Solicitor Apprenticeship (school leaver) - September 2025 - White & Case

Deadline: 19 January 2025

Are you ready to Launch into Law?

Launch into Law is our new solicitor apprenticeship programme. It's for bright, determined and confident school leavers who want to start their career at a leading global law firm without having to go to university.

Over six years as a Launch into Law apprentice, you'll earn a salary while studying and get all the experience you need to make your mark at our Firm.

Launch into Law offers a professional-level (Level 7) degree apprenticeship that provides a mix of on-the-job learning and formal study. You'll graduate ready to start your career as a newly qualified associate, with unbeatable experience of working as a commercial lawyer in the City of London.

What we offer

• Starting salary £32,000 
• Tuition fees paid
• £1,000 set-up bonus
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Start September 2025

Minimum requirements

• AAB at A Level (or equivalent)
• 5 GCSEs at 5 or above, including maths and English

The Launch into Law Solicitor Apprenticeship programme

As a Launch into Law solicitor apprentice, you'll get everything you need to begin a successful career in law. You'll spend four days a week working in our City of London offices, and one day studying at the University of Law (ULaw). You'll be awarded an LLB (Hons) in Legal Practice and complete the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQE) Parts 1 and 2.

What you’ll be doing

You will spend some initial time in Business Services to gain a broader understanding of the firm and ease your transition into working at a City firm. Following this, you will rotate through multiple practice groups to gain hands-on experience in what we do for our clients around the world and how we do it. From day one, you will be part of our friendly teams, working side-by-side with our lawyers on real client work, often on matters that make business headlines. We are also building a flexible structure that includes periods of block study at university and access to secondments.

What you’ll learn

You'll get exposure to exciting, real work, deadlines and practical legal knowledge across different parts of our business that will stand you in great stead as a future lawyer. Expect to build a fantastic network of friends and colleagues along the way.

We'll support you at every step to develop the professional and personal skills that will help you succeed.

Programme overview

Our programme combines practical experience with academic studies, guiding you across different legal practices through to completing the SQE.

Years 1 to 4

• Work in the office four days a week 
• Year-long placements in different legal practices
• One day a week at ULaw, completing your LLB modules via a blend of virtual and face-to-face workshops, seminars and assessments

Years 5 and 6

• Shorter placements in different legal practices
• A mix of on-the-job and part-time study plus a period of full-time study with ULaw completing your SQE

What we’re looking for

We're not looking for one type of person—we want solicitor apprentices with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. Yet there are some attributes that everyone who works here has in common. Here’s how you know you belong at White & Case:

You have real integrity

You'll work hard to maintain the trust of our clients and your colleagues.

You share our mindset

Everyone who works here is smart: Intelligence and academic excellence is vital.

You’re driven to succeed

None of us are afraid of hard work, and we know that's what it takes to achieve great results.

You’re always a team player

We're One Firm and one team.

You’re constantly curious

You'll always want to know what we're doing and why.

You’re 100 per cent client-focussed

Our clients come first, and you'll never lose sight of this.

Your salary and benefits

Your starting salary will be £32,000 and will increase every year. We'll also give you a set-up bonus of £1,000 to help with the costs of, for example, buying work clothes and getting set up for your new life working in the City of London.

When you're in the office, you can enjoy complimentary food and refreshments from our onsite Broad Street Kitchen (BSK) restaurant.

And when it's time to study and complete your professional training, all your tuition fees will be paid.

Our recruitment and assessment process

Get ready to apply

You can apply from 9 September 2024 until 19 January 2025. We will review and assess every application, so be sure to take all the time you need. Get to know our Firm, find out about the six-year Launch into Law programme and make sure that we're the right Firm for you.

An online application form

This is your chance to introduce yourself and tell us why you're interested in becoming a solicitor apprentice at White & Case specifically.

Tell us about your education history and any work experience that you have. This doesn't need to be legal experience, but can include any paid or unpaid work or volunteering.

Video assessment

During the video assessment, you'll answer three questions and your response will be recorded. You'll have a few moments to prepare for each question and c.90 seconds to answer. Before you answer the questions, you'll have the opportunity to complete a practice question to help you feel more at ease.

Assessment day

We'll invite you to our offices in the heart of the City of London for an assessment day. This is your opportunity to meet with the Early Careers Legal Recruitment and Development Team, associates and partners. You’ll have an interview and also complete a written assessment and group exercise.

During the interviews, we want to hear about your experiences so far and why you're interested in a career in law. We also want to know why you're interested in joining White & Case. You'll be given the opportunity to ask any questions you have.

For more information including FAQs and , click Apply.