Become an apprentice
Looking to build a career in law? Worried about the cost of going to university?
Then CILEX apprenticeships are for you!
Why choose an apprenticeship?
- Earn while you learn: start earning a salary from day one
- Fast-track your career: gain work experience at the same time as studying, giving you a head start in your career
- Gain real-world experience: practical on-the-job training helps build the confidence and commercial skills you need to succeed in law
- No debt from studying: your training is paid for by the employer and the government
Apprenticeships delivered by CILEX Law School
CILEX delivers apprenticeships through CILEX Law School (CLS).
CLS offer three apprenticeships which offer clear progression, from entry point roles in the legal profession through to qualified lawyer status. The apprenticeships delivered are:
Business Administrator apprenticeship (Level 3)
Set at A-level equivalent, this programme is ideal if you have no law experience or have completed an intermediate apprenticeship or have some prior experience in a business or administration role. It focuses upon those working in business administration roles within a legal environment.
- Duration: 18-month programme
- Benefits: Develops the highly transferable skills needed to develop, maintain and improve essential administrative services. Off-the-job learning requirement: minimum six hours per week.
CILEX Paralegal apprenticeship (Level 3)
This apprenticeship provides a great entry point into the legal profession. The paralegal apprenticeship is intended to be a destination in its own right, but can also be considered as a steppingstone onto multiple progression routes, including the full CILEX Lawyer apprenticeship offering, the CILEX Professional Qualification, the Solicitor Apprenticeship and Higher Education (both legal and non-legal courses).
- Duration: 24-month programme
- Benefits: Develops fundamental legal knowledge and skills, as well as practical skills such as the use of technology and commercial awareness. Emphasis is on swift development of practical skills meaning that apprentices can make a real contribution to the work of their team at an early stage.
- Typical role: Legal caseworker, legal assistant, legal file handler, paralegal
- Off-the-job learning requirement: minimum six hours per week
CILEX Lawyer apprenticeship*
This apprenticeship will be for those who have a strong commitment to becoming a qualified lawyer, achieving CILEX Lawyer status. The apprenticeship will provide full practice rights upon completion to those working in non-contentious or contentious areas of law.
- Benefits: The mandatory qualifications for these apprenticeships are likely to include the CILEX Professional Qualifications, designed to support the incremental development of workplace skills. The use of such a mandatory qualification provides an objective national benchmark of your apprentice’s development.
- Typical roles: CILEX Lawyer, Chartered Legal Executive, Chartered Legal Executive Litigator and Advocate
- Off-the-job learning requirement: minimum six hours per week
*Anyone embarking on this apprenticeship must be in a role which meets CILEX Regulation’s requirements for qualifying employment during the final years of their apprenticeship
Am I eligible to do an Apprenticeship?
Apprentices must be over 16 years old and live in England. You will need to be employed in a relevant job role and so need the support of your employer. Whilst apprenticeships are open to both new and existing staff, government funding rules mean that all apprentices must require the development of significant new knowledge, skills and behaviours in their role.
Each training provider may have different entry requirements for enrolment onto their programmes, so please contact your preferred training provider for more information.
Entry requirements for CILEX Law School Apprenticeships can be found here.
Welsh Apprenticeship in Legal Services
If you are based in Wales, you can look for apprenticeships based in your area below.
In legal employment?
Get in touch with us
to learn how CILEX can help.
Not in legal employment?
Take a look at the legal apprenticeships available on the
National Apprenticeship service