Degree qualification and year of graduation: Level 7 Solicitor Apprenticeship (2031)
Why did you decide on a career in law?
I realised quite early on that many of the skills I had developed and enjoyed at school translated naturally into law. Once I made that connection, it felt like an obvious fit and the direction I wanted to pursue.
Why opt for an apprenticeship over other qualification routes?
The apprenticeship route gets you to the same destination without the student debt, and you are earning whilst you learn. But it is about far more than just qualifying, it is also the journey to getting there. You pick up things in the workplace that simply cannot be taught in a lecture theatre, and you develop soft skills from a very early stage that shape you into being a successful lawyer once you qualify. By the time you qualify, you have both the academic credentials and a depth of professional experience that sets you apart.
How did you find and apply for your apprenticeship?
I went to an academic school where the Russell Group university route was strongly encouraged, so apprenticeships were not really on my radar at first. I followed the traditional plan and actually began university before I came across apprenticeships and realised they suited me far better. I found them whilst browsing insight schemes at firms I already had in mind and noticed that apprenticeships were on offer. It struck me as a far smarter route, particularly given the cost of studying in London, and the breadth of experience you gain so early on. Looking back, my path was not the most conventional, but it worked out well. Travers Smith opened their very first apprenticeship window that same year, so I could not have applied any earlier even if I had known about it sooner!
Tell us about your apprenticeship (length, structure, level, the qualification you will receive at the end)
At Travers Smith, the apprenticeship runs for six years in total, with the final two years forming your training contract. It sits at Level 7, the highest apprenticeship level, and you graduate with an LLB Law degree and a Masters in Law, as well as having completed the SQE. Throughout the first four years you rotate annually across different departments, which gives you broad exposure to the firm. When you move into your training contract, you complete six-month seats, with the opportunity to revisit areas you explored earlier in the apprenticeship.
What kind of tasks do you complete on a typical day?
It varies considerably depending on which department you are in. As an apprentice, your role sits broadly at paralegal level. You begin with more administrative and research focused work, and as you build confidence and take on more responsibility, you progress towards trainee level tasks. During my year in Dispute Resolution, I was the only junior working on a pro bono case, which involved a great deal of responsibility including managing a bundle of around 5,000 pages. Other regular tasks include legal research, taking notes in meetings and keeping track of deadlines. I have no doubt that what a typical day looks like will continue to evolve as I move through different areas of the firm.
What do you enjoy about your apprenticeship?
I have really enjoyed settling into the office environment and making the most of each day. One of the things I value most about being an apprentice at Travers specifically is the level of supervision and mentorship on offer. Being closely guided through complex areas of law means you get a genuine understanding of what life at a City firm looks like, without feeling thrown in at the deep end. It is a very considered way to build your knowledge and confidence at the same time.
What are the challenges?
The most noticeable adjustment is moving away from the blocked-out holidays you have when at school. You have to be more deliberate with your time off, which can feel stark when friends come home from university with weeks of free time and your days off are more limited. That said, I have found it has made me far more intentional with how I spend my time. I still have a full social life outside of my apprenticeship - I am just more organised about it and I appreciate my free time a great deal more than I probably would have otherwise!
How do you balance working with studying?
BPP structures the workload clearly, with pre-class preparation followed by the seminar itself, and major deadlines flagged well in advance. That forward visibility makes it much easier to plan. Our seminars run on Friday afternoons, so I will often head to the BPP library or a nearby café afterwards to keep the momentum going. The key thing I have learnt is that doing a little consistently, rather than cramming, makes a real difference when a big deadline arrives. My supervisor is also very understanding about the study side of things. If an exam is coming up, he will often ease my workload so that I am not stretched too thinly across both at once.
Can you debunk a myth about working in law?
The idea that lawyers spend their days in court is one worth addressing. Even litigators rarely do. Spending a year in Dispute Resolution showed me just how much preparation and procedure sits behind a court hearing. You might work on a case for months before a three-day hearing, and the majority of cases settle before they ever reach that stage. Most practice areas at a law firm are transactional rather than adversarial, so the courts rarely come into it at all. It is not quite like 'Suits', where you are in Court all the time, and a judgment certainly does not arrive on the day but can take three months at a time!
What are your career ambitions?
For now, my ambition is to spend the next six years building a broad understanding of different practice areas and working out what kind of lawyer I want to be. The apprenticeship structure at Travers, with its range of seat rotations, is genuinely well suited to that. I want to find the area of law that truly captures my interest, and I feel I am in exactly the right place to do that.
What advice can you give to other aspiring apprentices?
Do not let the fear of rejection put you off applying. It is easy to feel daunted by the application process, and LinkedIn can make you feel as though everyone else is ahead you. They are not; everyone is on their own path, and your individual qualities and experiences are worth presenting. As long as you can connect them to why you would make a good lawyer, you are as strong a candidate as anyone else. I would also encourage you to get as much experience as you can, legal or otherwise, before you apply. It is a six-year commitment to both an apprenticeship and a legal career, and it is worth going in knowing that it is genuinely what you want.
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