They have been around in the UK for almost a decade but, curiously, are not well advertised or understood. Against a competitive recruitment backdrop, ensuring one’s hiring strategies allow for a diverse pool of candidates is more important than ever.

The traditional qualification route involves academic study, the potential acquisition of significant student debt and no guarantee of a job. Apprenticeships provide office‑based experience from day one, together with a rigorous academic programme overseen by an established training provider. The trainee has no student debt, enjoys an income from the very start and, crucially, develops legal knowledge, skills and experience in the workplace.

Apprenticeships can attract talented people from a range of backgrounds and prior educational experience. They can be offered to existing staff too. A paralegal apprenticeship is suitable for school leavers with GCSEs, although it may also be pitched towards A‑Level leavers too.[1] Generally, paralegal apprenticeships last two years and are funded by either the employer or the government.

A chartered legal executive apprenticeship is also available, which is appropriate for candidates who have already studied law and worked in a legal environment. The solicitor apprenticeship route offers a degree qualification with a similar focus on workplace experience. The course length varies based on applicants’ prior education.