

Our six-year Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme is designed for bright and motivated school leavers interested in a career in commercial law and will offer you the breadth of experience and training needed to become a multi-specialist lawyer, equipped to advise on a broad range of legal matters.

The Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme

During your first four years as a Solicitor Apprentice, you will rotate annually through a range of practice areas. This will allow you to gain a wealth of knowledge and experience whilst studying at university one day per week towards your undergraduate law degree.

During the final two years of the programme, you will join the trainee rotation, meaning that you will move into one of the above practice areas every six months. You will also attend university one day per week to study for the SQE. Secondment opportunities may be available to apprentices in the latter stages of the apprenticeship programme.

Who can apply?

Our Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme is for applicants who have not yet completed an undergraduate degree.

You must have achieved 7 GCSEs at grade 6 or above (including Maths and English) and have achieved or be predicted to achieve AAB at A level. Extenuating circumstances will be taken into account.

You must have the right to work in the UK by the start date.

How to apply

To apply, please complete the online application, and attach your CV.

You will be asked to complete a situational judgement test within 2 days of submitting your application.

About Slaughter and May

Slaughter and May has a global reputation for providing outstanding legal services. The power of our practice is reflected in the multi-jurisdictional nature of our work and our international client base. The firm is a trusted adviser to some of the largest companies in the world, advising on complex cross-border deals every single day.

We advise on high-profile and often landmark international transactions. Our varied client list ranges from governments to entrepreneurs, from retailers to entertainment companies and from conglomerates to Premier League football clubs .

Our practice areas

We are a full-service law firm to corporate clients and have leading practitioners across a wide range of areas including Mergers and Acquisitions, Corporate and Commercial, Financing, Tax, Competition, Disputes and Investigations, Real Estate, Pensions and Employment, Financial Regulation, Information Technology and Intellectual Property.

A world of difference

There are clear differences between Slaughter and May and other global law firms:

• We train each of our lawyers to be a multi-specialist, equipped to advise on a broad range of legal matters which at other firms would be handled by a number of different lawyers. This is hard work, but our lawyers say it makes for a far more fulfilling career. It provides challenge and interest while allowing lawyers to develop deeper relationships with clients, because they get to know their businesses better, and we think that by broadening your training and experience, you will be a better lawyer.
• Much of our work has an international element and on average we work with more than 200 law firms across 100 countries annually. Our work is international and cross-border in nature; we go where our clients go. We never compromise on the quality and consistency for which we are widely recognised.
• At Slaughter and May, we also take a different approach to time; there are no set billing or time targets. This means that our lawyers are free to work collaboratively, sharing expertise and knowledge, so that they can concentrate on what matters most – the quality of the work and client service.

Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity and Inclusion is an integral part of how we do things as a firm. We believe that a supportive and inclusive workplace drives collaboration and enhances business performance. We are looking to employ the brightest minds regardless of what or where they studied. Traditional approaches to D&I are often skewed towards initiatives helping diverse individuals to "blend in” and succeed; we focus on examining and adjusting the system for greater acceptance of different leadership styles and ways of working.