Solicitor Apprenticeships are a growing alternative to the traditional university route, offering school leavers the opportunity to earn while they learn, gain hands-on legal experience from day one, and qualify as solicitors without incurring student debt.
The programme enables participants to earn an LL.B. degree and complete the Solicitors Qualifying Exams (SQE) by the end of their training.
Reed Smith’s programme is part of the firm’s ongoing commitment to increasing access to the legal profession and supporting social mobility. By providing alternative pathways to qualification, the firm hopes to attract a wide pool of talent and support those who may otherwise face barriers to entry.
Brigid North, Reed Smith’s London office managing partner, said: “We are excited to launch our Solicitor Apprenticeship programme and to welcome and support our first apprentices in 2026 as they join the next generation of future lawyers. These apprenticeships provide a fantastic opportunity for talented individuals to pursue a career in law without the financial burden of university. Reed Smith is committed to an inclusive profession, and this is an important step for us toward improved social mobility in the practice of law.”
Rebecca Schrod, Reed Smith’s senior early careers recruitment & development manager, said: “We’re really excited to launch our Solicitor Apprenticeship programme. We’re passionate about opening up new pathways into the profession and reaching talented people who might not have seen a traditional route as accessible. We want to remove barriers and make a legal career possible for more people, whatever their background.”
The firm is a member of City Century, a collaboration of leading City of London law firms led by the City of London Law Society that was established to champion solicitor apprenticeships and reimagine the future of the profession.
Applications for Reed Smith’s Solicitor Apprenticeship programme are now open until January 2026. More information can be found on the Reed Smith website.