Paralegal Apprenticeship 2026

Gordons; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading law firm is offering an Apprenticeship Programme in Newcastle for A-Level leavers. The programme allows apprentices to work as a paralegal while studying, providing training and support in a professional environment. Candidates must have three A-Levels and five GCSEs. The application is competitive, with a closing date of 22 February 2026 and assessment days in April. Successful completion leads to a Higher Education Apprenticeship Certificate and potential long-term employment.

Benefits

Flexible work model

Diverse and inclusive environment

Tailored support during the application process

Qualifications

• A-Level completion or equivalent required.
• Successful candidates will achieve a Paralegal Level 3 Apprenticeship Certificate.

Responsibilities

• Work alongside experienced paralegals and learn on the job.
• Complete academic study one day per week.
• Participate in a fair recruitment process.

Skills

Interest in commercial legal industry

Interest in technology and innovation

Excellent communication skills

Customer service skills

Organizational skills

Education

Three A-Levels (grades A-C)

5 GCSEs (grades A*-C or 9-4)

Job description

Have you thought about a career in law but are worried about the costs of university? Maybe you just want to get into the world of work and start your career. If so, Norton Rose Fulbright's Apprenticeship Programme might be for you.

We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to develop to their full potential, which is why we have launched our Apprenticeship Programme to offer opportunities to work as a paralegal straight out of school. As an apprentice you will work alongside and learn from some of the brightest minds in commercial law, helping to solve some of our clients' most complex legal and business problems while learning the academic and practical skills needed to excel as a paralegal. You will receive a high standard of training from us while studying one day per week.

We have up to four vacancies for talented individuals to join our Apprenticeship Programme in Newcastle starting in September 2026. We are looking for talent of the future - enterprising, innovative and technologically minded individuals with the intellectual curiosity and aptitude needed to thrive in our global legal business.

This Apprenticeship Programme application window is open to everyone who has completed their A-Levels, or final school year leavers who are completing their A-Levels in 2026, and will take place over two years. On successful completion of the Apprenticeship Programme, you will achieve a Paralegal Level 3 Apprenticeship Certificate of Higher Education at which point (subject to performance) we hope to keep you on board as a permanent paralegal within our Newcastle office.

Securing a place on this programme is subject to a successful application, video interview and assessment day. To be considered we require you to be on track to achieving three A-Levels (grades A-C) and to have achieved 5 GCSEs (grades A*-C or 9-4), however we understand that a successful team only thrives with a diverse range of skills, therefore we are also interested to hear about your strengths and motivations, as well as your extra‑curricular achievements. Be assured that we run a fair and contextualised recruitment programme, therefore any mitigating circumstances will also be taken into consideration.

Desirable skills and personal qualities:

• Clear interest in the commercial legal industry combined with an interest in technology and innovation
• Ambitious, enthusiastic and hard working
• Professional and personable
• Excellent communication and customer service skills and well organised (ready to manage both work and study)

Read about our Recruitment Process so you know what every step in our process will look like and gain an understanding of the ways we’re assessing you (make sure you look over our Competency Framework too!).

To strengthen your application, before applying make sure you learn as much as you can about us. Our Early Careers website is full of essential information which will allow you to develop your understanding of who we are.

One of the best ways you can pull back the curtain at Norton Rose Fulbright, why not listen to Jump Start, our Early Careers podcast. Hosted by the Norton Rose Fulbright Early Careers Recruitment team, who interview a wide range of guests about a variety of different topics, Jump Start offers a realistic insight of the culture of the firm.

Our Apprenticeship Programme applications close on 22 February 2026 and our assessment day will take place in April.

For more information on our academic course provider, BPP University, please click here .

To attract the best people, we strive to create a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can bring their whole selves to work, have a sense of belonging, and realise their full career potential.

Our new enabled work model allows our people to have more flexibility in the way they choose to work from both the office and a remote location, while continuing to deliver the highest standards of service. We offer a range of family friendly and inclusive employment policies and provide access to programmes and services aimed at nurturing our people’s health and overall wellbeing. Find more about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion here .

We are an equal opportunities employer. We can make tailored adjustments to our application process to ensure that you have the best chance of success by working with you individually to understand more about your requirements. Please contact our Recruitment team on [e-mail]