Graduate Solicitor Apprentice

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; City Of London; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust in London is offering a Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship designed to train and support you to qualify as a solicitor. The role includes assisting with litigation and commercial contracts, conducting legal research, and provides excellent educational opportunities. Candidates should hold a degree and be prepared for a structured apprenticeship program with no associated student debt.

Qualifications

• Maths and English certificates will be requested.
• Must not be enrolled in any other education at the start of the apprenticeship.

Responsibilities

• Assist with litigation matters including court cases and employment tribunal hearings.
• Conduct legal research relevant to NHS operations.
• Assist in drafting and reviewing commercial contracts.

Skills

Ability to manage competing demands

Willing to undertake Level 7 Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship

Education

Educated to degree level (law degree)

Job description

Go back University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Graduate Solicitor Apprentice

The closing date is 14 October 2025

UCLH is a leading acute trust. The Trust provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.

The Legal Services team falls within the Corporate Governance Team and works closely with colleagues across the trust to resolve legal issues and contribute to the governance structure. The corporate legal team advises the Trust on a wide range of issues, including but not limited to, employment, commercial contracts, data protection and safeguarding.

UCLH graduate solicitor apprenticeship will support you to qualify as a solicitor through the new Solicitors Qualifying Exams (SQE1 and SQE2) pathway. UCLH will fully fund your training during the SQE training programme. The new Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship and SQE route to qualification is a welcome opportunity to widen access to the profession and enables us to support you to qualification without any student debt.

Main duties of the job

The Post holder will support the legal team in providing legal advice to the Trust on a range of legal disciplines. As part of your apprenticeship, you will assist with a wide range of matters, but will specifically be involved in litigation and other areas as set out below:

Litigation Support:Assist with a range of litigation matters including court of protection cases, employment tribunal hearings, and judicial reviews. Duties include drafting pleadings, preparing case bundles, liaising with clients and stakeholders, and supporting court hearings.

Commercial Contracts:Assist with the drafting, review, and negotiation of commercial contracts and agreements, ensuring compliance with NHS policies and relevant legislation.

Legal Research and General Assistance:Conduct thorough legal research on a variety of issues relevant to NHS operations, policies, and legislation. Provide general assistance to the legal team as required, including administration, raising requisitions, file management, monitoring and tracking of legal spend and attendance at meetings.

About us

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.

We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:

University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)

National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery

Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals

University College Hospital Grafton Way Building

Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine

University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre

The Hospital for Tropical Diseases

University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street

We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.

We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.

Job responsibilities

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Maths, English and degree certificates will be requested before you are invited to the group assessment results slips cannot be accepted.

Applicants must not be enrolled in any other form of educationat the start of the apprenticeship programme.

ASSESSMENT and INTERVIEW:

This will be a two-stage in-person process for shortlisted candidates: 1st stage Group assessments 27/10/2025 morning 2nd stage Individual interviews on successful completion of the assessment 27/10/2025- afternoon Candidates must ensure that they can attend before applying

SALARY: Band 5 Annex 21 (salary displayed is inclusive of HCAS)

First 6 months 65% of top of the band + HCAS

Then final two years at 70% and 75% of top of the band + HCAS respectively.

If you are an existing NHS employee, you may be entitled to pay protection if you are appointed to this apprentice role and your current basic pay is higher than the advertised rate. Should you require further information, please email [e-mail].

Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*

* UCLH top trust to work at in England - In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the third year in a row.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff To find out more, visit: Flexible working.

To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?

Person Specification

Knowledge and Qualifications

• Educated to degree level (law degree and if hold non-law degree, must have completed the GDL)-

Skills and Abilities

• Willing to undertake the Level 7 Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship
• Ability to manage competing demands

Values

• Demonstrate ability to meet Trust Values of safety, kindness, teamwork and improving

Personal and People Development

• Supports learning and development of self and others

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

£32,127.40 to £35,907 a yearper annum, 65, 70 and 75% of top of Band 5 (Annex 21) inc HCAS