That’s changed with the advent of legal apprenticeships. Unlike with the university route, you are not expected to pay anything towards your training or study. If you are unsure of the difference between a barrister and solicitor, or the qualifications and training processes for either career, read this page. Find a legal apprenticeship. Workers benefit from apprenticeships by receiving a skills-based education that prepares them for good-paying jobs. “Apprenticeships such as the solicitor apprenticeship are an exciting new way of recruiting young people into the business,” adds Hayley. The work that they're undertaking increases in complexity as they develop, and very quickly they'll be undertaking the same work as our graduate paralegals. Our apprentices are fully supported by their supervisors and mentors. Our last conference was sponsored by huge names like Dentons and Charles Russell Speechlys! https://buff.ly/2Kl4eDJ Get top tips and insights on doing solicitor apprenticeships - including what you'll earn and how to apply - from Dentons. What Constitutes CILEx Qualifying Employment? Desiree Turner: It's good to find a job that has a boss that's willing to take you on as an apprentice and put you through your apprenticeship. Paralegal apprentices gain two qualifications – a CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice and a CILEx Level 3 Diploma in Providing Legal Services. What qualifications do I need to become a lawyer? An apprenticeship combines on-the-job training with related classroom instruction, all under the supervision of a journey-level professional. I was initially sceptical about apprenticeships because I didn’t want to be handicapped by not obtaining a degree. Legal apprenticeships are routes into the legal profession that involve working and studying concurrently. It was important to us that we were able to give access to those who might not ordinarily have thought a career in law was available to them, or who wanted to get on the career ladder sooner rather than later. Level 3 assessments involve multiple choice tests, exams on each unit and practical assessments. By default only necessary cookies will be used. Legal apprenticeships are aimed at people who leave school after completing their A levels or GCSEs, as well as people already working in paralegal and legal support roles. The following legal apprenticeships are currently available: Is a law apprenticeship right for you? Apprenticeships also offer a route to a professional career and a degree to those who want to go to university, but are put off by the costs – this is an era of sky-high tuition fees and rising living costs, after all. There is also a host of non-legal apprenticeship options. Our apprenticeship programme has been a huge success story for the business, delivering on the original objectives built into our business case and then some. Keep up to date with our free weekly newsletter, The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives. It is now possible for talented future lawyers to take an apprenticeship route all the way from leaving school to qualification as a solicitor, without incurring any student debt. Sam describes the impact of Womble Bond Dickinson’s paralegal apprenticeship programme: “We faced some retention challenges within our paralegal team and we saw the paralegal apprenticeship as a way of addressing that. So, for example, following a paralegal apprenticeship, you could progress onto the chartered legal executive or solicitor apprenticeship. A guide to law apprenticeships. This means that you can start the Paralegal Apprenticeship immediately after leaving school, although you will still be eligible if you wait for a while before applying for a place. It's important to do thorough research and make sure you find the perfect apprenticeship for you. Completing the paralegal apprenticeship grants eligibility to progress onto the CILEx Level 3 Diploma in Law and Practice (with exemptions), the first stage of academic training to become a chartered legal executive. You’ll be starting a challenging job and trying to prove yourself in the workplace, while getting to grips with studying for a higher or degree level qualification. It is an alternative to the traditional route of going to university and training to be a lawyer afterwards. Take the quiz! Training as a chartered legal executive involves two distinct stages for non-university graduates – the CILEx Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice and the CILEx Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law and Practice. Apprentices study six units in total, consisting of one legal practice unit (ie, your chosen practice area) and its associated law unit (eg, civil litigation as the practice unit and contract law as the law unit), plus two other law units from the range of available practice areas, making a total of four. More . This entry was posted in become lawyer through apprenticeship, Careers in law, GRE as substitue for LSAT, law school admissions and tagged how to become a lawyer by law office apprenticeship on March 21, 2016 by admin. To Become an Apprentice The entry requirements are three A levels graded B or above (although some law schools accept C or above), as well as five GCSEs (or equivalent qualifications) graded A* - C, including maths and English essential. Business/legal administration apprenticeship. Most programs require English proficiency. A business administration or legal administration apprenticeship (also sometimes called an intermediate apprenticeship) provides training in an administrative role, meaning that apprentices learn how to work in a legal environment. The calendar not only sets out application deadlines but also entry requirements, the type of apprenticeship being offered (solicitor/paralegal etc), salary details and direct links to application forms/processes). As you can probably work out from their names, they lead to different qualifications. When applying for legal apprenticeships, it’s important to make sure you tailor your application to the specific firm, giving reasons why you’d be the right fit for each specific firm. Chartered Legal Executive vs Solicitor Comparison. You can complete an apprenticeship to qualify as a: solicitor; paralegal; probate technician; chartered legal executive What are the different types of apprenticeships? The chartered legal executive apprenticeship is a (usually five-year) programme ending in qualification as a chartered legal executive, a lawyer whose role is similar to that of a solicitor. The requirements of legal apprenticeships vary depending on which route you want to take. Below set out each type of legal apprenticeship and what they involve, as well as the eligibility criteria and the options available once that apprenticeship has been completed. Whatever you call it, it’s a shortcut (of sorts) that almost nobody knows exists. Daily tasks could include: As part of your law apprenticeship, you may also have to maintain an up-to-date portfolio of your work with examples of tasks you have undertaken. One being, first of all, your licence. The business administration option is a pathway to becoming a HR or other support professional, such as a receptionist or someone who manages data input. Although no longer in vogue, lawyer apprenticeship programs still provides a viable route to becoming a practicing lawyer in some states. Samantha Lee  is head of recruitment at full-service national firm Womble Bond Dickinson, which has run an apprenticeship programme since 2014 – she outlines the benefits of apprenticeships for firms and apprentices. You may need to go down the road to get a couple of building supplies. None, in terms of further academic study or training – you are now a practising lawyer. This apprenticeship is a six-year programme which integrates studying for a law degree with on-the-job training at a law firm, ending in qualification as a solicitor – a role which was previously reserved for those who took the traditional university route. The paralegal apprenticeship trains apprentices in the skills needed to practice in a certain legal practice area – paralegals work alongside solicitors on legal matters, often performing many of the same tasks and responsibilities. Apprentices will be intermittently ‘released’ to an educational institution (which is partnered with their sponsoring law firm), for around one day a week to learn about more theoretical aspects of the law. The truth is I was never 100 per cent sold on the idea of going to university because I was ready to get stuck into the world of work. It’s now possible to get a legal qualification by completing a Trailblazer apprenticeship. Chief Executive Officer - Sharon Beck explains how to become a Lawyer through being an apprentice! The SQE is the final stage of qualifying as a solicitor that all candidates must pass, whether they have taken the apprenticeship route or another path. After completing a registered apprenticeship program, apprentices receive a professional credential that is recognized nationwide. The practice area that the apprentice moves into will be determined by their law firm (ie, what the law firm does and what its business needs are). I currently live in Philadelphia, PA and hold a Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies. Generally, to become a lawyer, students must pass their respective jurisdiction's bar exam after graduating from an accredited law school, or after apprenticing with a lawyer or judge for several years. People who complete the Intermediate Apprenticeship may progress onto the Paralegal Apprenticeship (detailed below), or cross over onto the CILEx Level 3 Certificate in Law and Practice, which is a first step on the path to qualifying as a chartered legal executive. The rules vary quite a bit from state to state, for instance, New York requires that you first complete one year of study at an ABA- approved law school prior to becoming a lawyer apprentice while Vermont, California, and Virginia permit one to enter practice after four years of apprenticeship …