Solicitor Apprentice

Summary

The Solicitor Apprenticeship is a six-year route to qualifying as a solicitor. The scheme combines work and study and allows candidates to work towards qualifying as a solicitor alongside their day job at a law firm. The role will be supporting Solicitors and In house Counsel, with case work, legal research and attending hearings.

Wage

£19,500 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

The pay may be negotiated and may rise after a probation period has been successfully completed.

Training course

Solicitor (level 7)

Hours

35 hours per week, Monday – Friday. Usual office hours are 9.00am - 5.00pm, with one hour for lunch.

35 hours a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

6 years

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at 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.

Main Purpose:

Supporting solicitors, trainees and paralegals as required with administration and the progression of casework
Ensuring a high level of client satisfaction and customer care

Key Tasks:

Compliance with conflict checking protocols
Assisting with file opening and completion of client care protocols
Assisting with case progression according to client instructions
Attending clients, taking instructions and assisting with preparing cases
Assisting with the drafting of documents including witness statements, instructions to counsel, letters etc.
Legal research
Assisting with the management of funding on files including legal aid
Administrative tasks including photocopying, scanning etc.
Dealing with new enquiries on a rota basis
Dealing with client calls
Dealing with incoming and outgoing post on a daily basis
Assisting with the social media for the Firm, including drafting website articles
Assisting with the production of the Firm’s monthly newsletter
Compliance with file closing and archiving protocols
Accurately time recording on files
Ensuring compliance with the SRA’s Standard and Regulations, Legal Aid Agency contracts, SQM standard and other regulatory requirements

Responsibilities:

All areas of administration required for legal casework
Networking and business development on behalf of the Firm
Compliance with the Firm’s Office Manual and relevant policies and procedures
Reporting to the Directors any issues of non-compliance

Where you'll work

THE MILL, LODGE LANE
DERBY
DE1 3HB

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY

Your training course

Solicitor (level 7)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

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

Training in relation to the job role will be provided onsite and the training provider towards the professional qualification will be provided by Nottingham Trent University. This will include occasional study weekends.

Qualifications achieved:

Year 1 - 4: LLB Undergraduate Law Degree
Year 5 & 6: PGDip Applied Legal Knowledge (SQE 1 & 2) exam preparation

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

English (grade C/4)
Maths (grade C/4)

A Level or equivalent in:

In three subjects excluding General Studies (grade B)

Other in:

See NTU entry requirements for full details (grade N/A)

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
Administrative skills
Team working
Initiative

Other requirements

Occasional study weekends are required as set out in Nottingham Trent University’s requirements.

About this company

Smith Bowyer Clarke is a niche law firm dealing with road transport law representing large international companies, through to individual drivers. Our work is varied across criminal, civil and regulatory disciplines, including matters in the Court of Appeal, Upper Tribunal and the Criminal Courts.

http://www.smithbowyerclarke.co.uk (opens in new tab)

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

Based on performance there could be a permanent offer of a role as Solicitor at this Firm.

Ask a question

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