Weil will shortly begin recruiting for solicitor apprentices to join the firm in September 2024. The apprenticeship pathway is a relatively new route to becoming a qualified lawyer and will involve recruiting apprentices, and developing and training them through a 6 year programme where at the end they will become newly qualified solicitors. During the course, the apprentices will gain a law degree and will also undertake the SQE exams.

During the first four years of the programme, the solicitor apprentices will rotate through different departments and then, during the final two years, they will join Weil’s graduate training programme alongside the trainees. We plan to take on 2 apprentices a year (starting in September 24) with applications for our first intake opening on 9 October 2023 and remaining open until late December.

Weil’s London Managing Partner Mike Francies said, “When Joanna Hughes told us about the Solicitor Apprenticeship pathway and the first of its kind cohort initiative she and the team at the City of London Law Society (CLLS) are leading, our Graduate Recruitment and DEI teams all felt strongly that Weil should participate. Many people in the UK face multiple barriers to becoming qualified solicitors via the traditional path, and this route offers an opportunity for those with the drive, intellect and ambition to train and qualify with a leading law firm without the financial barrier of attending university. We are keen for people to apply as we believe we can offer an exceptional opportunity for our new apprentices to start their legal careers. This is a fantastic initiative being led by the CLLS and we are all proud to be part of it.”

Weil will be encouraging everyone who is eligible to apply, as well as targeting applicants who may not have the financial or supportive means to attend university, and the firm will be working closely with the numerous schools that we have existing relationships with through our Widening Entry Into Law programme which supports over 500 state school students and those who are long-term unemployed each year through a range of employability programmes, as well as promoting the programme externally with experienced learning providers.