Apprenticeships
(For internal employees only)
If you would love a career in the law but feel that University is not the right path for you then a Legal Apprenticeship may be a suitable alternative.
Here at Sills & Betteridge we recognise that people are individuals and the traditional route to becoming a solicitor does not suit everyone. Does that mean that the door to qualification is closed? Certainly not! We feel passionate about offering alternative routes to university and are proud to offer Paralegal/ Solicitor Apprenticeships to aspiring individuals. Please see the BPP Law School Factsheet downloads on the left of this page.
Our apprenticeships are designed to help springboard you into a successful legal career by providing you with a mixture of studying and learning within the workplace so that you can earn while you learn. We believe that our apprentices are a very important part of our talent strategy and some of our most successful fee earners joined us through a working and learning route.
So, what are we looking for?
⦁ Dedicated and conscientious learners;
⦁ Confidence and adaptability;
⦁ 3 completed A Levels or equivalent studies at grade C and above;
⦁ Team players with a strong sense of social responsibility; and
⦁ A passion for law.
What does the Apprenticeship Programme look like?
Initially you will sign up to complete our two-year paralegal apprenticeship by the end of which you have a Level 4 Certificate of Higher Education in Legal Services. This is equivalent to the first year of a law undergraduate degree. The paralegal apprenticeship offers an introduction to the fundamentals of legal practice and provides a combination of learning and working within one of our legal teams, to build the knowledge and skills required to work within a law firm.
Once the two-year paralegal apprenticeship has been completed, apprentices who would like to continue their learning may have the opportunity to join the Level 7 solicitor apprenticeship. This takes four years to complete and involves the completion of a (Hons) degree in legal practice and will lead to qualifying as a solicitor six years after leaving school. This route includes the fees for the SQE and SQE preparation courses provided by BPP Law School.
How will you learn?
We have an open-door culture at Sills and in addition to a dedicated supervisor and Apprenticeship Partner you will have a tutor and skills coach at BPP, to ensure that you have all the support you need at work and with your studies. We offer a competitive salary (paying at a minimum the UK National Living wage.)
Do we offer this qualification at all of our offices?
Yes!
I like what I’ve read and I want to apply!
In the first instance, internal employees should speak to Simon Breeden, Training Principle, and their supervisor/Head of Department.
Queries can be made to the HR Department to find out more about our Apprenticeship programme.
You'll need to apply through the following link: https://www.bpprecruitment.co.uk/Search/Job?id=131528&asid=1
Please note that external applications sent to the Firm directly will not be considered at this time. We are only currently recruiting apprentices internally.
Find out more information about BPP here.
Remember- you are applying to a professional organisation for a highly sought-after opportunity. Make sure that you:
• have done your homework on the firm;
• know our culture and values; and
• have checked and checked your application again! Maybe get a parent or tutor to look through it for you.
In addition, we're not just looking for your academic achievements, we're looking for a future partner so show us who you are and what you can bring to the firm and your future clients. We want to know who you are as much as what you have achieved.
Find out more about life as a trainee solicitor here and read our news pages for more information about what it's like to work with us. You can also follow us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram.
A final word from our Apprenticeships Partner, Simon Breeden
"We have a passion for developing our own talent from within the firm. Our apprenticeship programme is a big part of that. The work that we do is important but we have an open and friendly environment throughout our offices which enables our apprentices to get stuck in to their work whilst having access to all the support and guidance that they need.
We want our apprentices to be keen, ambitious and enjoy working as part of a team. We are looking for individuals who can bring something different to our firm. We are not just looking at academic achievement but at the person behind the grades who can bring something special to the firm and have a long and successful career with us."
