The Level 7 Solicitor, and the 11 providers delivering it.
Progressing legal matters and transactions, applying legal knowledge and commercial judgement to produce solutions which meet clients' needs.
About this apprenticeship
What this apprenticeship covers
Training at postgraduate level, this apprenticeship prepares someone to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. It covers the legal knowledge and professional skills required across practice areas, including contract, tort, criminal, property, and equity and trusts law. Alongside substantive law, apprentices develop client care skills, professional ethics, legal research, drafting, and advocacy. The route integrates the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) and qualifying work experience, meaning completers meet the Solicitors Regulation Authority requirements for admission to the roll.
Day-to-day responsibilities
Work varies significantly by employer and seat rotation, but typically involves researching legal questions, drafting correspondence and legal documents, attending client meetings, supporting fee earners on live matters, and filing court documents. In a commercial firm, that might mean reviewing contracts or due diligence bundles. In a high street practice, it could involve conveyancing transactions or drafting wills. Apprentices generally rotate through different departments over the six years, building experience across practice areas before qualifying.
Career outlook
On qualification, the immediate title is Solicitor. From there, progression follows a relatively clear path through associate, senior associate, and partner at private practice firms, or to in-house legal counsel roles within corporations, public sector bodies, and charities. Solicitors work across every sector: law firms of all sizes, local authorities, NHS trusts, financial institutions, government departments, and commercial businesses. Those who qualify through this route are fully SRA-regulated and hold the same status as any other qualified solicitor, regardless of how they trained.
Top providers by achievement rate
View the full Solicitor provider ranking
Official 2024/25 achievement rates for Solicitor, published by the Department for Education. Learner numbers shown - providers with fewer than 30 leavers are listed separately. The DfE rounds achievement and leaver counts to the nearest 10, so a rate marked * is approximate and the true figure may be lower. How this table works
| # | Provider | Achievement rate | Pass rate | Learners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 71.4%+9.7 | 100% | 240 | |
| 2 | 61.9%at avg | 100% | 200 | |
| - | National average for this standard(580 leavers nationally) | 61.7% | ||
| 3 | 51.3%-10.4 | 100% | 40 | |
| 4 | 38.2%-23.5 | 61.8% | 60 | |
| – | Northumbria University few learners | 68.8% | 91.7% | 20 |
| – | University of Lancashire few learners | 60% | 75% | 10 |
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Department for Education, apprenticeship national achievement rate tables, 2024/25. Rankings are compiled by FATP and are not endorsed by the DfE. Providers with DfE-suppressed data (very few learners) are not shown.
Career outcomes
Roles after completion
Qualifying through this route leads to the same standing as any other newly qualified solicitor. Immediate roles include NQ Solicitor in practice areas such as corporate law, commercial litigation, family law, residential or commercial property, employment, criminal defence, personal injury, and private client work. In-house legal departments also recruit NQ solicitors directly, covering roles such as In-House Legal Counsel or Assistant Company Secretary within larger organisations.
Progression paths
Within three to five years, solicitors typically advance to Senior Solicitor or Associate level, taking on more complex caseloads and supervising junior fee earners or trainees. Beyond that, two distinct tracks open up. The first is the partnership route in private practice, progressing from Associate to Salaried Partner and then Equity Partner. The second is a specialist or in-house track, moving into roles such as Senior Legal Counsel, Head of Legal, or General Counsel, particularly within corporate, financial services, or public sector organisations.
Where these roles sit
Private practice firms of all sizes hire through this standard, from high-street firms covering residential conveyancing and family matters to large commercial practices handling corporate transactions and dispute resolution. In-house legal teams across financial services, retail, manufacturing, housing associations, NHS trusts, local authorities, and central government departments also employ solicitors trained through this route. The standard suits both urban commercial environments and regional practices serving local business and individual clients.
How it's assessed
How the apprenticeship is assessed
Throughout the apprenticeship, learning takes place alongside paid employment in a legal setting, with the apprentice building legal knowledge and applying it in real client-facing work. Before final assessment, the apprentice must reach a gateway point where their employer and training provider confirm they have the knowledge, skills and behaviours expected of a qualified solicitor. The final assessment then confirms competence at that level. Assessment for solicitor apprenticeships must also align with the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) requirements set by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. The current assessment specification is on the apprenticeship's gov.uk page, which is worth checking as models are being updated.
What learners need to prepare
From the start of the apprenticeship, learners should keep detailed records of the work they carry out, the legal matters they contribute to, and the professional judgements they make. Building this evidence continuously, rather than retrospectively, makes the gateway process more straightforward. Working closely with both the employer supervisor and the training provider throughout, not just near the end, helps identify gaps in knowledge or practice early enough to address them properly before the final assessment stage.
Choosing a provider
What good looks like
Look for providers with achievement rates consistently above 65% on their FATP profile, though given the 72-month duration and Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) gateway, you should weigh trend direction over a single year's figure. Strong providers will have clear employer satisfaction scores and learner reviews that mention quality of SQE preparation, not just general study support. A provider should be able to show a track record of apprentices passing both SQE1 and SQE2 assessments, and demonstrate that qualifying work experience is genuinely structured across the required practice areas, not left entirely to the employer to arrange.
