Apprenticeships at Fosters Solicitors

“I feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to pursue my dream of becoming a lawyer via the apprenticeship route. I am able to study and gain invaluable experience working at a law firm, whilst earning a salary and incurring zero student debt.”

“Whilst this route and the subsequent intensity may not suit everybody, for me it was unquestionably the right choice. I strongly believe that the merits of the apprenticeship are endless. When I sit the solicitor qualifying exams, I will do so armed with not only theoretical legal knowledge from completion of my law degree, but with first-hand experience and knowledge of how law firms operate and how the profession is regulated and governed.”

“I also hope to continue to gain experience in various departments, which will give me a contextual advantage when examined in areas of law I have been fortunate enough to experience closely. Moreover, I will have had six years of experience working directly with clients, who are at the heart of the work we do. Upon qualification, I will do so with six years of paid experience under my belt and no debt.”

“You are able to start with far more of a firm footing than most, as you are working and learning and you are able to be ahead of the curve and show far more experience than others who may have chosen a different route.”

“At Fosters, they have been nothing but hospitable, with solicitors being happy to help whenever necessary, allowing you to tap into the expertise and knowledge of all those around you, they trust you to be able to perform more complex and interesting tasks, meeting with clients and allowing you to get the real experience of what working in a law firm is really like.”

“Apprenticeships, in my opinion, are an invaluable and brilliant way to learn and start a career in law, giving you the real experience along with the knowledge that a lecture hall simply is unable to provide.”

“The opportunity to study alongside working allows for me to put the law I am studying into practice in the workplace. By the time I qualify as a solicitor, I will have obtained six years of legal experience, and no student debt! Which will put me in an incredibly advantageous position as a newly qualified lawyer. One of the most appealing things about the solicitor apprenticeship, is the opportunity to work closely with experienced solicitors, gaining invaluable knowledge and expertise through their mentorship.”

“Undertaking the apprenticeship also gives me the opportunity to attend various court hearings and conferences so early on in my career, which I would not have had the exposure to, or opportunity to attend through the traditional university route.”

Head of HR at Fosters Solicitors

“The importance of recruiting people with the right skills for our firm is so important – but it works both ways, just as important for staff retention and our culture, is us supporting our apprentices with first-hand skills in a role and sector they wish to be employed. This hopefully means we are developing motivated individuals who are also committed to helping Fosters develop too – and with our apprentices already looking to progress to the solicitor apprenticeship, this means that they will have been with us for up to six years before they qualify, which is longer than the traditional trainee route.”

Rebecca continues: “And whether through our trainee programme, apprenticeships, or other qualification routes such as CILEX, what is so positive is that individuals have much more choice and flexibility to enter law in a way that is best for their own personal circumstances, which can only be of benefit for our firm and also the industry as a whole.

“For many young people, university is either not financially viable or not a personal choice they wish to pursue – others may decide to enter the profession later on in life, and therefore apprenticeships are increasingly becoming a more flexible way for people to enter law.”