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Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme

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Overview

The solicitor apprenticeship is a six-year programme open to students as an alternative route to qualify as solicitors. During that time, you’ll be part of the day-to-day operations of our legal teams. We’ll partner you up with a buddy who will support you during your time with us and introduce you to an incredible network of people. This opportunity comes with a starting salary of £25,000 with yearly increases.

By the end of the programme, you'll be a fully qualified lawyer, having gained an LLB (Hons) from University of Law and will have completed the SQE 1, 2, & Plus. 

Applications are currently closed.

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Eligibility

For the solicitor apprenticeship programme we are looking for candidates who: 

  • Have achieved, or on track to receive AAB at A-Level 
  • 7 GCSEs at grade 6/B or above, including Maths and English

If you have completed, or will have completed, your first year of an undergraduate qualification by September 2026 you are not eligible to apply. Please review our other opportunities

Let's take it step by step

Our strengths-based recruitment process is based on fairness and equity. It’s designed to help us identify what motivates you to work at a city law firm, over your learnt experiences, and helps you show us the most authentic version of yourself. Here’s how it works:

Applications Open

For all programmes, you’ll need to make your application online via our online application system. At this stage you’ll just need to complete your basic personal information. No lengthy written tasks for you to complete here.

Online Assessment

If you meet our eligiblity criteria, you will be invited to complete an online assessment. This includes a critical reasoning test, as well as our Clyde & Co strengths-based assessment, which contains a mix of question types including written and order ranking. It is designed to present you with some of the challenges you can expect to face at Clyde & Co. For more advice and tips on how to approach this stage, visit our learning hub.

Video Interview

If you perform well in our initial online assessment, you will then be invited to complete a pre-recorded video interview. This means that you will be asked questions and will need to record your spoken response via video interview on our assessment platform. Some of these questions will be situational, but others will focus on your motivations for the role and Clyde & Co.

In-Person Assessment centre

Our in-person assessment centre is the final stage of the process. You will complete tasks that help us to assess candidates based on the strengths that will deliver success in a role, including a strengths-based interview. You also get to meet the Guildford Marine team and to hear more about the programme. We run a candidate workshop ahead of the final stage, so you will feel fully prepared.

Offer

Our favourite part – the offer. We’ll notify you by phone if you’re successful, if you’re not, we’ll offer you some feedback for development. Don't worry, you will hear from us either way!

Programme structure

From day one

You'll be given an apprentice buddy who is further on in the programme, to sense check any queries on the qualification side of things. After you’ve had a chance to meet your buddy, we’ll get you immersed in life at Clyde.

Witness excellence

You’ll be able to see and speak to some of our most senior practitioners. Observe them in their day-to-day roles and understand how they approach certain aspects of case preparation, research and technical application of the law.

Courtroom insight

As part of the programme, you may attend court hearings, arbitrations or mediations. Here you’ll be able to see the diverse litigation styles we deal with.‎

Networking for the future

Throughout the six-year programme, you’ll meet people who could play a huge role in your legal future. We encourage you to take every opportunity to network, so much so we’ll put on a couple of events to allow you to make those valuable connections.

Your learning modules

As part of the solicitor apprenticeship programme, you will undertake online learning, supplemented by live webinars and face-to-face skills sessions. The breakdown of this is 80% on the job learning with 20% off the job learning (study and training) with 1 day out of the office a week for studies.

Year one

Common Law Method and Ethics / Public Law / Law of Contract

Year two

Law of Tort / Criminal Law / Critical Approaches in Current Legal Issues

Year three

Land Law / Real Estate / Business Law 1

Year four

Equity and Trusts / Access to Justice and Legal Services / Criminal Litigation and Evidence / Civil Dispute Resolution

Year five

Business Law 2 / Wills and Succession / Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK) 2 / Skills Portfolio and FLK 2

Year six

SQE1 Preparation - FLK 1, SQE 1 Bootcamp and Examination / SQE2 Preparation and Examination / LLM Key Practice Areas

What type of work will you be doing?

  • Basic administration tasks such as; searches, small claim, bundles and disclosure.
  • You will have shadowing opportunities to give you insight into what type of work you could be doing in the future.
  • You'll also have weekly catch up meetings with your line manager and the early careers team. 

  • Process driven work
  • Legal research tasks
  • Process driven drafting 
  • Use of precedents
  • Weekly catch up meetings with line manager
  • Monthly catch up meetings with the early careers team

  • Undertaking work at a Paralegal level
  • File handling
  • End of black letter law deliver
  • You'll have knowledge of all context areas
  • Supervisor catch up meetings may reduce to fortnightly/monthly 
  • Monthly catch up with the early careers team

  • At this stage, you will be running your own case load. 
  • Delegated tasks at trainee level
  • Supervisor catch up meetings may reduce to fortnightly/monthly
  • Monthly catch ups with the early careers team

By year five, you may stay as a trainee in your team or join the trainee rotation across London and Guildford.

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Solicitor Apprentice Insight evening

Guildford Solicitor Apprentice Insight Evening! 

On the day, you will have the opportunity to hear from current apprentices, the Marine team, and the Early Careers team. You will learn about the application process, including any hints and tips, and much more! This insight day is for candidates who are eligible to apply for either of our Guildford Marine Solicitor Apprentice programme. Please see job description on our careers site if unsure. You are welcome to bring one parent or guardian with you.

Places are limited, and you will be notified if you have obtained a place a week before the event. Please make sure you are available that evening, as it will be in-person at the Clyde & Co Guildford office! We can cover travel expenses up to £50. 

Applications for this event are now closed.

 

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