What are legal apprenticeships? Insights and advice from a Solicitor Apprentice

An exclusive interview with Solicitor Apprentice Ellie Phillips

Ellie knew that from a young age she wanted to be a Solicitor but didn’t want to go to university full-time. Now, beginning the fourth year of her Solicitor Apprenticeship with BHP Law, she is on a mission to raise awareness of legal apprenticeships. Legal Apprenticeships are an alternative route to qualifying as a Solicitor. Recently, she sat down with Amy Watson, here at the Eventus Recruitment Group, to talk about all things legal apprenticeships.

Law has been a traditional industry with few routes to qualify for so long. Tell me about the legal apprenticeship?

The apprenticeship is still very new. It’s a six-year apprenticeship and the first cohort of solicitor apprentices was in 2017 I believe. I think initially there was an element of reluctance within the profession to accept an alternative route to qualification. However, year-on-year there is an increasing number of firms buying in. In my view, there is still a gap between these types of opportunities available in the North vs South. However, a leading scheme we have in the North-East is the NESA (North East Solicitor Apprenticeship) scheme, which is great. This scheme was founded in 2017, and throughout the years an increasing number of North-East based firms have joined. The scheme works in partnership with Northumbria University, who cater for the academic side of the apprenticeship (LLB and SQE).

I did apply via NESA, who follow a group recruitment process. However, as I applied during 2020, the scheme was withdrawn in this particular year. Quite understandably due to the recruitment process being halted because of the lockdowns. Also with the added complications of recruiting an apprentice when the vast majority of firms were continuing to operate through working remotely.

Just explain to me about the different legal apprenticeships and how they are structured?

All apprenticeships follow a similar structure no matter the industry. This being that the apprentice is required to spend 80% of their working hours in their workplace and at least 20% conducting the off the job training. Legal apprenticeships just apply this and tailor it to the specific type of legal apprenticeship. For example, my off the job training is currently spent working towards my law degree. There are a number of types of legal apprenticeships that just apply this in a slightly different way subject to the end goal. The legal apprenticeships available that I am aware of range from legal secretary to paralegal, to Cilex Charted Legal Executive apprenticeships.

The Cilex Charted Legal Executive apprenticeship I believe is one of the newest additions to that list. I think it’s a great development as it allows Cilex trainees to have 20% of their working hours dedicated to study. I have colleagues who are undertaking Cilex qualifications via the ‘usual’ routine, which involves finding time additional to working hours. Often weekends and late nights. All of whom I can only applaud because I know how difficult it is to balance work and study. Even with my 20% allocated study time.?

Do solicitor apprenticeships involve the traditional seat rotating? Do all law firms run apprenticeships the same way?

It does vary, but most firms follow a seat rotation structure similar to that of a training contract. The difference is that seat rotations are not actually a requirement of the apprenticeship. Therefore in theory an apprentice could spend their entire apprenticeship training to specialise in a particular area of law. Personally, I think seat rotations are more advantageous given that apprentices often enter the profession at 18, and therefore are unlikely to know at that stage where they want to qualify.

I think having the opportunity to rotate not only gives you a feel for what area of law is suited to you, but it increases your development as you are repeatedly pushed out of your comfort zone and tasked with learning and practising what is often a completely new area of law.

BHP follow a seat rotation structure for both trainees and apprentices. So, I have followed this from the outset. Resultantly, I have gained experience in Court of Protection, Family (Public), Commercial and Agricultural Property and Civil Dispute Resolution to date. These rotations have allowed me to not only learn different areas of law but learn from different legal professions and teams. I think one of my key takeaways to date for me, is that you can learn something from everyone (and you should take every opportunity to do so).

With the 20% off the job training, do you go to university one day a week or is it remote learning? How does it work?

We have a day off per week. However, the way that it works for us is that this day off is a mixture of attending University and remote studying – this may vary between providers. At Northumbria University we attend university physically every 3 weeks. Often our modules coincide with the modules studied by full-time undergraduates. So, we are given recorded lectures that have been delivered throughout the week to full-time students to catch up on during our study day.

What are the main differences between a legal apprenticeship and the traditional route of becoming a solicitor?

As an apprentice you get everything that the person who follows the traditional route would get in terms of going through university, but you just do this part time. However, you also get the benefit of what is essentially an ‘extended training contract’, which lasts six years rather than two. You will likely go through seat rotations throughout these 6 years, which allows you to develop legal skills in each area to a high level. As an apprentice you may have the opportunity to take on a caseload at an early stage. For example, people undertaking the traditional route won’t have had the opportunity to at that stage. Overall, the main difference I would say is the practical experience from a younger age. You assist with client-facing work from the outset, and you are working almost full-time in practice. Therefore, as a legal apprentice, you develop very quickly.

