Solicitor Apprentice Review

My day-to-day tasks involve reviewing contracts, drafting legal documents and liaising with clients, other solicitors and third parties such as agents and surveyors both virtually and in-person to progress transactions. I consider contracts to identify key issues and advise clients of the risk, and amend agreements to put forward the most favorable position for clients.

I have developed skills such as legal drafting, negotiation, attention to detail, and research skills, in addition to developing my own general commercial awareness and understanding how internal and external factors impact clients. My confidence and communication skills have also improved as I liaise with clients and colleagues daily via email, telephone and in-person.

I enjoy my programme and I feel it was the best option for me opposed to attending university full time. It is a fantastic opportunity to gain real-world experiences, and I feel challenged, supported and valued by my colleagues.

The structure of the programme was clear from the outset in terms of expectations, university days (one day per week) and internal policies. The structure works well to allow sufficient time to study towards the degree, as well as the opportunity to develop technical skills in the workplace.

My employer provides a dedicated Apprenticeship Programme Supervisor and an Apprenticeship Business Sponsor, who support apprentices on the programme. I feel comfortable approaching either if I had a problem, either work-related or personal, and they recommend helpful resources for support and actively make adjustments to improve our experience on the programme.

My training programme is online, with virtual lectures, submitted unit tasks and online reading throughout the course. The training provider offers bi-weekly drop in sessions to ask questions about the course, and are also available for 1-1 support. I feel supported by the university, and have a dedicated Skills Coach who monitors my academic progress.

Certain areas in my degree overlap with my role in the work place. In addition to the technical language and legal concepts I have learnt during my degree, it has also developed soft skills which allow me to perform better in my role, including writing concisely, working under pressure and conducting research using appropriate sources and referencing.

The firm offers social activities both within teams and the wider office, which are a good opportunity to connect with colleagues in a more informal setting. There is also a firm football team who practice weekly, and we host an annual charity netball tournament where different teams at the firm compete. There are opportunities to attend professional networking events such as attending seminars, client training days and memberships to young professionals groups.

Yes

DLA Piper have provided everything I would want from an apprenticeship; supportive colleagues, challenging work, a flexible working environment, a competitive salary and opportunities to develop my personal brand. I am supported on the academic side by DLA Piper, and they provide extra study days and support with workloads during exam periods.

My biggest tip would be to tailor application forms to DLA Piper; do some research on the firm and make sure your values align with DLA Piper's. It is obvious when candidates have used the same generic application form for multiple firms, so make it clear why you are suited to DLA Piper.