Graduate solicitor apprenticeships

Leaders of the future – offering an alternative route to qualification

“I chose the graduate solicitor apprenticeship as I was already working and wanted to kick start my training contract without taking a year out to study and continue earning a salary. I will now qualify much sooner than I would have done had I chosen the training contract. I find that my ‘on the job’ work aids my university work as it enables me to put the theory that I learn into practice straight away. In addition, it allows me to earn a salary alongside studying for the SQE.”

Henny Bullock (Graduate Solicitor Apprentice)

Creating an inclusive and diverse workplace is an essential part of who we are. Our apprenticeship programmes offer people more accessible routes into law.

Our graduate solicitor apprenticeship is designed to help university students get into the workplace sooner and kick start your career by completing your law essentials course (if applicable), and solicitors qualifying examination (SQE) whilst working in the firm. You’ll gain the practical skills to become a successful qualified solicitor in a supportive and collaborative law firm. In 2.5-3 years, you’ll be a fully qualified solicitor. This is an alternative route to qualification.

Our apprenticeship programmes are designed so all our newly qualified solicitors, regardless of the route they qualify through, are equipped to work with their clients and colleagues in a creative, collaborative and commercial way which paves the way for them to thrive in their future careers.

Both the apprenticeship and SQE will be funded by Michelmores subject to our bursary agreement

Our sector-focused apprenticeships

Private Wealth Apprenticeship

Family, Tax, Trusts & Succession, Contentious Probate, Private Property and Landed Estates, Agriculture, Corporate, Banking, Restructuring & Insolvency

Real Estate Apprenticeship

Transactional Real Estate, Projects, Planning, Construction, Corporate Tax, Banking, Restructuring & Insolvency, Private Property and Landed Estates and Agriculture.

Business Services Apprenticeship

Commercial & Regulatory Disputes, Corporate, Commercial, Banking, Restructuring & Insolvency, Employment, Projects, Tax, Trusts & Succession, Transactional Real Estate

The application process

Georgie Lewis

Early Careers Manager

Contact

“Our junior lawyers are our future. We focus on growing our own talent and supporting them to become exceptional lawyers. We are looking for people with diversity of thought, who can challenge our thinking, offer innovative ideas and solutions, and add to our culture, rather than just fit in. We want junior lawyers that will help drive us forward together and build their career with us. We want trainees who are going to be leaders of the future.”

“As with our training contract, we would fully funded you to complete the Apprenticeship.”

Georgie Lewis

How it works

You will be based in either our Bristol or Exeter offices and working within one of our exceptional legal teams. During the apprenticeship, you’ll work in the firm for four days and have one day a week to study for your law essentials course (if applicable) and SQE at The University of Law. The apprenticeship enables you to put the theory that you learn into practice right away. And, at the end of your successful training and SQE, you’ll have the opportunity to qualify as a newly qualified solicitor in one of our legal teams.

You will complete a minimum of 4×6-month seat rotations and get to experience multiple areas within the firm before deciding your ultimate qualification team.

Our graduate solicitor apprenticeship is sector focused and is built around your interests and where you think you want to qualify. Your apprenticeship will give you the skills, knowledge and experience to support you to reach your full potential.

What are we looking for?

Our junior lawyers are our future. We focus on growing our own talent and supporting them to become exceptional lawyers. We are looking for people with diversity of thought, who can challenge our thinking, offer innovative ideas and solutions, and add to our culture, rather than just fit in. We want junior lawyers that will help drive us forward together and build their career with us. We want trainees who are going to be leaders of the future.

As with our training contract, we would fully funded you to complete the Apprenticeship.

Applications for our 2026 opportunities will open in May 2025. If you have any further questions, please contact us at gradrecruitment@michelmores.com.

Read through our Graduate Recruitment brochure for more information about what it’s like to train at Michelmores. The brochure also includes interviews with our recruitment team..