6-Year Solicitor Apprentice
The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
Barking (IG11 7LU)
Closes in 12 days (Monday 24 August 2026)
Posted on 11 August 2026
Contents
Summary
Join Legal Services as a Solicitor Apprentice and combine hands-on legal work with university study over six years. You’ll support cases, draft documents, carry out research and gain experience across different areas of law while working towards an LLB, the Solicitors Qualifying Examination and qualification as a solicitor.
- Wage
-
£27,008 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Apprentices are paid the London Living Wage which is reviewed annually.
- Training course
- Solicitor (level 7)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm. Some evening or weekend work may be required.
35 hours a week
- Start date
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Tuesday 1 December 2026
- 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
Specific Accountabilities of the Role
- As you progress through the apprenticeship the duties will vary in line with knowledge and experience.
- Under supervision assist fee earners with caseloads.
- Under supervision prepare, negotiate, draft and agree legal documentation and forms and such documentation as associated with the legal process.
- Liaise with Counsel and external Solicitors under supervision where appropriate.
- Undertake legal and factual research, prepare briefing materials on particular cases and monitor new legislation.
- Preparation of bundles for court, tribunal and other hearings as required.
- Produce financial related reports from any legal case management system as required.
- Create and maintain Legal Practice files and records both electronically and manually.
- Gain experience in basic legal principles, practice and managing a personal caseload (under supervision) in both contentious and non-contentious areas of law including civil and criminal litigation, property, planning and regeneration, contracts and procurement, governance, safeguarding and partnership, and employment law.
- Manage your time, effort and resources effectively so that you develop good working practices to enable you to plan and organise your work to achieve personal and team objectives.
- Ensure that telephone and electronic messages are dealt with in an effective and responsible manner and, where possible deal with enquiries or pass to the appropriate officer/Division.
- Diarise and file correspondence and case files as and when requested.
- Understand all roles of a legal office, including providing support to admin tasks such as post etc.
- Be committed to the entire programme of your studies and work placement.
- For years 4-6 of the apprenticeship the duties will be similar to those of a Trainee Solicitor (updated JD will be provided at this time).
- Complete administration tasks for the legal service including post, sealing etc.
Where you'll work
Town Hall
1 Town Square
Barking
IG11 7LU
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
BPP UNIVERSITY LIMITED
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.
Training schedule
The apprentice will spend four days each week gaining supervised, work-based legal experience with Barking and Dagenham Council and one day undertaking off-the-job training with BPP University. Training will include live teaching, guided study, coaching, skills workshops and assessments, delivered online and/or through day release as agreed in the final training plan. Any required travel and venue details will be confirmed before enrolment.
More training information
The six-year apprenticeship will be delivered by BPP, an established legal training provider. The programme combines structured academic study with supported workplace development and regular progress reviews. It leads to an LLB (Hons) in Law and Legal Practice, followed by the Solicitors Qualifying Examination as the end-point assessment. Successful apprentices may then apply for admission as a solicitor, subject to meeting all regulatory requirements.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade A - C / 4 - 9)
- Mathematics (grade A - C / 4 - 9)
A Level in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Presentation skills
- Administrative skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
Other requirements
Applicants must be able to commit to the full six-year Solicitor Apprenticeship, balancing workplace responsibilities with regular academic study. As the programme includes Level 7 apprenticeship training, appointment is subject to meeting the age-based public funding eligibility rules in force at the start of the apprenticeship. Eligibility will be confirmed before enrolment.
About this employer
Barking and Dagenham is a borough that’s changing for the better. Over the past few years, we’ve been working hard to transform how we deliver services and support our community. We’re proud of our diverse and vibrant population, and we’re committed to building a borough where everyone feels respected, included, and empowered.
We have a laser focus on delivering for our residents – whether it’s tackling the inequalities people face or, quite simply, delivering the best services every day.
We’re creating the conditions and opportunities for people to thrive here –to make Barking and Dagenham a place people are proud of and where they want to live, work, study and stay. Ultimately, we want everyone in Barking and Dagenham to have a good quality of life and to feel like they want to put down roots, raise their family, be part of the community and get involved.
As an Investors in People Gold Award employer, we’re serious about supporting our staff. From flexible working, professional training and career development to wellbeing initiatives, we want our people to feel valued and supported in everything they do.
Our values, known as DRIVE, shape how we work:
- Deliver our best every day – and do what we promise
- Respond in a prompt, positive way to our community’s needs
- Inspire others with our attitudes and actions
- Value people for who they are and what they can do
- Engage with others to improve our resilience and flexibility
We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.
https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- Local government pension scheme
- Access to health and wellbeing resources / employee assistance programme
- A range of discounts and offers through the Perkbox platform
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
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
After successfully completing the apprenticeship and meeting all regulatory requirements, the apprentice may apply for admission as a solicitor. Progression could include solicitor roles within local government or the wider legal profession, subject to suitable vacancies and recruitment processes.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
BPP UNIVERSITY LIMITED
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000047411.
Apply now
Closes in 12 days (Monday 24 August 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.