Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme

Eligibility

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

Dates

Start date: September 2025

Length of programme: 6 years

When to apply

Applications for our 2025 programme open on Monday 28 October 2024 and close on Friday 3 January 2025

Please note that interviews will take place between 31 March – 17 April. Please ensure that you are available during these dates.

THE SOLICITOR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMME

During your first four years as a Solicitor Apprentice, you will rotate through a range of departments, allowing you to gain a wealth of knowledge and experience whilst studying one day per week towards your undergraduate law degree.

During the final two years of the programme, you will join the trainee solicitor cohort while also studying for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).

Throughout the duration of the programme, you will have a dedicated supervisor for each of your rotations who will provide training and opportunities to get involved in real projects and deals. You will also be assigned a peer buddy who, alongside the support provided by our Early Careers Development team, will set you up for success.

HOW TO APPLY

Once applications are open, please complete the online application, which can be accessed here, and attach your CV.

You will be asked to complete a situational judgement test within 2 days of submitting your application.

Your application

On the application form, you will be asked provide some personal details and a full breakdown of your GCSE and A-level (or equivalent) results or predicted grades.

There is space on each section of the form to provide details of any extenuating circumstances, including a disability or long-term health condition, which have materially affected your results.

You will be asked the following key question within the 500 word limit:

“Why are you interested in becoming a Solicitor Apprentice at Slaughter and May?”

Your answer to this question should demonstrate:

Your understanding of the role of a Solicitor Apprentice
Your personal motivations and enthusiasm for pursuing this route
Your personal interest in and understanding of what a career in commercial law entails
Your understanding of Slaughter and May
Strong written communication skills

Your answer should be personal to you and to your experiences. You should include evidence to support your answer where relevant. For example, to demonstrate the research you have completed, this may include referencing events, legal or non-legal work experience, virtual internships, and other resources that you have found useful.

The use of generative AI to help you prepare your application may result in inaccuracies and a lack of originality and creativity. Strong applications will be authentic and personal to you.

We recommend that your CV is no more than 2 sides of A4. The information included should be factual – tell us what you have done, where and when.

Your CV should include the following.

A breakdown of your GCSE and A level grades (please state if these grades are actual or predicted)
Legal work experience and events (this can include virtual programmes)
Non-legal work experience
Paid employment
Extracurricular activities.

You should include details of everything you have been involved with, whether or not these activities are related to a career in law. We want to understand your journey and how you spend your time outside of your studies.

Please click here to view an example CV. Please note that this should be used only as an example of how to structure your CV and should not be used as a template.

The situational judgement test

Once you have submitted your application, you will be asked to complete a situational judgement test within 2 days.

The aim of this test is to assess how you may decide to behave in common situations you may encounter as a Solicitor Apprentice at Slaughter and May.

You will be presented with 15 scenarios and asked to rank the response options from most effective to least effective. The test is not timed and should take approximately 30-45 minutes to complete.

Please note that this assessment does not require any legal knowledge.

The interview

Successful applicants will be invited to attend an interview at our London office.

The interview process will include:

Written exercise
Interview with lawyers
Tour of the office with a trainee solicitor
HR interview

HOW TO FIND OUT MORE

We are hosting a series of virtual events in November and December designed to give you an insight into Slaughter and May and our Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme, and to share top tips on navigating the application process. You can sign up for all of these now:

Welcome to Slaughter and May - Tuesday 5 November and Tuesday 3 December, 5pm - 6pm
These events will include an introduction to the firm, and an overview of the programme and application process
Application Q&A - Tuesday 19 November and Tuesday 17 December, 5pm - 6pm
At these events, our Early Careers Recruitment team will give an overview of our application and interview process and will answer any questions you have about applying to the firm.

Our Early Careers Recruitment team will also be attending the London City Century event on Monday 28 October 2024, which you can sign up to here.

Parents and guardians are welcome to attend all of these events.