Solicitor Apprentice

Summary

Do you want a career in the legal sector? If you’re interested in a career in the legal sector, then our Solicitor Apprenticeship programme may be for you. Through our Solicitor Apprenticeship programme, we will provide support, training, ongoing development, and financial support that will allow you to reach your full potential.

Wage: £22,000 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Training course: Solicitor (level 7)
Hours: 4 Days in our Birmingham office with the potential to hybrid work. Exact days and times to be confirmed.
37 hours 30 minutes a week
Possible start date: Monday 1 September
Duration: 6 years
Positions available: 1

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

At Shakespeare Martineau we offer a dynamic and supportive environment where you can develop your skills, gain valuable hands-on experience, and grow into a successful solicitor. With many years of experience supporting legal professionals from diverse backgrounds in their journey to becoming solicitors, Shakespeare Martineau should be your top choice.

Where you’ll work

No 1 Colmore Square

Birmingham

B4 6AA

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

THE UNIVERSITY OF LAW LIMITED

Your training course

Solicitor (level 7)

Equal to master’s degree

Course contents

Obtain relevant facts by effective questioning and active listening.
Find, analyse, and assess documents to extract relevant information including recognising when additional information is needed , interpreting and evaluating information obtained, recording and presenting information accurately and clearly.
Recognise when legal research is needed and use appropriate methods and resources including identifying, finding and assessing the relevance of sources of law, interpreting, evaluating and applying research results, recording and presenting findings of research accurately and clearly.
Develop strategies and solutions including an understanding of a client’s commercial and personal circumstances, their needs, objectives, priorities and constraints.
Provide advice which is informed by appropriate and factual legal analysis and identifying the consequences of different options.
Draft documents from scratch and use precedents which address all legal and factual issues, complying with all formalities and using clear, accurate and succinct language.
Undertake effective spoken and written advocacy in court and outside of formal court hearings including: effective preparation by identifying and mastering relevant facts and legal principles, organize facts to support an argument or position, present a reasoned argument in a clear, logical, succinct persuasive way, make appropriate references to legal authority, comply with formalities, deal with witnesses appropriately, respond effectively to questions or opposing arguments, identify strengths and weaknesses from different parties’ perspectives.
Negotiate solutions to clients’ issues including: identify all parties’ interests, objectives and limits, developing and formulating best options for meeting parties’ objectives, presenting options for compromises persuasively, responding to options presented by the other side, developing compromises between options or parties.
Plan and manage legal cases and transactions including applying relevant processes and procedures to progress matters effectively, assessing, communicating and managing risk, bringing a transaction or case to a conclusion.
Obtain relevant facts by effective questioning and active listening.
Find, analyse, and assess documents to extract relevant information including recognising when additional information is needed , interpreting and evaluating information obtained, recording and presenting information accurately and clearly.
Recognise when legal research is needed and use appropriate methods and resources including identifying, finding and assessing the relevance of sources of law, interpreting, evaluating and applying research results, recording and presenting findings of research accurately and clearly.
Develop strategies and solutions including an understanding of a client’s commercial and personal circumstances, their needs, objectives, priorities and constraints.
Provide advice which is informed by appropriate and factual legal analysis and identifying the consequences of different options.
Draft documents from scratch and use precedents which address all legal and factual issues, complying with all formalities and using clear, accurate and succinct language.
Undertake effective spoken and written advocacy in court and outside of formal court hearings including: effective preparation by identifying and mastering relevant facts and legal principles, organize facts to support an argument or position, present a reasoned argument in a clear, logical, succinct persuasive way, make appropriate references to legal authority, comply with formalities, deal with witnesses appropriately, respond effectively to questions or opposing arguments, identify strengths and weaknesses from different parties’ perspectives.
Negotiate solutions to clients’ issues including: identify all parties’ interests, objectives and limits, developing and formulating best options for meeting parties’ objectives, presenting options for compromises persuasively, responding to options presented by the other side, developing compromises between options or parties.
Plan and manage legal cases and transactions including applying relevant processes and procedures to progress matters effectively, assessing, communicating and managing risk, bringing a transaction or case to a conclusion.

Your training plan

Programme Details:

Location: Birmingham.

Start Date: September 2025 (or earlier if you are available).

Length of Apprenticeship: 6 years (initial 2 years Paralegal qualification).

Work/Study Pattern: One day study/four days on the job training.

Qualifications to be obtained: Level 4 Paralegal followed by LLB Law Degree and Solicitors Qualifying Exams (SQE) qualification to be an England & Wales Solicitor.

Eligibility: Predicted BBB at A-Level or equivalent - please note we will review each application in detail and take extenuating circumstances into account if you have not met this benchmark. However, applicants must not have completed a previous degree and must have the right to work in the UK.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

A Level in:

Any (grade C or above)
Any (grade C or above)
Any (grade C or above)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
IT skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Presentation skills
Administrative skills
Analytical skills
Logical
Team working
Creative
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience

About this company

On paper we’re a full-service law firm, providing legal services to businesses, organisations, government departments, families and people throughout life and in business. But we offer so much more than that. Expertise, commerciality and relationships are at the very heart of what we do. We employ more than 900 people, each specialist in their field, lawyers and business support working together. But what makes us tick, what drives us and why should you work with us? Our purpose is clear and our ambitions are unlimited: we want to unlock potential in our people and clients, inspiring confidence, growth and development. We provide creative solutions and advice that helps you fulfil your commercial and personal goals. What is vitally important to us though is that we build lasting relationships, championing our clients and providing the best possible business and personal advice.

https://www.shma.co.uk/careers/early-careers/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

By the end of your apprenticeship, subject to satisfactory performance, you will be a fully qualified solicitor and registered with the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA).

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SHAKESPEARE MARTINEAU LLP

Dan Money

daniel.money@shma.co.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000299134.

Apply now

Closes in 12 days (Friday 7 March)

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

Company’s application instructions

Please submit your application via the link above and begin your journey in to the legal profession!

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