As a vocational career, many people often have an idea that they want to work within the legal sector, but there can be barriers that are presented by the more traditional routes, such as university. Legal apprenticeship schemes allow for diversity and can give people who might not be able or want to go to university the opportunity to still achieve their dream career. Legal apprenticeships have seen a huge increase as more people become aware of the opportunities that are available. In fact, according to The Lawyer Portal, there has been a 40% increase in the number of apprenticeship opportunities made available in 2021, and there are an estimated 2,000 apprenticeships offered nationally across around 400 employers. They present an alternative way to become a lawyer, paralegal, or chartered legal executive without having to study law at university. Legal apprenticeships are governmentbacked and employer-designed schemes that involve working and studying. Ultimately, a legal apprentice should be able to end up qualifying in whichever legal field they find most interesting. What legal apprenticeships are available? There are a number of legal apprenticeships that are available. For example, at Blacks Solicitors there is a choice of three apprenticeships schemes: Level Three Paralegal, Level Seven Solicitor and Graduate Solicitor. The Level Three Paralegal apprenticeship takes two years to complete and the entry level is 96 UCAS points. The Level Seven Solicitor apprenticeship takes six years to complete and is suitable for anyone with no prior legal education. The entry level is 128 UCAS points. And finally, the Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship takes 2.5 years to complete and is suitable for those who’ve already completed their law degree or PGDL. After realising that I wanted to become a lawyer and that university was not for me, I carried out a lot of research to understand the different options that were available, which at the time were not well publicised. I found the solicitor apprenticeship route via BPP University, SPECIAL FEATURE 33 Special Feature While the most typical route taken to arrive at a job in the legal sector is via a university degree, there are alternative methods available that some may find more personally suitable. Here, Beth Brindley at Blacks Solicitors discusses legal apprenticeships, her experience and why more people should consider nontraditional routes into the legal sector. What Are the Advantages of Legal Apprenticeships?
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