Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme

Prior to joining, you will be invited to an introductory session for all incoming apprentices so that you can meet each other and your key points of contact at the firm. You will also find out more about the qualifications you will be working towards and what you can expect from our academic provider.

On joining, you will have a focused induction programme to help you settle into your new role. You will have the opportunity to meet people from various groups and teams in the firm, so you can start to network from day one. The induction will also include sessions on wellbeing and lifestyle management to help you with the transition from school to work. 

You will be allocated one day per week for focused study time. This will give you dedicated time to work towards achieving your LLB Law and Legal Practice degree and prepare for the SQE assessments. 

You will be enrolled in a study programme with an accredited industry leading provider, giving you all the tools, resources and materials you need to navigate your studies and develop your knowledge and skills. The programme will involve a combination of in-person workshops and online self-study, with access to highly experienced tutors to guide and support you throughout. 

During the six years, you will undertake a comprehensive legal and skills training programme, with sessions delivered on a wide range of subjects by partners, other senior lawyers and our Learning and Development team.

The Learning and Development team will also offer bespoke coaching sessions throughout the programme. 

Mentoring provides a valuable forum to seek support, reflect on your career development, discuss professional goals and expand your network. We offer a diverse range of mentoring programmes to our solicitor apprentices.

Solicitor apprentices will also be allocated a Continuity Partner to provide support and guidance. The Continuity Partner is separate from your supervisor, so you will have an additional, senior contact at the firm to catch up with at regular points during the programme. 

Solicitor apprentices will also have a dedicated trainee buddy, who will act as an informal mentor and will provide support throughout the programme. 

You will have a dedicated HR Adviser on hand to support you across the entire programme. They will support you from the moment you accept your offer and throughout your apprenticeship. BPP also allocate a Skills Coach to each solicitor apprentice, who will be in regular touch with you over the course of your studies to make sure you’re in the best place to succeed.

To ensure you have a good insight into a career as a commercial lawyer here at Slaughter and May and to help you build a strong application, we’d recommend:  

• Attending one of our online events as part of our virtual event series
  We host virtual workshops each year between October and December, which will give you the opportunity to find out more about Slaughter and May and our solicitor apprenticeship programme, and hear top tips on navigating the application process. Parents and guardians are welcome to attend. 
  Our next events will take place from October - December 2026. 
• Completing our Explore Law Virtual Insight Programme
  During the programme, you will explore four of our main practice areas: Financing, Corporate, Competition, and Disputes and Investigations – as you advise an imaginary client on a transaction and gain valuable insights into the types of work our lawyers do at the start of their careers. This programme has been designed for 16-18 year olds and those just starting to explore a career in commercial law.
• Learning more about the distinct differences that set us apart from other global law firms
  You can read more about these here. You can also watch this webinar where a panel of partners, associates and trainees discuss what our multi-specialist approach means to them.
• Researching some of our recent deals and consider the role of the legal advisers, the key commercial drivers and the challenges 
  You can also read about the role of our trainees in recent deals here.

• Reading about our lawyers’ own career experiences to gain insights into life as a commercial lawyer.
  You can also read about the experience of Hadya and Aayan, two of our first apprentices. 

On the application form, you will be asked provide some personal details and a full breakdown of your GCSE and A-level (or equivalent) results or predicted grades.

There is space on each section of the form to provide details of any extenuating circumstances, including a disability or long-term health condition, which have materially affected your results.

You will be asked the following key question within the 500 word limit: 

“Why are you interested in becoming a Solicitor Apprentice at Slaughter and May?”

Your answer to this question should demonstrate:

• Your understanding of the role of a Solicitor Apprentice
• Your personal motivations and enthusiasm for pursuing this route
• Your personal interest in and understanding of what a career in commercial law entails
• Your understanding of Slaughter and May
• Strong written communication skills

Your answer should be personal to you, your journey and your experiences, and written in your own words.  You should include evidence to support your answer where relevant.  For example, to demonstrate the research you have completed, this may include referencing events, legal or non-legal work experience, virtual internships, and other resources that you have found useful.

Tips for writing a strong application

• Reflect on your experiences: Think about what sparked your interest in law.
• Answer the question asked: Link any examples included back to the question you are answering.
• Write in your own words: Use a professional but natural tone. Avoid overly formal or robotic language.
• Proofread carefully: Clear, well-structured writing without any spelling and grammatical errors makes a strong impression.

Watch the video below where Kevin Howes, our Solicitor Apprenticeship partner, talks through what we are looking for in the application and shares his top tips. 

Our view on AI Tools

We understand that AI tools like ChatGPT can be useful, however, we strongly advise you not to copy and paste AI-generated text into your application. AI-generated responses often lack the personal insight and authenticity that we value. Applications that feel generic and lack originality are less likely to be successful.

If you choose to use AI tools, we recommend limiting their use to the following:

• Brainstorming ideas: Use AI to help you think about relevant topics, skills, or experiences you might want to include.
• Structuring your response: AI can suggest ways to organise your writing logically.
• Checking readability: AI can help you refine your draft by suggesting clearer or more concise phrasing — but the content should remain your own.

FAQs

You can view our FAQs here. 

