The College of Legal Practice is delighted to announce the launch of a new four-year Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme, offering aspiring legal professionals a highly focused route to qualification while gaining invaluable workplace experience.
Programme overview
Starting in April 2026, this innovative programme is designed for those legal professionals without a degree, as an alternative to the Trailblazer six-year solicitor apprenticeship programme. The solicitor apprentices will earn while they learn, combining structured online legal study with development in the workplace. They will develop core study and legal skills, build foundational knowledge of law, and progress through the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), supported by expert coaching and tailored resources.
Why a four-year programme?
Following feedback from firms on completion rates and programme length, the College has reimagined the traditional six-year solicitor apprenticeship. The result is a shorter, more focused pathway that includes a Graduate Certificate in Law (Level 6) qualification. This programme de-risks the investment for the firm and will include a natural step off point at two years once they have completed their Graduate Certificate in Law.
The programme is:
- Streamlined and practical: A condensed, work-based format integrating legal training and foundational skills.
- Centred around the SQE curriculum: Designed around SQE from day one, ensuring apprentices are fully prepared for qualification.
- Flexible with online delivery: Online study ring-fenced across the week, avoiding the traditional “one day out of the office” model.
- Offered by a single provider: As an accredited higher education institution, the College delivers all training, ensuring the focus in the SQE, with consistency and quality throughout.
Commitment to social mobility
The recent SRA report on the strong SQE performance of solicitor apprentices highlights how these programmes are working well to open access to the profession. The College is committed to supporting this progress, and as such has extended its SQE programmes to offer a full range of apprenticeship options. This new programme complements the existing two-year and three-year graduate solicitor apprenticeships run by the College for over 20 firms at present.
New option for aspiring solicitors aged 22 years+
As many know, from 2026, Levy funding for Level 7 apprenticeships will no longer apply to apprentices aged 22 years and over. To address this, the College is introducing a two-year Coaching for SQE Success Programme, starting from £12,000. This includes SQE preparation, SQE exam fees, and tailored coaching, building on the successful elements of the apprenticeship model which contributed to the recent SRA findings that apprentices perform significantly better in the national SQE exams.
Dr Giles Proctor, CEO of the College, said:
“We’re excited to partner with employers to nurture the next generation of solicitors in a range of ways. Firms can expect the same SQE expertise, excellent client service and student care across all our apprenticeship and non-apprenticeship programmes. We are proud to innovate and create apprenticeship options that widen access to the legal profession. Supporting and guiding employers in developing future talent is a key priority for us.”
Background on the College’s Apprenticeship Programmes
The College’s solicitor apprenticeship programmes for 2026 offer a full range of pathways depending on the apprentices’ academic qualifications and experience. The College is on the Apprenticeship Register, regulated by Ofsted, and are partnering with over 20 firms to support their solicitor apprentices.
Our programmes deliver virtual training and coaching to the apprentices. This does not require them to go offsite to a campus on a designated day each week. Instead, the apprentice will complete their required training within the workplace, with the firm and apprentice running the training on a flexible basis.
The three apprenticeship programmes offered by the College are:
- Two-year programme for law graduates. This programme includes the SQE1 and SQE2 preparation modules, each studied over 40 weeks of part-time learning. Running in March & September 2026.
- Three-year programme for non-law graduates. This programme starts with a year of study for a Graduate Certificate in Law, and continues through the two 40-week SQE preparation modules over the subsequent two years. Running in November 2026.
- Four-year programme for non-graduates. This programme starts with a Study and Legal Skills programme, progresses to a Graduate Certificate in Law and then moves to the two 40-week SQE preparation modules over the final two years. Running in April & September 2026.
You can find out more details on the new four-year programme on our website, please get in touch if you would like more details.