I suppose the only negative of the apprenticeship is that if the ‘university experience’ is high up on your priority list, then of course you are never going to get that from the apprenticeship due to the nature of it. Although, you always have weekends / annual leave to enjoy. Also, due to earning whilst on the job, you are likely to be able to have more money in order to enjoy them

What are the first steps in securing or finding an apprenticeship? Where would somebody go if they want to go down this route??

So, first steps would be to start researching apprenticeships to help you reach an informed decision in terms of which route is right for you. If you find that it is right for you, the next steps would be to consider where (location wise) you want to do it. Bearing in mind that this would mean living in that area for 6 years and which firms you would like to do it with. Take into consideration how they structure their apprenticeship, practice areas etc.

Websites like Not Going to Uni are great for information and apprenticeship opportunities. I believe the UCAS site also includes degree apprenticeship opportunities. In general law firm’s websites are useful to browse what apprenticeships they offer. I’m part of a network called the North-East Apprentice Ambassador Network. This is a regional branch of a UK wide apprenticeship network, which aims to provide information on apprenticeships across all industries.

Independent Research

It involves a lot of independent research to be honest. Mainly because often the support from sixth forms and colleges is not always quite at the same level as it is for university. I would hope that they are taking steps towards looking at degree apprentices and alternative options more now as awareness is increasing for them. However, when I was at this stage 3 years ago, there was a real gap in terms of support provided by colleges / sixth forms with university applications in comparison to apprenticeship applications. The main focus was always heavily on university as this had always been the traditional progression from A Level.

The ambassador network involves attending sixth forms to promote the apprenticeships, and increase awareness. So, these students at least have the chance to consider whether the alternative is suitable for them. Hopefully, it is starting to cause a shift in the approach that has previously been endorsed by A level providers.

Tell me a bit about your experience of the application process?

As I’ve mentioned I applied for the apprenticeship in 2020 – this year BHP Law had joined the NESA cohort for the first time. So, I had initially applied to NESA via their group recruitment process. As events panned out, although NESA did not proceed as hoped, I did secure an apprenticeship with BHP Law. This made myself and Jack Collins, who was also successful in doing so, the first solicitor apprentices that the firm has ever taken.

NESA Recruitment Process

The NESA cohort recruited as a group initially, before narrowing down successful candidates for each individual firm at the final stage. At the assessment day, candidates do ‘speed interviews’ with each firm, alongside group and written assessments. Following the assessment day, successful candidates are invited to final interviews. Then work experiences with the individual firm(s) who have selected them. The overall process is very similar to that of a training contract recruitment process. As a whole it is extremely competitive.

I was invited to the final interview and work experience with 6 of 8 firms recruiting via the NESA scheme in 2020. However, these placements were unfortunately not set to proceed during the first lockdown in 2020. Then due to this, alongside other implications of the pandemic, the recruitment process was later withdrawn.

At the NESA assessment day, you are also given the opportunity to indicate which firms you personally are interested in. You have the option to choose all, or just some of the firms involved that year. I was open minded and interested in proceeding to the final stage of the process with each firm that I had the opportunity to do so with. But of course it did not turn out that way.

What advice would you give to somebody that is thinking about going down the apprenticeship route?

I would say just do as much research as you can. Then once you’ve decided what you want to do just have as much belief in yourself as you can. Just know that you’re going into it in the same position as every other applicant. As a result all you can do is put your best foot forward.

All that you need is one firm to give you that chance, and it will likely be the case that you will face some difficult rejections, or disappointments along the way but you cannot let that deter you. My experience is a key example of that. Virtually every single opportunity fell through for reasons completely out of my control, due to the pandemic’s kind interruption of the application cycle. But I didn’t let that stop me from pursuing what I knew was right for me. A good outlook to have is that if you don’t get the opportunity, it probably wasn’t meant for you anyway.

So, just have that belief that the right opportunity will come to you and work as hard as you can to ensure that you will get it. When appropriate, don’t take no for an answer and be as proactive as you can.

There’s benefit in adopting a ‘what will be will be’ attitude. Work as hard as you can. But when you have done that just know that whatever happens next is no longer in your control. Keep the belief that in the end you will end up where you are meant to be, doing what you are meant to be doing.

Is there anything you think skills wise you’ve picked up that you wouldn’t have done if you’d have gone down the traditional route?

I think client care and communication skills develop very quickly via the apprenticeship, as you are put in a client-facing position from the outset. You get a feel for what is needed to achieve the best for the client. You learn your own style in doing this, with the guidance of experienced professionals around you. A key benefit of the legal apprenticeship is you learn from really experienced lawyers who have been doing what they do for a while. So, you pick up from what other people do; from their skills and essentially you make them your own as you learn to apply them in your own way.

The confidence you build through the apprenticeship is another key thing. You are in a professional environment from a very young age, and naturally develop as a result. Although it may be daunting at first, you have to learn and develop your skills really quickly to adapt and fit into the firm you’re working for. Ultimately, I think you develop a lot of confidence and legal skills a lot quicker than you might if you were at university. If I was to have taken the traditional route and done my LLB full-time, I would just be graduating now. Furthermore, I wouldn’t have had any exposure to practical experience except for a little bit of work experience if I’d been lucky.

We talked about this a little at the start, but what made you want to go down the apprenticeship route? Rather than the traditional route going of university to begin with.

For me it really just was the practical experience and getting that head start in my career. I’m ambitious by nature. If I’m doing something I want to do it to the best of my ability. Therefore I knew I wanted to not only pursue a career in law but to become the best lawyer I possibly can be and have the best career I can. I researched the options and decided that the apprenticeship was going to be the best opportunity to achieve this from the outset due to that practical experience.

The decision was assisted too by that I wasn’t overly keen to have that ‘university experience’. My priority was getting a head start on my career.

Plus, there’s real cost benefits that can’t be ignored when talking about this. Solicitor Apprentices have a salary for 6 years. Also, their degree and qualifying exams are completely taken care of (expense wise), and they come out of the process with absolutely no debt. That’s a completely undeniable benefit, on top of the practical experience.

Why should someone wanting to become a Solicitor take the apprenticeship route?

I think what can’t be ignored is that actually some people can’t go to university because of the financial implications. Not everyone can take on that amount of debt without a second thought. But that shouldn’t stop people from being able to pursue a career in Law.

I also think what people don’t realise when they are applying for apprenticeships is what you can gain personally as well as professionally. You won’t just develop professional skills, you will develop a lot of personal skills. As well as a lot of transferable skills that will benefit you both inside and outside of the workplace. I think just being in the environment, dealing with challenging matters for clients, and even just building relationships with colleagues, it encourages development to a greater level than what you perhaps would do for your age if you did not have that experience.

A key thing for me, that I perhaps didn’t know or expect going into it, is the people you learn from along the way. This isn’t just limited to the lawyers, or senior figures. You actually learn from everyone within the firm. I can say I’ve learned something from every single person I’ve came into contact with within the firm. You learn a lot of lessons that you perhaps didn’t know you needed. The people you meet and the impact that they have on you along the way is really significant.

In terms of qualifications to take the apprenticeship route, do you have to have A levels to do it?

As far as I’m aware yes, you do need A levels or qualifications equivalent to A levels. I’m not an expert in the field but this would be other qualifications that accrue UCAS points. The specific A levels required varies between firms. Generally they are similar to the grades required to achieve a place on an LLB full-time undergraduate course.

The only thing that disqualifies you from a solicitor apprenticeship I believe is if you already have a law degree. So, you can have an alternative degree and then do the apprenticeship if you choose to. I also think graduate solicitor apprenticeships are becoming available, which are very similar to traditional training contracts. However, they involve you working whilst studying towards the SQE.

Why should law firms take apprentices through the scheme rather than the traditional training contract?

I think there are a lot of benefits for employers. There is so much to gain from hiring an apprentice. The firm has the opportunity to train someone from the very start of their career. So, therefore they can provide the skills that they would want Solicitors to demonstrate upon qualification.

Apprentices are generally very enthusiastic and keen to learn. You have to consider that they have chosen this route. They have therefore chosen to start a 6-year journey, which they will surely aim to get the absolute most from.

I also think that apprentices can provide a fresh perspective and new approach that perhaps some law firms are lacking. Simply due to the traditional nature of the profession. There’s a lot this can do for the business as a whole. For example, as law firms look to keep pace with an ever-modernising world.

An example of this was that recently I pitched and designed the idea of a year 12/13 work experience programme.? I’m really glad to say we have introduced this summer. I proposed this because I had observed the lack of opportunities available to students by their merit, as opposed to who they may know. Therefore, this programme invites students to apply to us through a fair application system, giving students an opportunity they may not otherwise have had. I was able to openly talk about the ‘it’s not what you know but who you know’ narrative. I’m pleased that I was supported in my ideas to begin making a change to that.

When it comes to qualifying what are the differences between a traditional trainee and a legal apprentice?

I think as more apprentices qualify and move into NQ roles, we will really see the breadth and depth of experience they bring. I think apprentices will be able to demonstrate real skill and confidence. Perhaps beyond what might be expected of a traditional trainee who has spent less time in practice prior to qualification.

We hope you have found these insights into legal apprenticeships helpful. Part 2 to our exclusive interview with Ellie is coming soon. Follow our LinkedIn here to be the first to know when it has launched.

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