Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship - September 2027 - Gateley Legal

Deadline 31 January 2025

About The Role

Your Path to a Rewarding Legal Career Starts Here

Are you a driven and ambitious individual with a passion for law? Gateley is offering an exciting opportunity for aspiring solicitors to join our Graduate Solicitor Apprentice starting in August 2027

As a Graduate Solicitor Apprentice, you will join our 27-month programme, studying one day a week with the University of Law.

For those with a non-law degree, please note that you will be required to study the “Graduate Law Essentials” course, run by the University of Law, with us before starting the Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship. During this time, you will join the business as a Paralegal (with the equivalent salary) until you enter into the graduate content of the course in August 2027.

What We Offer

Comprehensive Training: Our training contract provides a balanced mix of on-the-job learning and formal training sessions. You will receive supervision and mentoring from highly-experienced solicitors, complemented by soft skills development training and quarterly coaching sessions from our talent development team. Our team of professional support lawyers will also provide regular technical training.

Four six-month seats, giving you well-rounded exposure to a number of areas of law.

Client Interaction: Engage directly with clients, building your confidence and professional network. You will have opportunities to work directly with clients allowing you to build your client-care and communication skills. Your progress and performance will be discussed regularly with you as well as more formally at your mid- and end-of-seat reviews.

From day one in your first seat, you will be given as much responsibility as possible and will play a crucial role in your team.

The chance to be based from our Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Nottingham or Reading offices. This year we are also offering the opportunity to have a split role between our Reading and Guildford office. 

What We’re Looking For

At Gateley, we seek candidates who bring a blend of key soft skills and a passion for personal and professional growth. Here’s what we value:

• Growth Mindset: We want people who are eager to develop, learn, and improve continuously, embracing challenges and actively seeking opportunities for self-improvement.
• Collaboration: Teamwork is at the heart of what we do. We are looking for individuals who enjoy working with others, communicate effectively, and are committed to achieving collective success.
• Time Optimisation: The ability to manage time efficiently and prioritise effectively is essential. We value candidates who can organise their work to deliver the best results under pressure.
• Personal Responsibility: Accountability matters. We want individuals who take ownership of their work, make considered decisions, and are committed to delivering excellence.
• Commercial Awareness: Our trainees need to understand the business world, spot opportunities, and think commercially to support our clients effectively. We’re looking for people who are curious about how their work contributes to broader business objectives.
• Relationship Management: Building and nurturing strong professional relationships is key to success. We value those who can connect with others, network confidently, and build trust.
• Resilience: A legal career can be demanding. We seek individuals who are adaptable, recover quickly from setbacks, and remain positive and focused under pressure.
• Pride in Work: We’re after candidates who take pride in delivering high-quality work and always strive to meet and exceed expectations.

If you’re driven, collaborative, and ready to take on the challenges of a dynamic legal environment, we’d love to hear from you.

How  to Apply

Our assessment process consists of the following elements:

• Online application form – this will cover some basic details such as academics, personal information and your location preference (we always advise giving just one location preference).
• Interactive assessment (sent to you up to one-week post-completion of application form) –this assessment will present you with a range of questions that measure how suited you are to a career at Gateley. You will be asked a number of different questions, including how you would respond in various situations, what your work preferences are, as well as a range of questions designed to test your critical reasoning and attention to detail capability.
• Video assessment (Feb 2025) – should you pass the benchmark score for the interactive assessment, you will then be invited to complete our video interview, which will present you with 3 questions which are required to record your answers to.
• Assessment centre (March 2025) – these will take place in March 2025 and will be specific to the office you have applied to. An interview will also take place as part of this assessment.
• Summer vacation placement (June/July 2025) – the SVP allows you to experience a week in the life of a Trainee Solicitor/Graduate Solicitor Apprentice, which will include real responsibility, working on case files and attending meetings.

Please note that the interactive assessment will be sent to you within one week of completing the online application form. You will then have 7 working days to complete this. If you require any adjustments to our assess mentor if you are unable to complete the assessment within this timeframe, please let our team know at earlycareers@gateleyplc.com.

Application Deadline: 31st January 2025. All applications will be reviewed once the closing date has passed.

N.B. Due to changes in the UK Government’s minimum salary requirements for visa sponsorship, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this level of role.