5 GCSES (or equivalent) at least at grade C or above, including Maths and English. 3 A-levels (or equivalent) at grade B or above.
A great start to your commercial, professional services career.
Combining academic studies with work-based learning, you’ll earn as you learn and gain a professional qualification.
Business operations apprenticeships
As a Business Operations apprentice, you could be working in our Responsible Business, Accounts or Payroll teams, providing vital business support to the rest of the firm. As well as gaining real business experience, you’ll also spend 20% of your time in off-the-job learning, either in small groups, face-to-face or from remote tutors.
Paralegal apprenticeships
As a paralegal apprentice, you’ll join one of our fee-earning teams, working alongside experienced Lawyers and Trainee Solicitors on client projects. Your specific experience will depend on the practice area you join, but you’ll make a genuine contribution and will be continuously learning.
So, you could be drafting and proof-reading documents and correspondence; doing research; and liaising and meeting with clients while getting involved in community work through our Starfish Programme. You’ll also have networking opportunities at training sessions, seminars and conferences. It’s the best way to develop vital skills such as organisation, attention to detail, team working and research.
As well as enjoying mentoring and support from your team, you’ll also spend 20% of your time at the University of Law to meet the academic requirements of your apprenticeship qualification. Once you complete your apprenticeship, you could progress your career in a variety of directions.
Entry requirements
If you don’t meet the above criteria but there are mitigating circumstances that explain why you’ve failed to meet the minimum academic requirements, there’s an opportunity for you to include this information in your application.
Developing your skills
As well as contributing to high-quality work, we want you to have the best possible apprenticeship experience. So, throughout your programme, you can look forward to:
- Technical training specific to your department
- Soft skills training, applicable to your apprenticeship and to future roles
- Employability skills training, both at the University of Law and Pinsent Masons
- Four days a week in our offices, working on live projects
- A dedicated study day each week at the University of Law or Damar Training (our training partners) to use their facilities.
What we're looking for
| A focus on detail |
With a conscientious approach, you’ll have the ability to read and absorb large amounts of reference material and spot errors quickly. You’ll be a stickler for detail when it comes to your own writing too, ensuring it’s always clear and accurate. |
| An interest in business |
We’re a commercial law firm, so you’ll have a genuine interest in how business works. That means keeping up-to-date with the latest business issues, as well as appreciating how legal expertise can support and steer commercial organisations. |
| Confidence |
With the self-assurance to voice your own opinions and defend your point of view when you need to, you’ll be a convincing and persuasive communicator. But you’ll also have the self-awareness to ask for help when you need it. |
| Intellectual capability |
You’ve the intellectual curiosity to explore new approaches and ask others’ opinions. With an analytical approach, you think things through and weigh up the implications, but also have the capacity to think on your feet to find solutions. |
| Openness |
You’ll be approachable, outgoing and confident engaging with people from different backgrounds and experiences to your own. Whether you’re communicating with colleagues or clients, you’ll understand the need to adapt your message to suit your audience. |
| Personal drive |
You’ll need to combine a real desire to be the best with the energy, ambition and enthusiasm to go the extra mile to succeed. With a can-do attitude, you’re always open to learning from your experience, so you can be even better next time. |
| Personal responsibility |
You understand that taking responsibility for your successes and acknowledging when things go wrong will help you to constantly improve and achieve your career aims. By knowing your strengths and weaknesses, you give others confidence in your abilities. |
| Self-organisation |
You understand priorities and monitor your progress towards set objectives. By being well-organised and planning and managing your work efficiently, you make sure you always deliver quality work on time. |
Our recruitment process
We’ve designed our application process to ensure you’ll know the outcome in no more than three months after the application deadline. The below shows a typical recruitment and selection process. This may be subject to change depending on government guidelines and restrictions in relation to COVID-19. You’ll be given full details of the process in relation to your own recruitment as appropriate.