Solicitor Apprenticeship (school leaver) - September 2025 - Bird & Bird

Deadline: 20 February 2025

We are recruiting for our September 2025 cohort of solicitor apprentices.

We operate rolling recruitment, which means we screen applications as they are received, rather than after our deadline. We encourage you to apply as early as possible.

Entry requirements

You can apply if you can commence the apprenticeship in September 2025. At the time of submitting your application, you should be:

• in your final year of A-Levels (Year 13) or have already completed school or college (e.g., on a gap year or working).
• at least 18 years of age at the start date of the apprenticeship.
• and have the right to work in the UK.

You should also have, or expect to have 5 GCSEs including English and Maths at grade 9-4/A*-C and 3 A-Levels at AAB (or equivalent). We understand that you may not have received the grade you hoped for due to extenuating or mitigating circumstances. Please detail any relevant information in your application for us to take into consideration. We also use a Contextual Recruitment System (CRS) to enable us to recruit people from different backgrounds and help us understand your achievements in the context in which they were gained. 

Recruitment process

Stage 1 - Online application form
Stage 2 - Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking test
Stage 3 - Pre-recorded video interview
Stage 4 - In-person assessment centre at our London office

Go to our employability hub, The Nest, to develop your legal skills and commercial awareness, learn recruiter-approved tips for the recruitment process and what we look for in successful candidates, and general advice on navigating your career in law.

Our Solicitor Apprenticeship is a Level 7 qualification combining study with work to allow you to qualify as a solicitor without incurring student debt often associated with attending university. You'll learn on-the-job at our London office, alongside a small cohort of solicitor apprentices, while studying for one day a week at the University of Law to obtain an LLB Law degree and complete the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQE). At the end of the apprenticeship, you'll be a qualified solicitor.

Developing your legal knowledge

Study towards an LLB Law degree and work towards the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQE) at The University of Law alongside working on cutting edge legal work. The LLB is designed to prepare you for the academic challenges of the SQE examinations, as well as the fundamental skills, technical excellence, and commercial awareness required for your role as a solicitor at Bird & Bird.

Training beyond your expectations

Put into practice the legal knowledge and skills you're learning at university by working in our London office four-days a week. Build your knowledge of the law and find the area you wish to qualify into by working for stimulating clients across a range of sectors with our experts in the legal field.

From Years 1 to 4, you'll rotate once a year across four different departments, known as 'seats', giving you a rich learning experience and development opportunities. We have eight departments: Corporate, Commercial, Dispute Resolution, Employment, Finance & Financial Regulation, Intellectual Property, Real Estate, and Tax. Within our departments, we have sector and sub-sector specialisms, which you’ll experience in each seat. 

You may also experience a client secondment to further your experience and develop your commercial edge by understanding their business from the inside.

Prior to starting your first seat, you'll have a comprehensive induction designed by our Early Careers team, providing you with the basic building blocks for your personal growth and professional success as a solicitor apprentice. From practical learning to insight sessions and skill-based workshops, we'll ensure that you are set up for success. We'll introduce you to all areas of the firm, from business services to fee earners, strengthening your understanding of how we operate as one seamless international, sector-focused firm.

Looking ahead

Prior to admission to the Roll of Solicitors, all aspiring solicitors qualifying through the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQE) route must:

• have a UK awarded degree or equivalent Level 6 qualification;
• pass both stages of the SQE assessment (SQE1 and SQE2);
• undertake two years’ full time (or equivalent) Qualifying Work Experience (QWE); and
• pass the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) character and suitability requirements. 

Upon successfully completing the apprenticeship, which is a Level 7 qualification including on-the-job training, an LLB Law degree and passing the SQE assessments, you'll have met these requirements and will be able to apply for admission to the Roll of Solicitors to become a qualified solicitor in England and Wales. 

Benefits

£26,000 salary in Year 1 and £30,000 in Year 2.

Bespoke benefits package for your finance, including 5% pension contribution, group income protection, group life assurance, group critical illness, and will writing.

Equip yourself with a broad range of technical and business skills and progress your deep understanding through our tailored learning and development curriculum.

Flexible benefits package for your lifestyle, including 25 days of paid holiday annually, travel insurance, interest-free season ticket loan, computer loan, cycle to work scheme, and give as you earn charity account.

Network and socialise with colleagues through our employee-led networks, socials and events, immersing yourself in our friendly, vibrant culture.

Health and wellbeing in mind with a benefits package that includes private medical insurance, health assessments, maternity and paternity leave, shared parental leave, adoption leave, gym membership, flu vaccinations, eyecare, and dental insurance.

All tuition fees and course materials covered for your studies.

Opportunity to socialise and study with your apprentice cohorts, to build your legal network.