The Solicitor Apprenticeship - an alternative way of working towards the SQE

Emily Ball is an Apprentice Solicitor in the Immigration and Employment Teams at Stone King. She is currently in her third year of the six-year Solicitor Apprentice route.

General information

A six-year route, the Solicitor Apprenticeship combines the academic know-how with practical on-the-job experience. The route is for those who do not hold a law degree or Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL).

This route may be suitable for those who have recently finished A-Level qualifications, or for those wanting to change careers. I began my Solicitor Apprenticeship course in my mid-twenties, having already been to university to study a non-law course after finishing sixth form aged 18.

The course enables an apprentice to study for a law degree as well as accruing work place experience ahead of sitting the Solicitors Qualifying Exams (SQEs). The on-the-job experience can count towards Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) which is one of the requirements to qualify via the SQE route. 

There is also the Graduate Solicitor Apprentice route, which is for individuals who already hold a law degree or GDL. This course is shorter, usually around two and a half years.

About the course

As part of the apprenticeship, apprentices have 20% of the week allocated to study, with the remaining 80% consisting of workplace training. The study side of the apprenticeship course requires a large amount of self-guided learning, however weekly workshops assist with keeping yourself accountable and managing the content. I have an allocated study day which I use to study the module content, make notes and complete practice activities in advance of my workshops.

On my course, there are typically two concurrent modules each term. One academic module such as Contract Law or Land Law, and another skills-based module such as Client Care or Legal Research. Each is assessed at the end of the term through either an exam or coursework. Assessed work typically contributes towards either the LLB degree or Portfolio in anticipation for the End Point Assessment. 

About the work

I work in the Immigration and Employment Teams in my firm. On a day-to-day basis I might be drafting a visa application and liaising with clients on outstanding documents, preparing a final hearing bundle for an employment tribunal claim, researching a specific immigration law query or drafting webinar slides on recent legal updates. The work is varied, and I enjoy being able to support clients across a range of matters.

Benefits 

A benefit to this route is that I am able to work alongside studying. This enables me to apply the theory and knowledge learnt from the course to my work and use practical skills from my workplace as discussion points in my assignments. By the time it comes to the End Point Assessment, I will have been working in my area of practice for over six years, so I will have a wide range of experience and knowledge to draw on once I qualify.

The apprenticeship also allows me to strengthen my workplace relationships and network from the start of my career. Another benefit is that the cost of the training and qualification is covered by the Firm, which means I do not pay towards the costs of training or exams as would have been the case if I had taken a non-apprenticeship route. 

Tips

One piece of advice I would give to new apprentices would be to set up a study group. My course is online therefore I don’t have the opportunities to see fellow apprentices in-person during workshops. It has been useful to set up group chats with people in my classes, to bounce ideas and support each other around exam seasons. It is also useful to have a network of apprentices within your firm to reflect on how the courses are going with those who you work with.

Another tip would be being mindful of your exam periods. Classes run throughout the year with a few week breaks between exam period and a new module. I have three exam periods a year - early autumn, mid-winter and late spring. It is useful to let your team know when these exam seasons are to manage expectations and plan time and work effectively.

Finally, studying for a degree can be a lot to manage on top of your usual work and personal life, therefore it is essential to balance these carefully. I find it helpful to ringfence my time, and dedicate certain slots of time to study. 

To find out more about Stone King’s Apprenticeship opportunities, please visit our Apprenticeships page here.