The apprenticeship route into the legal profession...

Are you wanting to pursue a legal career but don’t want to take the traditional university route? Then the apprenticeship route could be for you.

Growing up I always knew I wanted to quality as a Solicitor. After completing two weeks work experience at a local law firm I realised just how much I had learnt within the space of such a short time. I was eager to qualify and gain the experience alongside studying. I had done my research and came across the CILEX legal apprenticeship route which was perfect for me.

I started working at Shoosmiths as a Level 3 Legal Apprentice in September 2017, just months after completing my A-Levels. As an apprentice I was allocated study time each week to attend webinars or meetings with my allocated tutor. Within the two-year apprenticeship I completed the Level 3 Certificate in Law & Practice and gained valuable experience in the private residential conveyancing team. Being able to put the knowledge in to practice as I was progressing proved to be extremely successful as I had received positive feedback from my line manager and also received distinctions in all of my exams.

I am now a Paralegal in the private residential conveyancing team in the Milton Keynes office and deal with the more complex matters overseen by Karen Stewart. I have received some lovely feedback on our Trustpilot.

I am most pleased with the following feedback from an Estate Agent that Karen and I worked with:

“Karen & Paris are a real credit to conveyancing and the industry! As an agent with 16 years’ experience I felt so strongly about my experience I had to write a review, this is only the second review I have ever written about a conveyancing firm in my agent career. This transaction was the first time I've worked with Karen & Paris who were working on behalf of a purchaser and I have to say, they went above and beyond! If it wasn't for them and they worked as slowly as the other side, we would still be weeks from exchanging! … it’s rare in this industry to find two colleagues, working in tandem, no matter which one you spoke too it was like speaking to them same person!! They share the same ethos, both are extremely approachable, transparent, picked up the phone every time and advised us in plain English with what they needed from the sellers which enable us to speed up the transaction quickly and efficiently! I can assure you if you are torn between which solicitors to use, look no forward, make sure you ask for Karen & Paris and you will not be disappointed!”

I am still studying with CILEX to complete the Level 3 and Level 6 Diploma in Law and Practice alongside working full time which will allow me to become a Chartered Legal Executive. I am to qualify as a Chartered Legal Executive within the next five years. Although I am no longer an apprentice, my team and the firm are extremely supporting of the path I have chosen to take to qualify.

If anyone has any questions in relation to my experience with CILEX, please do e-mail me at [email protected].

If you have any questions you can email us at [email protected] or have a look at some frequently asked questions here.