
Solicitor Apprenticeships (school leaver) - September 2026 - Slaughter and May
Deadline: 7 January 2026
For applicants who do not have an undergraduate degree.
You must have achieved 7 GCSEs at grade 6 or above (including Maths and English) and have achieved or be predicted to achieve AAB at A level. Extenuating circumstances will be taken into account.
You must have the right to work in the UK.
Applications for our 2026 programme open on 13 October 2025 and close on 7 January 2026.
Please note that interviews will take place between 16 March and 9 April 2026. Please ensure that you are available between these dates.
Attracting the widest and most diverse range of talent to the firm is crucial to our sustained success. Our six-year Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme is designed for bright and motivated school leavers interested in a career in commercial law, and will offer you the breadth of experience and training needed to become a multi-specialist lawyer, equipped to advise on a broad range of legal matters.
THE SOLICITOR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMME
During your first four years as a Solicitor Apprentice, you will rotate annually through a range of practice areas, which could include Corporate and M&A, Financing, Competition, Disputes and Investigations, Financial Regulation, Pensions, Employment and Incentives, Real Estate, Technology, Digital, Data and IP, Tax and Sustainability. This will allow you to gain a wealth of knowledge and a wide breadth experience whilst studying at BPP University one day per week towards your undergraduate law degree.
Towards the latter part of the programme, you will join the trainee rotations, moving to a new practice area every three - six months. You will also continue to attend BPP University to study for your degree and then the SQE. Both UK and international secondment opportunities may be available in the latter stages of the apprenticeship programme.
In each seat, you will be supervised by an experienced lawyer who will work with you and BPP on setting goals and giving exposure to a range of tasks, work and areas of law. You will be actively involved in the work your supervisor and group are handling - responsibilities and tasks will vary, but you will be an important part of the team straight away, working on exciting and often ground-breaking transactions. Examples of work will range from legal research, drafting, proofreading, attending meetings and much more. Supervisors will change at each seat rotation, meaning you will benefit from working with people across the firm, enhancing your multi-specialist development.
To ensure you feel fully supported in your development, your progress will be reviewed through progress review meetings each academic term, which will provide a structured opportunity to reflect on achievements and set goals. In addition to these, you will receive regular informal feedback from your supervisor and will meet regularly with your continuity partner. These opportunities will provide a further forum for you to discuss your progress and how to develop your legal knowledge, skills and experience.
SALARY AND BENEFITS
- £28,000 in your first year (increasing every year) and a sign on bonus of £3,000
- An optional interest-free loan of up to £3,000
- All your study fees will be paid for and you will be entitled to an extensive benefits package, including 30 days’ holiday per year, private medical insurance, pension scheme, onsite GP services, a variety of wellness benefits and more.
Training and Support
Being a successful City lawyer requires more than purely legal knowledge. Our Learning and Development team offers a full and varied training programme which extends beyond legal knowledge training, covering commercial awareness, skills and professional behaviours to ensure you have the tools you need during your apprenticeship.
Find out more, click Apply.
Practice area
- Business, company and commercial affairs
- Dispute resolution / Civil litigation
- Pensions / insurance / tax / financial
- Commercial property / conveyancing
- Employment law
- Data protection law
- Intellectual property law
Required degree level
- GCSE or equivalent
- A level/CILEX level 3 or equivalent
Years of experience
- not stated
Salary range
- £1-£29,999