Solicitor Apprenticeship (school leaver) - September 2025 - Addleshaw Goddard

Deadline: 31 December 2024

Are you passionate about a career in law? Do you want to work for a Firm where you are valued, encouraged, and challenged to fulfil your potential? Our Solicitor Apprenticeship will provide you with invaluable and varied work experience whilst studying towards a legal qualification - all whilst earning a salary.

What will the solicitor apprenticeship involve?

Whilst training, as a Solicitor Apprentice, you will support the Paralegals and Senior Paralegals within the TST, as well as the fee earners across the Firm with routine legal tasks. As with Paralegal Apprentices, Solicitor Apprentices will have the opportunity to experience different sub-teams within the TST over the course of the apprenticeship and will have the option to apply to do a seat in the Innovation and Legal Technology team, and/or the TST Scotland team.

This is a busy role where work may come from any of the Firm's Groups and, as a result, a Solicitor Apprentice will work on a wide variety of assignments. The complexity of work and responsibility within the TST will develop over the course of the apprenticeship.

During Year 1, work assignments may include:

• assessing the relevance of a wide range of documents as part of dispute cases.
• drafting and producing legal documents and standard forms.
• checking legal documents for quality, consistency and content.
• creating bundles for trial and Employment Tribunals.
• reviewing and reporting on commercial and legal documents as part of a corporate due diligence exercise.
• managing electronic data sites, uploading, and ordering documents, and liaising with third parties.
• providing transactional support on Corporate, Finance or Real Estate projects.
• any additional tasks as required by the business.

During Years 2 to 4, work assignments will develop in complexity and level of responsibility and may include:

• attending client meetings/providing support to clients on-site.
• matter or case management.
• conducting legal research and providing advice based on findings; and
• client or Group secondments.

During Years 5 and 6, Solicitor Apprentices will leave the TST and join the Trainee Solicitor group (and will complete movement around different teams in the Firm).

In addition to the above, all Solicitor Apprentices are expected to participate in business engagement and team development activities or initiatives relevant to their role to identify ways in which the TST can support the Firm in a better way. They are also expected to become familiar with and promote the use of legal technology for routine and/or project work.

What are the Entry Requirements?

• at least 5 GCSEs grades 4 or above (or equivalent) including English and Maths, and 3 A-levels grades ABB or above, 128 UCAS points (or equivalent)
• ambition and a commitment to succeed in a legal career; and 
• an appetite to learn and a commitment to studying a 6-year programme whilst balancing working full-time.

What is the Recruitment Process?

All processes below will be conducted via Addleshaw Goddard's recruitment portal.

1) Online application & Eligibility Screening
2) Situational Judgement Testing
3) Video/Voice Interview 

Successful candidates will then be invited to an in-person assessment centre in the Manchester office, to be held on 17th or 18th February 2025. We will support with travel arrangements.

The assessment centre consists of: Partner Briefing, Competency based interview, Written Task, and a Group exercise.

Addleshaw Goddard work with RARE recruitment during the application process. This aims to promote diversity and review grades in a socio-economic context - providing valuable insight into the context in which grades were achieved.

This opportunity is also available to non-law graduates (those who have a degree in an area other than law). Law graduates are not eligible to apply for the Solicitor Apprenticeship but can apply for our training contract and placement scheme opportunities. Visit our Early Careers website for more information.

Please note, you must be available to start in September 2025. 

Apprenticeship Overview

One day per week will be spent with BPP University, working towards your LLB (Hons) Law and Legal Practice degree and the Solicitor Level 7 Apprenticeship. Upon completion of your law degree, you will sit the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) 1 & 2 and qualify as a solicitor.

Your apprenticeship will be delivered by a blend of interactive online workshops and e-learning content on the BPP learning platform, together with off-the-job training and a work based portfolio to demonstrate your application of the skills required for the role of a solicitor. Coupled with the on-the-job learning, completion of the apprenticeship will lead to obtaining your solicitor qualification.

At the end of the apprenticeship, you will have attained the qualifications to practise as a qualified solicitor and eligible to apply for Newly Qualified solicitor roles in the Firm.

The apprenticeship standard is based in the SRA's Statement of Solicitor Competence. Achievement of the standard and the associated apprenticeship assessment plan will satisfy the SRA's regulatory framework for qualification as a solicitor, subject to the SRA's usual tests of character and suitability.

Qualifications: LLB Law and Legal Practice Degree, and qualification as an England & Wales Solicitor (through successful completion of the SQE)

What are the future prospects?

Newly qualified solicitor role, subject to vacancies and performance.

Who are we looking for?

There is no Addleshaw Goddard type. We are looking for authentic personalities who are aspiring, confident and committing to becoming great lawyers. We want people who want to learn alongside the best in the procession, bringing their energy and passion to our team and our clients.

Key skills we look for: Communication skills, Attention to detail, Commercial awareness, Team work, Career motivation and knowledge of Addleshaw Goddard.

You'll receive training that's tailored to your needs and interests while gaining a first-hand insight into life at one of the UK's most respected law firms. You will be supported by some of our brightest minds and challenged with meaningful work, helping you develop the connections and skills you need to become a trusted lawyer.

Please ensure that you apply for the position as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. The closing date is a rough guideline as to when an advert will close. The advert may close before the given closing date if the employer has filled the position(s). 

We are an equal opportunity employer and we do not discriminate on the basis of a person's sex, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, background or any other protected characteristic. We are committed to having a diverse team and actively encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds and communities. 

To do this effectively, we'd like to hear from you as soon as possible if there are things we can do to support you through the application or interview process – for example, providing you with additional time, organising appointments on particular days, or providing any accessibility support you may require to access our resources or buildings.  If you would like to discuss ways in which we can support you, please email earlycareers@addleshawgoddard.com

Click apply to find out more.