Birmingham Training & Graduate - Level Solicitor Apprenticeship

Gateley Birmingham, England, United Kingdom

Be among the first 25 applicants

Are you a driven and ambitious individual with a passion for law? Gateley is offering an exciting opportunity for aspiring solicitors to join our training contract starting or graduate‑level solicitor apprenticeship in 2028.

• Non‑law graduates:
  Complete your degree by summer 2026, then study the PGDL and LLM (SQE1 &
  2) before joining us in September 2028
• Law graduates:
  Study the LLM (SQE1 &
  2) before starting in 2028
• LPC graduates:
  Join via the Professional Skills Course route
• Graduate – Level Solicitor Apprenticeship: A 25‑month programme with one day a week at University of Law

Comprehensive Training:
Our training contract provides a balanced mix of on‑the‑job learning and formal training sessions. You will receive supervision and mentoring from highly‑experienced solicitors, complemented by soft skills development training and quarterly coaching sessions from our talent development team. Our team of professional support lawyers will also provide regular technical training.

Four six‑month seats, giving you well‑rounded exposure to a number of areas of law.

Client Interaction:
Engage directly with clients, building your confidence and professional network. You will have opportunities to work directly with clients allowing you to build your client‑care and communication skills. Your progress and performance will be discussed regularly with you as well as more formally at your mid‑ and end‑of‑seat reviews.

From day one in your first seat, you will be given as much responsibility as possible and will play a crucial role in your team.

At Gateley, we seek candidates who bring a blend of key soft skills and a passion for personal and professional growth. Here’s what we value:

• Growth Mindset:
  We want people who are eager to develop, learn, and improve continuously, embracing challenges and actively seeking opportunities for self‑improvement.
• Collaboration:
  
  Teamwork is at the heart of what we do. We are looking for individuals who enjoy working with others, communicate effectively, and are committed to achieving collective success.
• Time Optimisation:
  The ability to manage time efficiently and prioritise effectively is essential. We value candidates who can organise their work to deliver the best results under pressure.
• Personal Responsibility:
  Accountability matters. We want individuals who take ownership of their work, make considered decisions, and are committed to delivering excellence.
• Commercial Awareness:
  Our trainees need to understand the business world, spot opportunities, and think commercially to support our clients effectively.
• Relationship Management:
  Building and nurturing strong professional relationships is key to success.
• Resilience: A legal career can be demanding. We seek individuals who are adaptable, recover quickly from setbacks, and remain positive and focused under pressure.
• Pride in Work:
  We like candidates who take pride in delivering high‑quality work and always strive to meet and exceed expectations.

Our assessment process consists of the following elements:

• Online application form – this will ask for key details such as your academic background and personal information along with a few screening questions.
• Interactive assessment (Jan 2026) – this assessment will present you with a range of questions that measure how suited you are to a career at Gateley.
• Video assessment (Feb 2026) – if you perform well in our initial online assessment, you will then be invited to complete a pre‑recorded video interview.
• Assessment centre (March 2026) – you will be invited to an in‑person assessment centre in the location you have applied to.
• Summer vacation placement (June/July 2026) – the SVP allows you to experience a week in the life of a Trainee Solicitor/Graduate Entry Solicitor Apprentice.

If your application has been successfully shortlisted following our initial review, you’ll be invited to complete our interactive assessment during the week commencing 12 January. You will then have 7 days to complete this. If…