Abbie Danks is completing her Solicitor Apprenticeship here at Talbots Law in our Dispute Resolution department.

As part of National Apprenticeship Week 2025, Abbie has shared her journey, her experiences so far and some words of advice for others who might be looking to undertake a Solicitor Apprenticeship.

“What is the Solicitor Apprenticeship?”

The Solicitor Apprenticeship is a Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship (equivalent to a masters degree) completed over the course of 6 years. At the end of the apprenticeship, apprentices will sit the Solicitor Qualification Exams (SQE) and upon passing will become qualified solicitors.

At least 20% of the training on the course (e.g. one day per five day working week) takes place outside of the office. The remainder of the time, apprentices will be gaining practical experience working on cases in a law firm.

All of the training and assessments costs are paid for through the apprenticeship levy fund.

“What does a day in your life tend to look like?”

In the workplace I currently work within the Contentious Trusts and Probate sub-team of the Dispute Resolution Department. My day-to-day role includes tasks such as: attending client meetings, drafting court documents, drafting letters, preparation for and attendance at court hearings, instructing counsel, negotiating settlements and much more.

I have successfully completed a number of assessments through my university which will form part of my overall grade for my LLB degree.

“How did you start down this path?”

During my final year of sixth form, I felt deflated that the only option I appeared to have, was to attend university for full time study. The idea of university never really appealed to me and I wanted to get straight into the workplace.

While researching options, I discovered a course which meant that I could still obtain a masters degree, earn while you learn and have no student debts at the end!

I started working at Talbots as a legal administrator in August 2020 after completing my A-Levels in summer 2020. I then progressed to a Paralegal role within 12 months.

After two years working in the company, I began my apprenticeship in September 2022 and I am currently in my third year of the course on track to qualify as a solicitor in 2028.

“What advice would you give to someone considering pursuing a Solicitor Apprenticeship?

Firstly, I’d just say go for it.

Whether you are an A-level student, considering a change from University or at any point in your career looking for progression and education, I would entirely recommend the Solicitor Apprenticeship.

My advice within that would be to be mindful that working whilst studying can be very demanding and will require a lot of dedication and discipline. However, the skills that you learn whilst working at the same time as studying are invaluable and set you up for an excellent legal career.

I earned my apprenticeship by finding an entry level role in a solicitors’ office and being clear in my intentions to educate myself and progress, and then researched a solution that allowed me to achieve that while continuing to add value to my company.

Interested in learning more?

Your best, first port of call is the Careers page of our website. There’s loads of information on there about our culture, our ambitions and current opportunities, which is all vital research when trying to plan your next steps.

DISCLAIMER

The contents of this blog or any other published by Talbots Law cannot be considered as legal advice. You should take no action without prior consultation with a qualified solicitor or legal professional.