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 answering three questions - two about your motivations and one that assesses your commercial awareness. 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.
If successful, you will be invited to complete a pre-recorded video interview to build on your application form and provide insight into your achievements and motivations for a career in commercial law at Weil. You will answer three questions about your interest in the programme; a skills-based question, a competency question, and a commercial question. You will have one minute to prepare each one and 90 seconds to answer. Before you start, you have the opportunity to complete a practice question as many times as you like.
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 2024 and the deadline is 19 January 2025.
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 £27,000, 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.
