Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship 2025/6 or Training Contract 2027 - Sharpe Pritchard

Deadline 31 March 2025

Training at Sharpe Pritchard

Sharpe Pritchard recruits between three and five trainees every year. We aim to provide legal experience in all core areas of our practice: dispute resolution and judicial review, planning and parliamentary, real estate, construction, ICT and data, infrastructure, commercial contracts and procurement.

SQE training

Sharpe Pritchard offers a fully funded 3 year graduate apprenticeship for its SQE trainee solicitors. As a Sharpe Pritchard trainee solicitor, you will start with us in September 2025, studying the SQE1 preparation course with BPP. After taking the SQE1 exam, you will start your two-year Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) at the firm in September 2026. You will receive a salary throughout and all course fees will be paid for.

LPC training

During the SQE transition we are still considering applications for traditional training contracts for those who have chosen to take that route. To tie in with the expected start date for SQE apprentices, the start date for the two-year training contract will be in September 2026. We offer funding of £9,000 towards the fees for LPC courses which have not already been started at the time of acceptance of the offer of a contract.

Training programme

Training at Sharpe Pritchard is much more than a rotation around departments. As a Sharpe Pritchard trainee solicitor, you will start your QWE with a bespoke training induction. Over a two week period, you will not only have an opportunity to get to know your fellow trainees but you will also receive an introduction to the firm, learning about how we work and about our core legal practice areas and disciplines, particularly in some of our specialist areas which are not covered fully in the GDL, LPC or SQE. This tailored programme will ensure that you are able to hit the ground running in your first seat.

We aim to provide legal experience in all core areas of our practice: commercial contracts and procurement, dispute resolution, employment, planning and parliamentary, real estate, construction, infrastructure and ICT and data.  Trainee solicitors usually experience four seats at the firm and are given the opportunity to express preferences throughout, which are given serious consideration by the partners when deciding seat changes.

Our trainee solicitors are sometimes given the opportunity to go on secondment with clients, usually for part of the working week. This gives invaluable exposure to and experience of our client organisations which include central government, and local authorities.

Why join us

We are a purpose driven organisation with an active social committee, Corporate Social responsibility committee, Equality and Diversity forum and Wellbeing Leadership Group. We have recently become a signatory to the Mindful Business Charter.

It is central to our values that our teams reflect the diverse community around us and that everyone at Sharpe Pritchard can be themselves and bring their authentic selves to work. Achieving true equality, diversity and inclusion is a core aim and we very much welcome applications from all sections of our diverse community, irrespective of race or racial group, sex, sexual orientation, sexual identity, religion or belief, age or disability. We make reasonable adjustments within the recruitment process and upon joining the firm to support applicants of all abilities.

About you

You must be bright, and an effective communicator with good negotiation skills. You will have the ability to work independently as well as in a team and you will have good decision making and organisation skills.  You will have demonstrable research, analytical and drafting skills.  You must have a genuine, demonstrable interest in public sector work.

Applicants need to either be a law graduate or have completed the conversion course/post graduate diploma in Law prior to joining us and enrolling for the SQE1 course.

You can find the full job description on our website in our About you section.

What you will be getting in return

You will work alongside a supportive, friendly and collaborative team.

Our generous salary and benefits package includes but is not limited to;

• Our starting salary is currently £21,000 per annum for the duration of the SQE apprenticeship block learning (September 2025 – August 2026)
• Our starting salary is currently  £36,750 per annum for  year 1 of your QWE or traditional training contract (September  2026 – August 2027), rising to £37,800 for year 2.
• 28 days holiday
• Private pension
• Life assurance
• Income protection
• Private medical insurance
• Smart health
• Health and wellbeing app
• Cycle to work scheme
• Season ticket travel loans
• Flexible hybrid working
• We offer funding of £7,500 towards the fees for LPC courses which have not already been started at the time of acceptance of the offer of a contract. We do implement exit fees for trainee solicitors on the training contract route who do not complete their LPC or role.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all sections of the community irrespective of race or racial group, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age or disability.

We make reasonable adjustments within the recruitment process and upon joining the firm to support applicants of all abilities.

Application process

The recruitment process consists of three stages:

Stage 1 – Application form review.

Applications are initially reviewed against objective criteria by HR and Partners.

Stage 2 – Watson Glaser Test.

Long-listed candidates are required to complete a Watson Glaser Test.

The Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal assesses the individual’s capability for critical thinking – a discrete skill distinct from, but not independent of, overall intelligence. It is available online and contains 40 items drawn from an item banked and candidates have a maximum of 30 minutes to complete the test.

Stage 3 – Interview and written test

Short-listed candidates (approximately 10 candidates) are selected for an interview. Selection is based on the Watson Glaser result and an assessment of the information contained in the application form.

Interviews will be held in May. Two or three partners carry out the interview and there is a short written test.