Minimum 5 GCSEs (or other equivalent qualification), at grade C or 4 or above including Maths and English Level 2. Minimum 3 A-Levels (or other equivalent qualification), at grade C or 4 or above.
Apprentice opportunities - United Kingdom
Our apprentice programmes offer a great start to a professional services career. Combining academic studies with work-based learning, you’ll earn as you learn and gain a professional qualification. Once you gain a Level 3 Apprenticeship, doors open to pursue further qualifications and career opportunities. There are currently no apprenticeship opportunities in Northern Ireland.
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.
Solicitor apprenticeships
As a Solicitor Apprentice, you will join a fast-paced, dynamic working environment where personal resilience and a willingness to learn are key to success. This is a unique opportunity to gain practical experience working on real-life legal projects alongside experienced fee earners, while also studying towards a fully sponsored LLB degree. In addition to covering the university fees, we will also pay you a salary, which will enable you to ‘earn while you learn’.
As a part of your apprenticeship, you will study towards a LLB (Hons) in Legal Practice and Skills degree delivered by the University of Law, the largest provider of legal education in the UK. You will spend one day per week studying legal foundation subjects and skills modules and preparing for a range of assessments, including the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, subject to SRA character and suitability checks, you will become a qualified solicitor and have a chance to join our Newly Qualified Solicitor recruitment process.
During your apprenticeship you will be supported by a supervisor who is an experienced solicitor, a dedicated Early Talent Team, and fellow legal apprentices. You will receive full training which will combine on-the-job learning and formal structured sessions to ensure you are fully equipped to succeed in the role. You will be involved in client meetings, assist solicitors with legal matters, conduct legal research, draft correspondence and documents, and prepare files and bundles. As you progress in your role, you will be introduced to more advanced tasks to help you build a portfolio and work towards the level 7 qualification.
We are looking for candidates who are highly motivated, driven, and have a genuine passion for law. Strong attention to detail and excellent communication skills are essential, as well as good time management and organisational skills. Your enthusiasm and openness to learn and take on new challenges will also be key to your success in this role.
Applications for the 2023 Solicitor Apprenticeship programme closed on 12th May 2023.
Paralegal apprenticeships
A paralegal is a highly-valued member of a legal team that has extensive knowledge of the law and legal matters, but is not a qualified lawyer. Paralegals undertake a wide variety of administrative and legal work. A paralegal’s role is to support the lawyers in their work, and they can choose to specialise in a specific area of the law.
As an Apprentice Paralegal, you’ll join our Vario Paralegal Centre of Excellence, working alongside experienced paralegals and lawyers on client projects. Your specific experience will depend on the practice area you join (Employment & Reward, Corporate, Property, Banking & Restructuring, Intellectual Property, Litigation), but you’ll make a genuine contribution and will be continuously learning.
As a Paralegal Apprentice, alongside your studies, you can expect to be asked to do a wide variety of work. Some of it will be more administrative in nature, particularly in the early days of your career. Legal work will include helping to manage the documentation that is required in legal matters, including creating bundles of documents that will be used in court; drafting of legal documents such as contracts, settlement agreements and legal pleadings; legal research; helping to create and maintain template documents (precedents) that will be used in legal transactions; taking minutes and writing up notes for meetings or legal proceedings.
As well as enjoying mentoring and support from your team, you’ll also spend 20% of your time studying to meet the academic requirements of your apprenticeship qualification. Once you complete your apprenticeship, you could progress your career in a variety of directions, including becoming a Paralegal. You may also want to work towards one of the promoted roles within the Paralegal Centre of Excellence, including Senior Paralegal or Team Lead.
Applications for the 2023 Paralegal Apprenticeship programme closed on 30th May 2023.
Business operations apprenticeships
As a Finance, Business Administration, or Responsible Business Apprentice, you would be working within a range of our Business Operations teams, providing vital business support to the rest of the firm. You will be working alongside experienced colleagues who will support you in your day-to-day work and help you reach your career goals. 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.
This may lead to an opportunity to progress onto a higher-level apprenticeship and/or secure a permanent role at Pinsent Masons.
Our Business Operations Apprenticeships are currently advertised on an ad hoc basis so please keep an eye on our Early Talent Careers page.
Entry requirements
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Entry Requirements
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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 future roles.
- Employability skills training, both at Pinsent Masons and appointed training provider.
- Networking opportunities at training sessions, webinars and social events.
- Four days a week in our offices, working on live projects.
- A dedicated study day each week at the University of Law, Damar Training, or MBKB (our training partners).
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.
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.
Positive impact
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.
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. You’ll be given full details of the process in relation to your own recruitment as appropriate.
Current apprenticeship opportunities
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