A legal career can be within your reach with an apprenticeship

Embarking on a legal career is more accessible than ever before - with an apprenticeship giving you the experience without racking up thousands of pounds of student debt.

Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors, which has offices across Shropshire, including in Oswestry, runs an apprenticeship programme which is proving to be very popular.

Emma Harrison, Learning and Development Manager, says there are many benefits of taking the apprenticeship route into law.

She says, “It takes about seven years from A-Levels to becoming a fully qualified solicitor, whether you go to university or take the apprenticeship route.

“The average debt for a law student coming out of university and going into either a trainee solicitor post or becoming a solicitor is about £58,000 - that is quite a significant amount of debt.

“With an apprenticeship, you get seven years of practical experience of working with a law firm whilst training and gaining your qualifications at the same time. And rather than ending up with a large debt, you actually get paid while you complete your apprenticeship.”

Erin Payne started at Lanyon Bowdler just over a year ago as a business administration apprentice.

“I just didn’t think a career in law was an option to me,” she says. “That traditional route of university is drilled into people and you don’t realise there are alternative ways of becoming a solicitor.”

Cameron Petch recently joined the firm as a paralegal apprentice and says he would recommend an apprenticeship to anyone thinking of embarking on a legal career.

“I had just finished my A-Levels and the university route never really appealed to me,” he says. “Law is so accessible now; you don’t need a degree to qualify and work your way up through the profession. I’m really excited about the future.”

You can listen to the latest edition of The Legal Lounge podcast to hear Emma, Erin and Cameron discussing their experience of apprenticeships by searching for ‘The Legal Lounge’ on your usual podcast provider or visiting www.lblaw.co.uk