Solicitor Apprenticeship (school leaver/non-graduate) - September 2025 - Bates Wells

14 February 2025 – Applications close

We are very proud to offer an alternative route to qualification as a solicitor via our Solicitor Apprenticeships programme. This is a six-year, Level 7 programme for anyone who does not hold a degree level qualification, or school leavers at 18. At the end of the apprenticeship, you will qualify as a solicitor.

This route gives you the opportunity to earn whilst you learn and get stuck into working straight away, avoiding university fees and developing your professional and legal skills.

During our six-year programme, you’ll gain an LLM in Legal Practice through the University of Law, with your fees and assessment costs covered by us, and become a qualified solicitor.

1 October 2024 – Applications open on our website

22 January 2025 – Solicitor Apprenticeship Open Evening (register your interest here)

14 February 2025 – Applications close

May 2025 – Assessments begin

May – June 2025 – Final interviews take place and offers go to successful candidates

September 2025 – Solicitor Apprentices join the firm

Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme Structure

Our Solicitor Apprenticeship lasts for six years, at the end of which you will be a qualified solicitor with an LLM in Legal Practice from the University of Law (ULaw).

You will combine four days per week of on-the-job learning at our office with one day per week of study at ULaw.

We want you to get a thorough grounding in professional life, so you’ll experience working in a variety of our legal departments and business teams. The first year will establish a grounding in professional life with our Finance, Risk & Compliance, Practice Management and Business Development teams. Years two, three and four will be one- year placements in different legal departments. In the final two years you will join our trainee cohort and rotate around further departments every six months.

We will pay you during your apprenticeship, starting at least at the London Living Wage and rising to our trainee rate in your final year. We will also cover the course fees and give you study leave for your exams and assessments.

Academics

Our minimum academic requirements are ABB (or equivalent) at A Level and a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grades 4-9 (A*-C). Please note that we do not require candidates to have completed an A Level in Law.

Please be aware that we use the upReach Real Rating contextual recruitment tool to provide insight into the context in which you achieved your grades, and we also take mitigating circumstances into consideration. So, even if your A Level grades do not meet that threshold, you are still encouraged to make an application.

Who is eligible to apply for a Solicitor Apprenticeship?

The apprenticeship is exclusively for people who do not have a degree and do not intend to go to university.

I’m not a school leaver. Can I still apply?

Absolutely! We welcome applications from anyone who meets the criteria we have outlined above, and does not hold a degree.

Will you cover the cost of my studies?

Yes, we will pay your course and assessment fees directly to the University of Law.

How often will I study?

One day per week will be allocated to studying with ULaw. You will also receive study leave when assessments are approaching.

What will I earn?

Your salary will increase each year, as follows:

• Year 1: £27,400
• Year 2: £29,000
• Year 3: £32,000
• Year 4: £35,000
• Year 5: £41,000
• Year 6: £45,000

You will also have access to our fantastic range of benefits.

Programme Structure

Year One: Placements in our business teams (Finance, Risk and Compliance, and Business Development and Marketing).

Year Two: Placement as a Knowledge Assistant or Paralegal, supporting one of our practice areas (Charity and Social Enterprise, Corporate and Commercial, Dispute Resolution, Employment, Immigration, Public and Regulatory, Real Estate).

Year Three: Placement as a Knowledge Assistant or Paralegal, supporting one of our practice areas (Charity and Social Enterprise, Corporate and Commercial, Dispute Resolution, Employment, Immigration, Public and Regulatory, Real Estate).

Year Four: Placement as a Knowledge Assistant or Paralegal, supporting one of our practice areas (Charity and Social Enterprise, Corporate and Commercial, Dispute Resolution, Employment, Immigration, Public and Regulatory, Real Estate)

Year Five: Join our cohort of trainee solicitors in the regular seat rotation, spending six months as a trainee in one practice area and then rotating to another department.

Year Six: Join our cohort of trainee solicitors in the regular seat rotation , spending six months as a trainee in one practice area and then rotating to a final department.

End of Year Six: Qualify as a solicitor and apply for Newly Qualified positions.

University of Law Course Structure

Completing your Solicitor Apprenticeship with ULaw will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of core legal subjects and how to apply them in practice. You will work on four days per week, and study on campus on the fifth. You will be able to take study leave when assessments and exams are approaching.

The combination of work-based learning with us, and in-person study at ULaw’s Moorgate campus will prepare you to complete the new Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) and then to be admitted as a solicitor at the end of your apprenticeship.

You will also complete assessments with ULaw which will enable you to qualify with an LLM in Legal practice at the end of your apprenticeship.

The modules you’ll study over the course of your apprenticeship will be as follows:

Year 1 – Common Law Method and Ethics, How the City Works, Tort Law, Contract Law, Legal Research
Year 2 – Public Law, Criminal Law, Land Law, Legal Writing
Year 3 – Equity & Trusts, Real Estate, Business Law, Drafting
Year 4 – Business Law 2, Criminal Litigation, Wills, Civil Dispute & Matter Analysis
Year 5 – SQE1 Preparation
Year 6 – SQE2 Preparation, Mergers and Acquisitions, Public Companies/Banking, Business of Law

Click Apply to find out more