Rating

8/10
  • 1. Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
  • I am in my second year of the solicitor apprenticeship and am currently siting in the Projects department. My role involves providing long-term help on some ongoing matters, and also providing assistance with smaller, ad-hoc tasks. The type of work I do varies each day, but in Projects most of the work is centred around large commercial contracts. Common tasks include proofreading, cross-referencing, and drafting.

    8/10

  • 2. Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
  • Through the apprenticeship I have improved my soft skills, such as communicating via email and phone, and giving presentations. My knowledge of the law and the legal profession has increased significantly; I had no prior legal experience but now feel competent doing some of the more difficult legal tasks. I have also developed my IT skills through frequent use of excel/word/onenote.

    8/10

  • 3. To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
  • I am really pleased with my apprenticeship and the exposure that it has given me to the legal profession. I never imagined that I would be working on real cases and meeting clients without first completing a degree. Everyone at the firm treats apprentices just like trainees, so we get a good level of work and have the opportunity to make friends too.

    9/10

  • 4. How well organised/structured is your programme?
  • The apprenticeship is well structured, though the structure is constantly changing as the programme evolves. At present, apprentices spend the first four years of the programme doing year-long seats within departments. This gives apprentices a proper chance to get involved in work and get familiar with the team. Apprentices then spend their final two years doing 4-month seats so that they can get a final taste of the different specialisms.

    8/10

  • 5. How much support do you receive from your employer?
  • My employer, Burges Salmon, is fantastic at providing apprentices with resources and support. The firm is heavily involved in the organisation of the apprenticeship programme, and the members of each department are equally keen to support apprentices with both work and study. The firm is also very good at ring-fencing time for us to study.

    8/10

  • 6. How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
  • BPP provides weekly online lectures, accompanied by preparation materials and an online textbook. We attend face to face sessions at the university approximately once every term. Our apprenticeship manager at BPP is very useful and always on hand to answer any queries and resolve any issues. She is also great at passing on feedback on the course.

    8/10

  • 7. How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
  • Completing the solicitor apprenticeship will help me to perform better in my role as an apprentice solicitor, as it is through the apprenticeship that I will learn the fundamentals of the law. At present, most of the work I do involves a lot of common sense and limited legal knowledge. The solicitor apprenticeship qualification will allow me to complete more complex legal work, and will take me closer to being a qualified solicitor.

    7/10

  • 8. Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
  • Burges Salmon has a social club which organises a variety of sports activities and social events. Examples of sports clubs include netball, pilates, football, and hockey. There are regular social events at work, whether they be firmwide or department specific. With 19 apprentices at the firm, we also like to go out for food and drinks together.

    8/10

  • 9a. Would you recommend Burges Salmon to a friend?
  • Yes


  • 9b. Why?
  • Burges Salmon is a fantastic place to work. Everyone is genuinely friendly, and the colourful office makes the firm a pleasant place to work. The firm has a good client base so the work we do is always interesting, and the firm's technology and resources ensure that everything runs smoothly.


  • 10. What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Burges Salmon?
  • My top tip would be to show enthusiasm for the role you are applying for. The firm are looking for apprentices that are eager to learn and that will appreciate the opportunity to complete an apprenticeship with Burges Salmon. When interviewing or writing applications, use your previous experiences to evidence your skills and strengths.


Details

Degree Apprenticeship

Legal/Law

Bristol

January 2020


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