Trowers & Hamlins is introducing a new 6-year solicitor apprenticeship programme, designed to offer an alternative to the traditional university graduate route into practising law. The programme is open to candidates who are non-graduates, with applicants typically being school leavers or other non-graduates.
The programme will run in all of Trowers' UK offices (London, Birmingham, Exeter and Manchester). Recruitment for the programme is scheduled to begin in Autumn 2024 with the firm welcoming its first apprentices in September 2025. Details such as application dates will be confirmed later in the year.
At the end of the course, apprentices will gain their LLB Law degree and complete the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), having spent one day a week dedicated to study. In line with the traditional trainee model, apprentices will complete rotations across the firm's practice areas.
The firm aims to use links with local schools to support recruitment of apprentices. The number of apprentices the firm will take on will be decided shortly.
Commenting on the announcement, Senior Partner Sara Bailey said:
"In order to attract the best people to Trowers we know that we need to recruit from the broadest pool of talent. For some a university education is a barrier to practising the law – we need to remove that barrier and level the playing field. Our new apprenticeship programme is a great equalizer for any aspiring lawyer hoping to enter the legal profession.
"We have several initiatives within our ED&I strategy to support this approach and I am proud that we have signed up to 'The Solicitors Apprenticeship Pledge'. I look forward very much to the first cohort of apprentices coming onboard and seeing the positive impact I am sure they will make both on the firm and their new colleagues."
The new programme is being supported by Partners Rebecca Wardle (as Apprentice Principal) and Georgina Savill-James (as Deputy Apprentice Principal).
Rebecca Wardle commented:
"This is an exciting new programme which will help us in our aim to recruit from a much wider pool of talent, opening up opportunity to all those with the talent and ability to succeed. I am proud that Trowers is launching this programme to open up the legal profession to everyone who feels it's the right career choice for them."
