New Legal Apprenticeships - 2016

Feb 10, 2018

Written By Jack J Collins, Editor of AllAboutLaw.co.uk

The ‘Trailblazer’ apprenticeships that the Government introduced in September last year affected every profession, and the legal sector was by no means an exception to the rule. In fact, three new legal apprenticeships were opened up – routes into being a solicitor, a chartered legal executive, or a paralegal. Here’s the lowdown on the three options.

The Paralegal Apprenticeship

Level 3 Apprenticeship
Two year minimum course duration
Minimum requirements – GCSE Maths and English, and two A-Levels at Grade C or above.

The Paralegal Apprenticeship gives apprentices the knowledge of law and practice which is necessary to complete the tasks presented to them in their field, allowing them to go on to either one of the other two apprenticeship routes, or to begin work as a paralegal.

It will prepare apprentices for tasks such as drafting documentation, carrying our research, reviewing client documents and the utilisation of financial documents; as well as developing client communication and data handling skills.

The Chartered Legal Executive Apprenticeship

Level 6 Apprenticeship
Five year approximate course duration.
Minimum requirements – GCSE Maths and English, and two A-Levels at Grade C or above.

The Chartered Legal Executive Apprenticeship is a course which develops onwards from the Paralegal apprenticeship, solidifying legal skills amongst the candidates in order to allow them to progress their careers.

They will, on top of the skills documented above, learn how to negotiate on behalf of clients, and also how to represent them in both formal and informal proceedings. They will also learn how to make decisions on legal principles on the rule of law.

The Solicitor Apprenticeship

Level 7 Apprenticeship
Six year approximate course duration.
Minimum requirements – minimum of five GCSE’s (including Maths and English) and three A-Levels, all at Grade C or above; or equivalent; and relevant employer-led work experience.

The Trailblazer Solicitor Apprenticeship is a six-year programme available to students which leads to qualification as a solicitor. It consists of blended learning with one day a month tuition at the City Law School.

Apprentices will learn all about the fundamentals of law and legal practice, gaining the knowledge equivalent to that of completing a law degree, LPC and training contract, over the course of the six years.

Legal Apprenticeships