Solicitor Apprentice Review

My role as a solicitor apprentice is similar to that of a trainee. I assist on legal drafting, client meetings, client contacts, pitches to new clients etc. I often conduct legal research to inform client advice or to aid a presentation I might be doing for the team. I also study one day a week for my LLB undergrad in law.

I have majorly developed my pre-existing communication and professional skills through the many opportunities to network with legal professionals in the industry and also through my opportunities to connect with out clients. I have also developed many new skills such as legal drafting and legal research. Within these skills I have developed my attention to detail greatly and also my written communication, both internally with senior colleagues and externally with clients.

I love my programme I believe it is an amazing opportunity and allows me to learn lots of new things and make valuable connections. I am currently 2 years in and have had the opportunity to do a full year in the employment team and am currently 7 months into my year long rotation in the finance projects team. Both teams have allowed me to develop different skills which demonstrates the breadth of the programme. I enjoy the routine of a work life but am also grateful to be studying alongside my work in order to supplement my knowledge and have diversity in my week.

I believe my programme is excellently structured. We benefit from one day a week where we study towards our degree followed by 3 days present in the office and one day working from home. I think this 20-80 split is brilliant and keeps work and uni exciting which is crucial when you enter the working world at 18. I also believe the way in which our rotations are structured is great because within my firm we have 7 practice groups so by doing year long rotations for 4 years followed by 2 years of six month-long rotations this means we get to have a seat in each practice group with the hopes of redoing the one we wish to qualify into, this is amazing because it allows us to have networked with the entire firm by the end of the course, giving us valuable contacts. It is also great because it gives a taste of what each practice group is like so when it gets to choosing where to qualify you make an informed decision.

Personally I wish I could rate this section even higher than a 10. As an apprentice the level of pastoral care I receive from my employer, especially through our designated apprenticeship manager, goes above and beyond any expectations. I believe this is crucial to someone entering into their first professional 'office job' as early as 18 and is an important safeguard which I am grateful to have.

We receive a great amount of support from The University of Law, our training provider. Despite not having our lectures in person on campus I often contact lecturers for follow up questions and am always guaranteed a response within 5 minutes! The university also gives each apprentice a designated 'skills coach' who is both a pastoral and informational point, they check in with us through 'reviews' every few months to ensure we are on track to meet our goals and to ensure that any issues are addressed.

So far I have had a few experiences where my university course has been reflected in the day to day work I do which is incredibly useful and insightful in understanding both the academic and practical side of the law. Our training provider also has designated skills days in which we can develop skills such as legal research and written communication, this is incredibly useful as it transpires into our roles as solicitor apprentices within the firm.

All of the above! At my firm we have 5 amazing people networks which focus on bringing a sense of community to the firm and ensuring a culture of inclusivity, these often organise fun socials and networking opportunities. We also have budget for multiple socials within our teams and within our apprenticeship cohort which are held often. We have multiple sports teams, such as the netball team which I am a proud member of, who organise weekly/fortnightly matches. Lastly, we have a plethora of opportunities for professional networking events both with clients, internally, and apprenticeship specific.

Yes

The culture at DLA Piper is like no other I have experienced. Everyone is extremely friendly and above-all willing to help you learn and be better in your journey as a solicitor apprenticeship, which give the role is crucial. The work life balance is very fair and you feel like people genuinely take your well being into consideration. The opportunity to grow is unmatched given the global presence of the firm and also the professional support is unparalleled, an important factor for any young employee.

It is crucial to let your personality shine through and not just be another number in the crowd. DLA Piper is a firm that embodies its values in its day to day work and a firm to whom it matters that its employees embody those same values, therefore, I recommend doing your research and understanding the essence of the firm and the work we do.