Frequently Asked Questions
An apprenticeship is an on-the-job training programme that mixes practical training with academic study.
Your exact tasks will depend on which apprenticeship you choose, but as an apprentice you will:
You’ll be supervised at work by your day-to-day manager or supervisor. They’ll monitor your work and generally guide you during your apprenticeship.
An authorised training provider will oversee your academic training and monitor your progress as you develop the workplace skills needed for your qualification.
You may have heard the phrase 'earn while you learn' and that is one of the main benefits of an apprenticeship.
If you’re eager to start work but also want to continue your studies, an apprenticeship allows you to do both. You earn a salary, usually gain a qualification, and gain valuable work experience all at the same time.
In general, the qualifications you need to apply for an apprenticeship are:
- Five GCSEs at grades A* – C (or grade 9 – 4 on the numbered system) or equivalent
- Three Cs or above at A Level or equivalent, excluding General Studies (not currently required for Business Administration Apprenticeship).
There are often some variations on academic requirements for the specific apprenticeships, so please check the relevant apprenticeship page for more details on what qualifications you need.
You’ll also need to be:
- A UK or EEA citizen or have been a UK or EEA resident for at least three years
- Aged 16 by the time you start the Business Administration Apprenticeship and aged 18 years of age to start the other apprenticeships.
Our apprenticeships are open to anyone if they'll be learning a substantially new skill. So, if you have a degree in history, for example, you'd be eligible to apply for our business admin, paralegal and accounting apprenticeships.
Our solicitor apprenticeship, on the other hand, is only available to those without a degree. This is part of our commitment to being an inclusive employer and giving opportunities to a diverse range of candidates.
If you're interested in becoming a solicitor and do have a degree, see our graduate recruitment page for opportunities.
You’ll usually agree your own time off for study with your line manager as it can differ for each programme. Generally, most apprentices spend one full day a week on their apprenticeship learning.
You’ll have a starting salary of £19,838, or £21,749 if you’re at our London office. We’ll then review your salary in July each year.
You’ll also have access to our employee benefits.
The length of your contract depends on the apprenticeship you choose:
- Business Administration Apprenticeship – 24 months
- Paralegal Apprenticeship – 24 months
- Accounting Apprenticeship – 24 months
- Internal Audit Apprenticeship – 24 months
- Solicitor Apprenticeship – Permanent Contract.
Your apprenticeship is your first step on a fulfilling career as a professional in your chosen area. Many people accept full-time roles with us after completing their apprenticeship. We’ll help you develop your skills further and you’ll have opportunities to advance to more senior positions.
Wherever your career takes you, you’ll have an industry-recognised qualification and training from one of the UK’s top law firms as proof of your skills and knowledge.
You’ll need the ‘right to work in the UK’ by the time you start your apprenticeship, and we’ll ask you to provide your approved paperwork before starting.
We want everyone to feel comfortable and to be able to perform at their best during the recruitment process. If you need any adjustments please email earlycareers@irwinmitchell.com and we'll be happy to discuss this with you.
For the business admin, paralegal, IT, assistant accountants, internal audit and tax technician apprenticeships, we’ll invite a shortlist of candidates to follow an application and screening process and those who are successful at this stage will be invited to a virtual assessment centre.
Our solicitor apprenticeship has a slightly different selection process – read more about interview and assessments for our solicitor apprenticeship.
You can only apply to one of our apprenticeship opportunities once per year. If your application is unsuccessful this time around, you can apply again next year.
We look for a minimum of five GCSEs (including English and Maths) levels 9-4 (or equivalent) for the business administration apprenticeship programme. For all other programmes, we look for the above GCSE requirements plus three A-Levels (at grade C or above or equivalent).
If you don't meet these academic grade requirements, we'll look at any extenuating circumstances and confirm if we can progress your application.
Our work experience programme is only available to students who are in at least the second year of their degree as it’s geared to them applying for a training contract with us. We don’t have a structured programme for younger students.
The paralegal apprenticeship is currently an entry level opportunity which gives you the level 3 paralegal apprenticeship upon completion. The level 7 solicitor apprenticeship is a programme that currently takes around 6 years to qualify as a solicitor. You'll obtain a law degree (LLB) plus the required solicitor qualifying examinations 1 and 2 and qualifying work experience.
We’re happy to answer any other questions you might have about our apprenticeships. Email us at earlycareers@irwinmitchell.com and we’ll be in touch.
