Can I do a Law apprenticeship without A-Levels?

Nov 03, 2022

Written By Lawrence Topley

With high tuition fees, and in an industry that values experience, law apprenticeships are a practical pathway to take. For these apprenticeships, the entry requirements differ, depending on what type of legal apprenticeship you are applying for.

The Intermediate Apprenticeship

This law apprenticeship targets those who leave school after their GCSEs and want an alternative to doing A-Levels. Although some employers may differ, provided you have obtained at least 5 GCSEs from 9-4 or A-C , you could start a Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship in Legal Administration. This pathway lasts around 15-21 months and would require you to undertake the Paralegal or Level 3 apprenticeship afterwards before being able to qualify as a solicitor.

Apprentices on this route can expect to work in a law firm or with an in-house legal team, and complete administrative tasks. This allows you to gain experience within the legal world, as well as the general working world, although your work won’t reflect the work of a solicitor or trainee. Tasks often include researching, taking phone calls and proofreading.

Great experience, paid work and no student debt…what’s not to like?

Ultimately, a legal apprenticeship can take up to six years before you can qualify as a solicitor, so you have to be sure that this career is for you. This is something that could be difficult to decide at such a young age with not much exposure to law or the legal world. Thus, it can be hard to make an informed decision at this stage. With that said, here are some similar alternatives.

Paralegal Apprenticeship

This legal apprenticeship is the natural pathway for those completing the Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship or could be done after completing your A-Levels. This allows apprentices to work more closely in the legal sector, working in more detail completing more challenging and client facing work.

A paralegal apprenticeship could allow you some more time before committing to a career path through the apprenticeship pathway. You’ll gain more valuable skills and experience without the cost of going to university.

Once you have completed this, you may be able to go into a solicitor apprenticeship or complete the CILEX Professional Qualification (CPQ), both of which will allow you to qualify as a lawyer.

Things you may want to consider

When choosing which apprenticeship is right for you, there are some things you should consider before making your decision once you’re eligible for the apprenticeship. Firstly, you should be confident that this is the job for you. Although, it’s not to say any of these apprenticeships won’t have an abundance of transferable skills for other careers, the journey to becoming a paralegal or a solicitor is long and complex.

If you are not 100% sure, then maybe consider waiting until after your A-Levels. At this point you will have the chance to gain work experience in the industry and research a legal career more extensively, in order to make a more informed decision.

Overview

In conclusion, legal apprenticeships are a great pathway to a successful career in law. They provide invaluable experience which is treasured in the industry. Whilst being paid and without debt, if you are thinking about a career in law, you should definitely put some thought to this route.

If you are considering leaving school after your GCSEs and feel like you want a career in law, this can be done through an apprenticeship without A-Levels.

Legal Apprenticeships