Graduate solicitor apprenticeships

Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeships

Leaders of the future – offering an alternative route to qualification

Creating an inclusive and diverse workplace is an essential part of who we are. Our apprenticeship programmes offer people more accessible routes into law.

Our graduate solicitor apprenticeship is designed to help university students get into the workplace sooner and kick start your career by completing your law essentials course (if applicable), and solicitors qualifying examination (SQE) whilst working in the firm. You’ll gain the practical skills to become a successful qualified solicitor in a supportive and collaborative law firm. In 2.5-3 years, you’ll be a fully qualified solicitor. This is an alternative route to qualification.

Our apprenticeship programmes are designed so all our newly qualified solicitors, regardless of the route they qualify through, are equipped to work with their clients and colleagues in a creative, collaborative and commercial way which paves the way for them to thrive in their future careers.

Both the apprenticeship and SQE will be funded by Michelmores subject to our bursary agreement

How it works

You will be based in either our Bristol or Exeter offices and working within one of our exceptional legal teams. During the apprenticeship, you’ll work in the firm for four days and have one day a week to study for your law essentials course (if applicable) and SQE at The University of Law. The apprenticeship enables you to put the theory that you learn into practice right away. And, at the end of your successful training and SQE, you’ll have the opportunity to qualify as a newly qualified solicitor in one of our legal teams.

You will complete a minimum of 4×6-month seat rotations and get to experience multiple areas within the firm before deciding your ultimate qualification team.

Our graduate solicitor apprenticeship is sector focused and is built around your interests and where you think you want to qualify. Your apprenticeship will give you the skills, knowledge and experience to support you to reach your full potential.

Here’s some examples of the teams you might sit in depending on the sector focus of your apprenticeship:

  • Private Wealth Apprenticeship – Family, Tax, Trusts & Succession, Contentious Probate, Private Property and Landed Estates, Agriculture, Corporate, Banking, Restructuring & Insolvency
  • Real Estate Apprenticeship – Transactional Real Estate, Projects, Planning, Construction, Corporate Tax, Banking, Restructuring & Insolvency, Private Property and Landed Estates and Agriculture.
  • Business Services Apprenticeship – Commercial & Regulatory Disputes, Corporate, Commercial, Banking, Restructuring & Insolvency, Employment, Projects, Tax, Trusts & Succession, Transactional Real Estate

What are we looking for?

Our junior lawyers are our future. We focus on growing our own talent and supporting them to become exceptional lawyers. We are looking for people with diversity of thought, who can challenge our thinking, offer innovative ideas and solutions, and add to our culture, rather than just fit in. We want junior lawyers that will help drive us forward together and build their career with us. We want trainees who are going to be leaders of the future.

As with our training contract, we would fully funded you to complete the Apprenticeship.

Key application dates:

Applications for February 2025 will open in Summer 2024.  Please check back for updates.

If you have any further questions please contact us at gradrecruitment@michelmores.com

The application process