Red flags to watch for
Be cautious of providers who are vague about how SQE preparation is integrated into off-the-job learning, or who treat it as something apprentices handle independently. A high apprentice intake volume combined with a declining achievement rate is a warning sign on any standard, but here it may indicate inadequate support through a demanding dual assessment structure. Providers who cannot give concrete examples of how they monitor qualifying work experience against the SRA's competence requirements, or who have thin alumni activity at newly qualified solicitor level, deserve scrutiny.
Questions to ask before you commit
- What is your SQE1 and SQE2 first-attempt pass rate for apprentices on this programme?
- How do you structure off-the-job learning around the SRA's qualifying work experience requirements, and how do you track competence development across practice areas?
- What support is in place if an apprentice fails one of the SQE assessments?
- How large is each cohort, and will apprentices have dedicated academic and workplace skills tutors?
- Which regions do you cover, and is teaching delivered in person, online, or both?
- Can you connect us with employers already using this programme so we can ask about their experience?
- How do you handle the programme if an apprentice changes employer partway through?
Common questions
What qualifications or experience does someone need to start a solicitor apprenticeship?
Applicants typically need strong A-level results or equivalent, though entry requirements vary by employer. Because this is a level 7 programme leading to qualification as a solicitor, most employers look for candidates who can demonstrate academic ability and a genuine interest in law. Some firms recruit school leavers; others consider those with prior work experience or a non-law degree. Check individual employer adverts, as each firm sets its own criteria within the standard's framework.
How long does the apprenticeship take and what does the time commitment look like?
The typical duration is 72 months. Throughout that period the apprentice is employed full time, earning a salary while studying. Learning is split between on-the-job work and off-the-job training, which may include a law degree or equivalent qualification delivered by a higher education provider. The exact off-the-job requirement is subject to current government reform, so check the official standard on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) website for the up-to-date specification.
How is the solicitor apprenticeship assessed?
Before the final assessment, the apprentice must pass through a gateway, at which point the employer, training provider, and apprentice confirm that all learning outcomes and any mandated qualifications have been met. The apprentice must then demonstrate full competence as a solicitor. For most routes this involves the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). Assessment models across many standards are being reviewed under current reforms, so consult the gov.uk page for the latest confirmed requirements before enrolling.
How does an employer pay for a solicitor apprenticeship, and what does it cost?
The funding band for this standard is £27,000, which is the maximum government contribution toward training costs. Levy-paying employers (those with a payroll above £3 million) pay through their digital apprenticeship service account. Smaller employers co-invest with the government, contributing 5 percent of eligible training costs. Employers taking on an apprentice aged 16 to 18 may pay nothing toward training costs at all. Funding does not cover the apprentice's salary, which the employer pays in full.
What does a solicitor apprentice actually do day to day?
The apprentice works as a fee-earner or trainee within the firm, handling real client matters under supervision. Tasks typically include drafting legal documents, conducting legal research, attending client meetings, corresponding with courts or counterparties, and advising clients on their legal position. The work varies by practice area, such as commercial property, litigation, family, or corporate law. Over time, the level of supervision reduces as the apprentice builds technical knowledge and client-handling skills.
What can a solicitor apprentice do after qualifying?
On completing the programme the apprentice qualifies as a solicitor and joins the roll maintained by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. From there, typical routes include specialising further within a chosen practice area, progressing to senior associate or partner level, or moving in-house to a corporate legal team, public sector body, or other organisation. Some solicitors go on to take further qualifications in areas such as mediation, tax, or advocacy. The qualification is well recognised across England and Wales.
11 approved providers
Providers with a published achievement rate for this standard first, highest rate at the top. Providers without a published rate for this standard follow.
The University of Law (ULaw) is a specialist UK provider of legal and professional education that de...
Northumbria University is a research-intensive university that also acts as a leading provider of hi...
The University of Lancashire (formerly the University of Central Lancashire) is a large, multi‑campu...
BPP is a global education business that delivers professionally focused training and qualifications ...
City St George’s, University of London is a multi‑faculty university offering a wide range of underg...
Damar Training is a leading provider of business and professional apprenticeships. Over the last 40 ...
Bournemouth University (BU) is a UK public university that delivers degree-level apprenticeships des...
Teesside University is a higher and degree apprenticeship provider offering professional apprentices...
Datalaw is a legal training provider offering online legal CPD and funded law apprenticeships for th...
Nottingham Trent University (NTU) is a large UK university offering a comprehensive portfolio of hig...
The College of Legal Practice is a fully online UK law school specialising in preparation for the So...
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Is an apprenticeship the right route?
Not always. An apprenticeship funds 12-24 months of structured, assessed learning for someone in a role. If you need a skill in weeks, are training someone already senior, or the person is not on your payroll, a short commercial course can be the better instrument. When to choose an apprenticeship and when to choose a course.
Curated by Alex Lockey, FATP founder and editor.
Data updated 7 Sept 2026Written guidance reviewed
Sources include the apprenticeship's official specification on apprenticeships.gov.uk, Skills England standards and funding bands, Ofsted inspection reports, and provider data sourced directly from the public Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). Standard reference: 43.
Some sections on this page were drafted with AI assistance from published source data and reviewed by a human editor before publication. See our editorial methodology for how we maintain this content. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.