Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme

Cooper & Hall Limited; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Slaughter and May offers a six-year Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme designed for bright school leavers aiming for a career in commercial law. You rotate through practice areas in the first four years while studying at BPP University one day per week toward your undergraduate law degree.

In the latter part, you join trainee rotations, switching practice areas every 3-6 months, continuing degree and SQE study, with potential UK and international secondments.

Qualifications

• 7 GCSEs at grade 6 or above (including Maths and English).
• Achieve or be predicted to achieve AAB at A level.
• Right to work in the UK.

Responsibilities

• Rotate annually through a range of practice areas during the first four years.
• Study at BPP University one day per week toward your undergraduate law degree.
• Move to trainee rotations later in the programme and continue study for your degree and then the SQE.
• Secondments (UK and international) may be available in later stages of the apprenticeship.

Education

GCSE: seven at grade 6 or above (including Maths and English)

A level: AAB

Right to work in the UK

Job description

Our six-year Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme is designed for bright and motivated school leavers interested in a career in commercial law.

Through exposure to the full range of work undertaken by the practice groups you experience during the programme, and ultimately join on qualification, you will develop broad and varied experience alongside deep legal expertise. This will equip you with the commercial judgement, intellectual ability and independence of thought needed to deliver the complex and landmark work we are known for.

The Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme

During your first four years as a Solicitor Apprentice, you will rotate annually through a range of practice areas. This will allow you to gain a wealth of knowledge and experience whilst studying at BPP University one day per week towards your undergraduate law degree.

Towards the latter part of the programme, you will join the trainee rotations, moving to a new practice area every 3-6 months. You will also continue to attend BPP university to study for your degree and then the SQE. Both UK and international secondment opportunities may be available in the latter stages of the apprenticeship programme.

In each seat, you will be supervised by an experienced lawyer who will work with you and BPP on setting goals and giving exposure to a range of tasks, work and areas of law. You will be actively involved in the work your supervisor and group are handling. Responsibilities and tasks will vary, but you will be an important part of the team straight away, working on exciting and often ground-breaking transactions.

Who can apply?

Our Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme is for applicants who have not yet completed an undergraduate degree.

You must have achieved 7 GCSEs at grade 6 or above (including Maths and English) and have achieved or be predicted to achieve AAB at A level. Extenuating circumstances will be taken into account.

You must have the right to work in the UK.

We welcome applications irrespective of race, colour, ethnic or national origin, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, gender reassignment, age, religion/belief or marital status.

Applications will close on Wednesday 6 January 2027.

About Slaughter and May

Slaughter and May is a leading international law firm, recognised for our exceptional legal service, commercial awareness and commitment to clients. We are trusted advisers to some of the world’s largest companies, advising on complex, high-profile and often ground-breaking transactions, and our forward thinking and innovative approach complements the best-in-class advice on which our reputation is built.

Whether you join us as a trainee solicitor or solicitor apprentice, you will be trained to advise on the full range of work within the practice areas you experience during your training and on qualification. Working across a broad variety of matters in each seat, you will develop the deep expertise, commercial judgement and independence of thought needed to deliver the landmark work for which we are known. From the outset, you will work with leading law firms around the world and will build strong relationships with clients through direct exposure to international and cross-border matters. You will do so in a collaborative and inclusive culture where excellence is achieved through collective effort and shared expertise.

Our practice areas

We are a full-service law firm and have leading practitioners across a wide range of areas including Mergers and Acquisitions; Corporate and Commercial; Financing; Tax; Competition; Disputes and Investigations; Real Estate and Projects; Pensions, Employment and Incentives; Financial Regulation; and Technology, Digital, Data and Intellectual Property.

A world of difference

There are clear differences between Slaughter and May and other global law firms:

• We train our lawyers to advise across the full range of work within their practice area, giving them exposure to a broader range of matters than they might experience at another firm. This is hard work, but our lawyers say it makes for a far more fulfilling career. Working on complex, varied and high-profile matters from the start provides challenge and interest, and allows them to develop deeper relationships with clients, because they get to know their businesses better.

• Through longstanding relationships with leading law firms around the world and our overseas offices, we provide seamless legal advice to our clients wherever they operate. On average, we work with more than 200 law firms across 100 countries annually, giving our lawyers exposure to international work from an early stage. Through this experience, they gain valuable insights into different markets, cultures and legal systems, developing the judgement and adaptability our clients value.

• Our culture is built on collaboration, trust and diversity of thought, creating an inclusive environment in which our people achieve excellence through collective effort and shared expertise. Without billing or time targets, our lawyers are encouraged to focus on delivering the best outcomes for clients and supporting each other's development, fostering a strong sense of belonging and teamwork

Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity and Inclusion is an integral part of how we do things as a firm. We believe that a supportive and inclusive workplace drives collaboration and helps people perform at their best. We are looking to employ the brightest minds regardless of what or where they studied, and we strive to ensure that people feel comfortable being themselves at work through fostering an inclusive culture which values diversity of experience and perspective.