Solicitor Apprenticeship 

We're enormously proud of our apprenticeship programme and this year we saw our very first Solicitor apprentice, Ellie, complete her apprenticeship and enrol as a newly qualified Solicitor!

Continuing this incredible success, we're really positive about what 2025 and beyond looks like and want to continue our growth within the apprenticeship space, ensuring a career in the legal sphere is more accessible to local students who have a genuine interest in law. 

With apprentices completing and others moving in to new teams this creates a pathway for us to offer more apprenticeship opportunities and we're currently looking for future lawyers based in our Bristol office.

What will you be doing?

If you're wondering what you will actually be doing, we can promise you it's not all admin and filing. 

This is a real opportunity to contribute to the future success of our business.  We're training our next generation of lawyers and that means giving you access to great quality work that will increase in complexity as you develop through the programme.

You'll benefit from real hands-on work experience, learning from experienced professionals by spending four days in your respective team and the fifth day each week will be dedicated to self-guided study, and attending lectures and seminars with The University of Law.

Throughout the programme you'll experience different practice areas whilst building a portfolio of work that will showcase your development, knowledge and experience. You'll obtain your LLB before you reach your final two years where you will sit the Solicitor Qualifying Exams (SQE 1 & 2) and ultimately qualify as a solicitor.

There's a lot going on, but don't worry, you'll be supported every step of the way with a dedicated supervisor, mentor and Early Talent Development support.  We're all rooting for you and want you to succeed, so we'll do everything in our power to make sure that happens.

How to apply

We're looking for candidates with the following academics;

• 3 A Levels at Grade C or above, or equivalent*
• 5 GCSEs, including Maths and English, or equivalent, at Grade C/4 or above

* Acceptable alternatives to A Levels can include, for example, completion of Paralegal Level 3 apprenticeship (or similar vocational apprenticeship), a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma), or the International Baccalaureate.  Please contact The University of Law directly to discuss acceptable equivalent qualifications.

Please note this apprenticeship is not open to those who already have a Law Degree or Graduate Diploma in Law (or LPC/BPTC).

Beyond that, we'll be looking for you to demonstrate core skills such as team-working, communication, creative and analytical thinking, an ability to build strong and lasting relationships and a drive to succeed.  As this is a six year programme it goes without saying that you'll need to have a genuine interest in Law and qualifying as a Solicitor.  To apply, you'll begin with a short application form – which also enables us to obtain contextualised info through Rare's CRS. Following this, everyone who has applied and is eligible to complete a solicitor apprenticeship will be invited to complete our blended high potential assessment, which consists of an online assessment and a pre-recorded video interview.

We are looking for apprentices to join our Bristol office in January 2025. You'll need to complete our application form so we can make sure you're eligible before we invite you to the first stage of our assessment process which is our blended online assessment. Successful candidates will be invited to a virtual assessment day which will take place at the start of August 2024. If you are successful following that you will be invited to a work placement, which will include your final interview at the end of August 2024.

We would like to ensure that this process is as comfortable as possible for you and are more than happy to discuss any adjustments you may need. Please contact early.careers@wbd-uk.com so that we can work with you to support you throughout your application.

If the timing isn't quite right for you, or this isn't the programme that you're looking for, you can keep in touch through our various social media channels for regular updates or sign up to our Talent Communities.