We recommend that your CV is no more than 2 sides of A4. The information included should be factual – tell us what you have done, where and when.

Your CV should include the following.

• A breakdown of your GCSE and A level grades (please state if these grades are actual or predicted)
• Legal work experience and events (this can include virtual programmes)
• Non-legal work experience
• Paid employment
• Extracurricular activities.

You should include details of everything you have been involved with, whether or not these activities are related to a career in law. We want to understand your journey and how you spend your time outside of your studies.

Please click here to view an example CV. Please note that this should be used only as an example of how to structure your CV and should not be used as a template.

Watch the video below where Kevin Howes, our Solicitor Apprenticeship partner, talks through what to include on your CV and shares his top tips. 

Once you have submitted your application, you will be asked to complete the situational judgement test within 2 days.

The aim of this test is to assess how you may decide to behave in common situations you may encounter as a Solicitor Apprentice at Slaughter and May.

You will be presented with 15 scenarios and asked to rank the response options from most effective to least effective. The test is not timed and should take approximately 30-45 minutes to complete. You can see an example scenario here. 

Please note that this assessment does not require any legal knowledge.

If you're successful at the application and situational judgement test stages, you will be invited to an in-person interview. 

To help you prepare for this and to give you a real insight into life at Slaughter and May, you will be invited to one of our exclusive insight events at our London office, which take place in February and early March. 

During this, you will hear directly from the early careers recruitment team, interview partners and current solicitor apprentices, who will share valuable advice on what to expect at your interview and what we are looking for in candidates. The insight event isn't assessed - it is your opportunity to discover more about working at Slaughter and May and ask any questions you may have. 

On arrival at our offices on the day of your interview, you will be given a written exercise to complete, along with instructions and a guide to writing professional emails. 

This written exercise requires no legal knowledge and you will not be expected to prepare in advance. 

The exercise is based around a fictional business that has recently been through changes. There will be various pieces of information provided for you to read through. Your task will be to write an email summarising the key facts and suggesting possible solutions to the issues the business is facing. Clear instructions will be given about what is expected and your report will be assessed for:

• written communication
• ability to persuade
• judgement and problem analysis
• innovative ideas and commercial knowledge

You will be given one hour to complete this exercise and we will provide a laptop for you to type your answer. There is a lot of information to consider and we would encourage you to manage your time carefully to allow you to complete the task and review your work in the hour set.

The partner interview will be with two partners, or a partner and a senior counsel. It is designed to assess a range of qualities that we look for in future solicitor apprentices, including:

• Intellect – your ability to think critically, analyse information and present reasoned arguments.
• Drive and commitment to a career in law – your motivation for pursuing a career in commercial law via the solicitor apprenticeship programme at Slaughter and May.
• Resilience and influence – how you respond under pressure, adapt to new challenges and communicate persuasively.
• Interpersonal skills – your ability to build rapport, listen actively and engage in constructive discussion.

The conversation will be wide-ranging and will likely include discussions about your:

• CV
• Academic choices (for example your A-level subjects)
•  Interests and extra-curricular activities
• Understanding of commercial law, the role of a lawyer and the business environment
• Your motivations for applying to Slaughter and May
• Your motivations for pursuing the solicitor apprenticeship programme route to qualification over the training contract route

The interviewers will be looking for evidence that you can think critically, communicate clearly, and demonstrate genuine interest in a career in commercial law with us.

A key part of the interview will involve a discussion based on a recent current affairs article which will be provided to you on the day.

The Article Discussion

After completing the written exercise, you will be given a short current affairs article to read for approximately 15 minutes. You may take notes during this time and bring both the article and your notes into the interview.

This part of the interview is designed to test how well you can assimilate information quickly, identify key issues, and articulate and defend your point of view. The interviewers will expect you to:

• Summarise the article’s main points
• Form and express an opinion on the subject matter
• Engage in a reasoned discussion on the issues raised.

This is not a comprehension test or an assessment of your political views. Instead, it is an opportunity to demonstrate intellectual agility, influence and interpersonal skills.

Points to consider when reading the article

• What are the key issues, arguments and conclusions (if any) presented?
• Do you agree or disagree with the position taken, and why?
• What counterarguments might exist?
• Are the arguments coherent and logical?
• Are there relevant issues that have not been addressed?

While the discussion will focus on the article, the interviewers may broaden the conversation to related topics. Be prepared to think on your feet and respond to questions you have not considered before.

Watch this video to see a mock article discussion between two partners and one of our trainees. It is unedited and gives a realistic insight into what this part of the interview involves and how the discussion develops.  

After the partner interview, one of our current solicitor apprentices or trainee solicitors will give you a tour of the office.

We believe that the interview should be a two-way process. It is important for you to ensure that we are the right firm for you. The solicitor apprentice or trainee solicitor will not have been prepped on what to say and they will not be reporting to us, so you should take advantage of this opportunity to question them about life as a solicitor apprentice at the firm.

Our interview process ends with a short meeting with a member of the Early Careers Recruitment team. You will be asked to reflect on the written exercise and your interview with the partners, and there will be some discussion about your CV and your motivation for applying to us. You will also have the opportunity to ask any questions we have not yet answered for you.