Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme

The solicitor apprenticeship route is a fantastic opportunity to gain access to the legal sector and lets you have hands-on experience from day one.

This is a six-year route to qualification which combines on-the-job learning with studying for a law degree and the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). If you are considering a career in Law, but are unsure about pursuing a university degree, a solicitor apprenticeship could be the route for you.

By the end of the six years, you'll be fully qualified as a Solicitor and have avoided student debt. Apprentices will be based in our London office and study one day per week with the University of Law.

Wedlake Bell is pleased to be part of the City Century Solicitor Apprentice initiative, working to raise awareness of the Solicitor Apprenticeship route. This programme is aimed at Year 13 students and school leavers without a university degree.

Wedlake Bell are hiring 1-2 Solicitor Apprentices to begin their training in September 2025.

Your Studies

To qualify as a Solicitor you will need to have a degree qualification, pass SQE 1 and SQE 2, and also complete two years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE). In addition, you must also meet the Solicitor Regulation Authority's (SRA) character and suitability requirements.

The solicitor apprenticeship route fulfils all of these aspects. Wedlake Bell are partnering with the University of Law for the academic aspects. Apprentices will study one day each week to complete the LLB Law degree and the SQE preparation programme over the six-year apprenticeship.

The Law degree will prepare you for the SQE and for working in a city law firm.

On the Job Learning

The remainder of the week, you'll be working at our offices in Central London. For the first four years, you will be assigned to a team for a 12-month placement. Wedlake Bell specialize in a wide variety of legal areas – you could be assigned to Commercial Property, Employment, Corporate, or Private Client to name a few.

During the final two years, solicitor apprentices will join the Trainee Solicitor rotation and join four teams for six months each.

In each team you join, you will be allocated a Supervisor to assist with your training and supervise your work. You will also be allocated a mentor for additional guidance. Apprentices will also have a member of the Early Careers team on hand for 1:1 support. Wedlake Bell is a supportive and friendly firm, and this programme is an opportunity to gain hands-on experience alongside your studies.

Before beginning your first placement, apprentices will complete a detailed induction to welcome you to the firm and prepare you to get started. The firm's Learning & Development team has created a development programme for our Solicitor Apprentices which you will attend throughout your apprenticeship.

After You Complete the Programme

Once you have passed all your exams and completed the programme, you are a qualified solicitor and will be added to the roll of solicitors!

At the end of the programme, solicitor apprentices will all be considered for 'Newly Qualified' solicitor roles alongside our trainee solicitors. Wedlake Bell aims to retain as many apprentices and trainees as possible each year. Wedlake Bell consistently retains a very high proportion of our trainees. This process is called the 'qualification' process, and the Early Careers team work closely with apprentices and trainees to confirm roles and manage the transition to becoming a qualified solicitor.

Applications

Applications for our 2025 Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme will open on 1 November 2024. The deadline to submit your application is 23:59 on 3 March 2025. The apprenticeship will begin in September 2025.

To apply, you will need to:

• Be in either Year 13 or a school leaver without a university degree.
• Meet the academic requirements of predicted ABB at A Level (or equivalent) and have 5 GCSEs at grade 4-9 (C-A*) including Maths and English.
• Any mitigating circumstances will be considered on an individual basis. If you would like to discuss, please contact Early Careers Manager Annabel Hale at ahale@wedlakebell.com .

All applications are reviewed as a first stage. After this, candidates will be selected for a telephone interview with a member of the HR team. The aim of this will be to find out more about you, why you are interested in completing a Solicitor Apprenticeship, and why you are interested in Wedlake Bell.

Following this, candidates will be invited to an in-person interview at the firm. You will be able to meet the Early Careers team, some Lawyers, and current trainee solicitors. This stage will include an interview with a Lawyer and a member of the HR team, a written exercise, and a group exercise. These interviews will likely take place in April.

The Early Careers team will let you know whether you have been successful as soon as possible following each stage.

Additional Details

• Work Experience: We want to hear about any work experience you may have – we are interested in transferable skills from any paid work, volunteering, or clubs and activities at school.
• Skills: Highlight your organizational, teamwork, and communication skills. Demonstrate these in your application.
• Covering Letter Tips: Make sure you read the instructions for the covering letter carefully. This is your opportunity to show why you are interested in Wedlake Bell and a career in Law.
• Travel Costs: If you are selected to attend an interview, Wedlake Bell will reimburse reasonable traveling expenses from within the UK and Ireland. A copy of your receipt is required, and reimbursement will be paid by payment transfer. Unfortunately, we are unable to reimburse expenses incurred if you travel back from a holiday to attend an interview. Feel free to contact the team with any questions regarding travel after being invited for an interview.
• Salary: We pay our solicitor apprentices in accordance with current market rates in London. These are reviewed annually.

About the Solicitor's Qualifying Exam (SQE)

The Solicitor's Qualifying Exam (SQE) was introduced by the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority (SRA) in September 2021 and will mean that all aspiring solicitors must pass two standardised exams as part of the new route to qualification. This has been introduced to ensure consistency and high standards across the legal industry.

The SQE is split into two assessments:

• SQE 1: Focuses on functioning legal knowledge.
• SQE 2: Focuses on practical legal skills and knowledge.

In addition to the assessments, you will also need to have an undergraduate degree, complete two years of qualifying work experience, and meet the SRA’s character and suitability requirements. Further details on the SQE route can be found on the SRA’s website .