Introducing our first solicitor apprentices at Wilsons

In National Apprentice Week 2021, Wilsons is proud to introduce our very first trainee solicitors to follow the graduate apprentice route to qualification: Isaac Abraham, Shayne Brown, Alicia Love, Lorela Mehmeti and Nick O’Loughnan. Congratulations to all of you!

Having all gained a law degree or completed a law conversion course and completed over a year’s casework here at Wilsons, all five will all now follow the apprenticeship path rather than the traditional LPC/training contract route. They’ll spend four days each week on casework, gaining valuable experience and developing their legal skills in a similar way to a traditional training contract. Alongside that, they will spend one day a week on ‘off-the-job’ training, including preparation for the SQE exams, with the University of Law, funded by the government’s apprenticeship scheme with an employer contribution from us. On successful completion they will be admitted to the roll of solicitors in the usual way, in 2023.

On behalf of her cohort, Alicia writes:

Starting the apprenticeship route I believe we all had feelings of both excitement, knowing we were about to take the next step in our career, and a fair bit of apprehension for being the first cohort to go through this route. Thankfully Wilsons has been there to provide us with support and go through this new experience with us. While still early days the apprehension is now subsiding and it is hugely beneficial to be able to have a day focused purely on your learning. It is great to be part of a progressive firm that allowed us the option of the solicitor apprentice route and I think we are all ready for the hard work and the rewards it will bring.

The solicitor apprentice scheme offers an affordable alternative to the traditional LPC route to qualification and we very much hope it will go some way towards opening up the profession to those who would not otherwise be able to afford to access it. In addition to the graduate solicitor apprenticeship, a 6-year solicitor apprentice scheme exists for aspiring solicitors with A levels who don’t wish to follow – and incur the expense of – the traditional university path to a legal career. More information here and watch this space for future such opportunities at Wilsons coming soon!

For any questions about apprenticeships at Wilsons please contact our Public Law partner Katy Robinson.