FAQs

Do you accept applications from candidates who have obtained below the minimum academic requirements? 

Our minimum academic requirements for our solicitor apprenticeship vacancies are stipulated under the 'eligibility and selection criteria' section.

However, we do realise that there may be mitigating circumstances behind why potential applicants may not have achieved the requisite grades. As such, there is a dedicated section on our application form where you can fully explain these circumstances. 

This information will be taken into consideration when reviewing your application. 

Do you accept applications from undergraduates and/or graduates? 

No, our solicitor apprenticeship programme is not aimed at university graduates or undergraduates. If you are in this category and are looking for post-graduate opportunities, please look at our Trainee Solicitor page where there is further information about our Summer Vacation Scheme and Direct Training Contract opportunities. 

If you are currently at university, completing an undergraduate degree, but are looking to drop out and apply for the solicitor apprenticeship programme, please contact the Early Talent team to discuss this further. 

Do you accept alternative/equivalent qualifications to A-Levels? 

Yes, acceptable alternatives to A-Levels can include:

• Completion of a L3 paralegal apprenticeship (or similar vocational apprenticeship)
• Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma
• International Baccalaureate

If you are unsure as to whether your alternative qualification will be accepted, please contact the Early Talent team to discuss your specific circumstances further. 

Does it matter what I study/have studied for my A-levels (or equivalent)? 

We believe in the benefits of having a diverse workforce and do not have any preferences in terms of what subjects you study/have studied at A-Level (or equivalent), this is entirely your decision. 

Do you provide adjustments during the recruitment process? 

We are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities, those who are neurodivergent, and those who have long-term health conditions. We can provide adjustments throughout the process to help you perform at your best. 

There is a dedicated space on the application form to let us know about any adjustments you may need. If you would prefer to speak to a member of the team and discuss what adjustments we can provide, please get in touch by emailing apprentices@trowers.com. 

Do you recruit on a rolling basis? 

No, we will not assess any applications until the deadline has passed. However, you will automatically be invited to take our online strengths-based assessment once you have submitted your application. The link to access this test will be in the same email that confirms that your application has been received.

You will have 7 calendar days from submitting your application to complete this online assessment – we would therefore encourage you to complete the assessment as soon as you are able to and we recommend that you do not leave completing the assessment to the final day in case any technical issue arise. 

What competencies do you assess during the recruitment process?

We are looking for candidates to demonstrate they can work effectively as part of a team or on their own. Our apprentices demonstrate drive and resilience, as well as possessing strong organisation skills, initiative, and a sense of responsibility. 

Do you provide work experience or insight days?

We work with Uptree, an outreach organisation, to provide insight days across all of our UK offices – they will provide you with an insight into a career in law, our practice areas, clients and programmes. 

We will also be offering an online application masterclass to provide application/assessment tips and guidance. 

Further details on our insight days/events and how to apply can be found on the 'Insight events' section of our solicitor apprenticeships page. 

If I am not successful first time around, can I reapply? 

Yes, if you are unsuccessful with your first application you can reapply. However, you can only apply once in every recruitment window (broadly October to March each year). 

Do you support students with relocation costs if they wish to apply for a position further away from home location? 

We are offering our solicitor apprenticeship programme across all of our UK offices (Birmingham, Exeter, London and Manchester), which hopefully means you will be able to start your career closer to home.

We will therefore not be supporting students with relocation costs. 

Programme Specific questions 

Who is the training provider for the apprenticeship? 

The University of Law is the training provider for the solicitor apprenticeship. 

How will I complete my apprenticeship studies? 

As an apprentice you will be employed full-time by Trowers but 20% (i.e., one day a week) of your working week will be dedicated to your off-the-job studies/learning towards your apprenticeship. At the start of the apprenticeship, the training provider and employer will agree how this time will be taken. 

Most of your apprenticeship studies will be completed online but there will be chance throughout your programme to do some face-to-face learning with apprentices in your cohort. 

There are University of Law campus' in each of our UK office locations and so apprentices will be able to take advantage and complete some of their studies on campus if they wish to. 

What will the 6-year programme look like for an apprentice?

The solicitor apprenticeship is a 6-year programme. During the first four years, you will complete your law degree, whilst completing yearly rotations around the business. In the final two years, you will complete the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations, whilst completing some further rotations alongside our trainee cohort.

By the end of your programme, you will have been exposed to a wide variety of departments. 

How much responsibility can I expect during my apprenticeship? 

During the course of your apprenticeship, you will be given as much responsibility as possible. A team will be there to support you and work with you every step of the way and you'll receive full training. Depending on the department that you are based in, you will be given your own files to run or will work as an integral part of a team on contentious and or non-contentious matters. 

You will also find that many clients will eventually contact you directly with any questions that they may have. 

Do I have to pay anything towards my qualification/apprenticeship? 

No, the apprenticeship qualification and all learning materials are covered in the cost paid by the employer.

What is your hybrid working policy? 

Our trainees and apprentices are required to work from the office for 3 days per week. Most of our trainees/apprentices come into the office more than this due to the increased support, exposure and responsibility that being in the office provides.

What support will I receive throughout the apprenticeship? 

Apprentices will be supported by a range of people throughout their apprenticeship. They will have an internal Trowers supervisor(s) in the department they are completing a rotation in, a designated skills coach/supervisor with the apprenticeship training provider and also have the support of the Early Talent team. 

Apprentices will have the chance to join our internal mentoring programme. 

Are international secondments available to apprentices? 

International secondments will be available to apprentices in years 5 & 6 of the apprenticeship. 

We currently have international secondments to our Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai and Oman offices. These may vary depending on business need and all opportunities will be communicated to apprentices at the relevant time.

Whilst we cannot guarantee that you will be able to complete an international secondment during your apprenticeship, there is a high possibility that you will be able to do so. Due to the nature of the work at the firm, you will frequently be working with your overseas colleagues regardless of your base location. 

Firm Specific questions 

What makes Trowers & Hamlins different? 

We believe that the sheer diversity of our practice, our ethos and the quality of work you will get involved in will make your apprenticeship a challenging (yet enjoyable!) experience. Where else could you work on Middle Eastern infrastructure projects in one seat, major urban regeneration in another, and private equity deals in a third?

We are a firm that recruits to retain. We take on a sensible number of apprentices every year that we can personally get to know and professionally mentor and are looking at them to contribute brightly and strongly to our long-term future.

Most importantly, we ensure that we have a strong culture to make us greater as a collective and bring us closer as a team. This means that our work, together and individually, has more impact.

What diversity networks are there at Trowers & Hamlins?

We have nine networks formed by the ED&I committee. If you are part of one of the networks, you will be able to get involved in organising events, webinars and help raise awareness on important ED&I topics. Anyone at the firm is welcome to get involved!

These are: