Our six-year solicitor apprenticeship programme is your opportunity to get your career started faster. If you’re an ambitious and driven school leaver, come and make your mark at our leading global firm.
We don’t believe you need to go to university to be an exceptional lawyer. We can train you.
Over six years, you will receive an unparalleled foundation in how to develop a career as international lawyer. You will learn your craft inside this leading global law firm from day one, building your experience across a range of practice groups and working directly with trainees, supervisors and mentors to help you develop the critical skills to thrive in one of the most exciting industries.
Alongside learning on the job, you will receive formal training and have protected study time to obtain your law degree as you complete the programme. You will be supported at every stage but we will challenge you to be your best. If you’re ready to step up, this is a unique chance to earn money as you train, forgo student debt and learn to be a lawyer from those who are the very best in their field.
You will spend your first four months in business services to give you an overview of how our firm works, familiarise yourself with working in an office environment and start building your network. You will then rotate through three-to-four fee-earning teams to understand the work we do in-depth and where you might want to specialise.
You will have structured time to study throughout the programme, but after your fourth year you will take eight months out of the day-to-day business so you can focus on your SQE. After completing your SQE, you will spend six months in three separate teams, and potentially an international secondment. This mirrors our graduate trainees’ experience. After six years in total, you will qualify as a lawyer at the same level as a graduate trainee.
This is a big jump from school or college and there is an extensive support network in place to help you. This includes two dedicated supervisors per team, regular catch ups with our Early Careers & Development Manager, both Partner and a Trainee mentors, bi-monthly catch ups with the Professional Development Director, a dedicated skills trainer and a clear training plan. We want you to succeed and will make sure you have the right support to do so.
Solicitor Apprenticeship.
The solicitor apprenticeship is a school leavers’ programme. You must have completed, or be in the process of completing, your A Levels or equivalent, and achieve a minimum AAB. We recruit nationally and the programme is based in London. We offer relocation support and you will receive £2,000 a sign-on bonus to help with any additional starting costs.
Complete a short online application form, telling us your academic background. Once submitted, the Early Careers team will review this to ensure you meet our eligibility criteria, you will be invited to complete a situational judgment test. We want to get to know the real you - your strengths, your thinking, and how you approach challenges. That’s why we use an online assessment made up of scenario-based, numerical, and verbal questions, aligned with our assessment competencies. It’s designed to highlight your potential, not your experience, and shows us those candidates who can bring intellect, creativity, and fresh ideas to real-world situations.
You won’t need any prior legal knowledge or experience to complete it. The assessment is untimed, but we recommend it should take around 45 minutes to complete.
You can also attend a webinar before applying, to learn more about the programme, meet our people and current solicitor apprentices, and ask any questions about the application process.To register for one of our Solicitor Apprenticeship webinars, click here.
Following the situational judgement test, you will go straight into completing a pre-recorded video interview, where you will need to answer 4 questions. These will focus on your motivations for a career in commercial law at Weil, as well as your strengths and ambitions.
This is our first opportunity to get to know you, so bring your personality and experiences to your answer. Your interview is unique to you, and it offers us an insight into your achievements and experience to date. During the interview, you will have 2 minutes to prepare each question, and 2 minutes to deliver your answer.
Consider how you can make your application stand out. You should highlight any work experience, the skills you’ve learned and how they apply to the role of a Solicitor Apprentice. Successful applicants also tell us why they’re interested in pursuing a career with us and demonstrate they have the determination it takes to grasp this opportunity.
If successful, we’ll invite you to a telephone interview where you will speak to a member of our Early Careers & Development team. They will ask you about your motivations for pursuing the solicitor apprenticeship route and why you are interested in Weil, as well as a range of competency questions. It is also your first opportunity to have one-on-one time with a member of the firm, so come prepared with questions.
Following your telephone interview, if we see potential in you, you will be invited to an in-person assessment centre at our London office. You’ll join other applicants to complete a series of guided assessments, including a group exercise, a written exercise and a 45-minute interview with two partners. You’ll also have lunch with current trainees and apprentices and receive a full office tour.
This is also your chance to see what it’s like working at Weil and ask any questions you have. The Early Careers & Development team will be on-hand all day to support you.
The Early Careers & Development team is here to support you throughout the recruitment process and enable you to get the most out of the assessment centre if offered a place. In confidence, we can discuss the individual support and reasonable adjustments you may need to help you perform at your best.
To have a conversation with a member of the Early Careers & Development team before applying, please contact us at early.careers@weil.com or on 020 7903 1000.
FAQs
Applications open on 1 October 2025 and the deadline is 18 January 2026.
No, we do not accept CV applications. If you are unable to complete the online application form, please contact the Early Careers & Development team at early.careers@weil.com or on 0207 903 1000 to discuss, in confidence, your individual circumstances.
Your starting salary will be £33,000, which will increase year on year. All your study fees are covered, and we also offer relocation support for all non-London-based applicants if required. You will also receive a £2,000 sign on bonus which you will receive one month before you join.
We appreciate your eagerness to receive feedback, however, we receive a high number of applications each year. In fairness to all candidates, we are unable to provide individual feedback until the assessment centre stage.
You will have one allocated, protected study day per week. After your fourth year, you will take eight months out of the day-to-day business so you can focus on your SQE. During your studies you will gain a full LLB degree in law, as well as complete the SQE 1&2 exams, resulting in a Level 7 Solicitors Apprenticeship qualification.
