Solicitor Apprentice Review

I work within the Serious Injury department. My workload is incredibly varied and consists of a lot of client-facing work. No day is the same in this department – some days I have client calls, conferences with Counsel and team meetings, whilst other days I am drafting letters and putting together court bundles.

I learnt a multitude of new skills in my role, and have a good understanding of legal proceedings in just a few months at the firm. I have enhanced my pre-existing skills of communication, teamwork and resilience. Everyday at the company I learn something new!

I love the programme I am on. It is truly the best route to qualification as a Solicitor! Whilst 6 years may seem a lot, the reality is you are getting practical experience alongside studying for your law degree and getting paid and being debt free!

My programme is very well structed, I have a set aside study day where I undertake my law degree training which is split into lectures, reading and submitted tasks. I also have 3 monthly reviews with my training provider and supervisor to monitor my progress.

Irwin Mitchell provide a lot of support! When I began at the firm I was allocated a "buddy" to support me in settling in to the business. I also have weekly meetings with my supervisor to discuss any issues I may have. They also arrange lots of training sessions.

The University of Law are very supportive. Upon completing submitted tasks you received personal feedback from a tutor to help you improve. They also provide weekly question sessions where you can revisit any material you may not have understood. Every 3 months I have a review with my University Skills Coach to monitor my progress.

My training provides with the legal knowledge that I require to fulfil my role effectively. The first module provided a great insight into law in England and Wales and the court system. This knowledge is vital in understanding legal proceedings. Whilst the practical work feels very different to the University course, the training does provide a good knowledge basis of which you can work off.

At work there are lots of opportunities to get involved in. At Irwin Mitchell we have several different groups you can join dependent on your interests - for example, if you are passionate about generational equality or equality of sexuality, then there are groups that discuss these matters. There are many networking events internally and with external bodies which is a great opportunity to build your personal brand.

Yes

Irwin Mitchell are a fabulous company with a great reputation. Not only is the work interesting and engaging, but the company truly care about their colleagues - every member of the company is valued. There are many policies in place for colleagues to get the support they need in all types of situations, for example the company have mental health advocates who can direct colleagues to getting the necessary support.

My advice would be to research the firm. Look at their values and what that truly means for the company and then decide whether your views align with these values and if so, demonstrate this in your application. Solicitor Apprenticeships are becoming increasingly popular, so it is important to stand out! a key thing to remember is that firms are not looking for someone who has lots of experience in law and someone who knows everything – that would defeat the point of the apprenticeship. Irwin Mitchell are looking for individuals who have a passion for learning, who can persevere, who have the potential to develop and grow with the company. The best way to show this in your application is through examples – don’t just tell us that you have excellent communication, show us how through examples such as previous part-time work you had, roles at school you undertook, teams and societies you may have been a part of.