Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship or Training Contract - Sept 2025 - Ramsdens

Deadline 31 January 2025

Start your career at Ramsdens

At Ramsdens we firmly believe our people are our greatest asset and this is reflected in the time and care we invest in our Trainees, we are passionate about their development offering a supportive, collaborative and inclusive culture.

So it should come as no surprise to learn that we look to attract and retain the best candidates for our Training Contracts. We expect candidates to have ambition, drive and motivation for their own career and for the future of Ramsdens and our culture allows Trainees to turn passions into careers, which is one of the reasons our lawyers remain with us for such a long time.

We have twelve offices across West and North Yorkshire, and our trainees could be based at any of these offices over the period of their training contract. Please ensure that this is something that you would be comfortable with before applying.

We currently offer two different routes to qualification, the traditional route and the Graduate Entry Solicitor Apprenticeship, the criteria does differ for each route.

TRADITIONAL ROUTE

Whilst we place emphasis on a strong academic background (requiring three A-Levels BBB+ together with a minimum 2:1 and have completed LPC or SQE 1&2 on commencement of the Training Contract (or equivalent), we firmly believe that our Trainees need to have more to offer than good grades.

We expect a positive “can do” attitude, commercial awareness along with a real passion for law, and a determination to succeed.

To ensure the high standard and integrity of our Trainee programme all trainees will complete the full two years' qualifying experience with us. During this time our Trainees experience four seats from the following departments: Child Care, Clinical/Medical Negligence, Commercial Property, Corporate, Court of Protection, Employment, Family, Litigation, Personal Injury, Private Client and Residential Conveyancing.

Trainees are involved in client matters straight away, with constant support and supervision guiding them through. A review process has been designed to provide valuable feedback on progress, with a view to maximising everyone’s performance and allowing Trainees to take ownership of their own development.

We encourage networking and have plenty of opportunities to represent the firm at careers’ events, participate in events at local schools, colleges and universities as well as attending social events.

Application Timetable

•  Closing date for applications 31/1/25

Following a review of the applications we will contact all candidates with their outcome.

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a short online task.

• Open Evening for shortlisted candidates Wednesday 12th March

All candidates will complete a series of tasks on the evening.

• Assessment Days either 18th & 19th or 20th & 21st March

Following further shortlisting we will invite candidates to attend our offices for two days.

• Panel Interview Wednesday 26th March

This will be the final stage.

• Offers made by 30th April
• Start date 1st September 2025

By submitting your application you are agreeing to be available for the above dates. If you are unable to attend on any of these dates then please specify in your cover letter.

We have twelve offices across West and North Yorkshire, and our trainees could be based at any of these offices over the period of their training contract. Please ensure that this is something that you would be comfortable with before applying

GRADUATE ENTRY SOLICITOR APPRENTICESHIP

The Graduate Entry Solicitor Apprenticeship leads to qualification as a Solicitor and a Diploma in Legal Practice. All of which would be achieved whilst working for the firm and at no additional cost to yourself.

Apprenticeships offer on-the-job development and are a viable route for those who want to progress in a particular career through work-based study.

The minimum entry requirement is three A-Levels BBB+ together with a 2:1 honours degree in law or a 2:1 honours degree in a non-law subject with a pass on a GDL or PGDL.

Please note if you have commenced study of the LPC, CILEx or any other legal professional qualifications you do NOT meet the criteria for the apprenticeship programme. We do not set the criteria and there is no room for negotiation here.

The programme runs across two years and eight months, throughout this period you will work four days each week plus one day a week to study with BPP University of Law. It is anticipated that you will remain in one department for a minimum of 12-18 months, at which point a decision will be taken as to whether it is beneficial for you to gain experience in another area. This way you will develop skills and knowledge within the workplace alongside the learning and teaching at BPP.

The route to qualification is by passing the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), and is a new standardised assessment introduced in 2021, which all solicitors will be required to take before they are accepted as qualified. It replaces the LPC which will be phased out over the coming years. Unlike the LPC, the SQE is not a course but simply a series of exams, which are divided into two stages. This means that the SQE itself does not involve any education or training, this will be developed on-the-job and complemented by attending BPP on day release.

It is structured so that you will sit the SQE1 assessment during the second year of the apprenticeship, and the SQE 2 assessment within the last six months.

Like the old system, solicitors will still have to complete two years’ work experience before they qualify and as you can see this has all been incorporated into the Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship.

Application Timetable

•  Closing date for applications 31/1/25

Following a review of the applications we will contact all candidates with their outcome.

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a short online task.

• Open Evening for shortlisted candidates Wednesday 12th March

All candidates will complete a series of tasks on the evening.

• Assessment Days either 18th & 19th or 20th & 21st March

Following further shortlisting we will invite candidates to attend our offices for two days.

• Panel Interview Wednesday 26th March

This will be the final stage.

• Offers made by 30th April
• Start date 1st September 2025

By submitting your application you are agreeing to be available for the above dates. If you are unable to attend on any of these dates then please specify in your cover letter.