Solicitor Apprentice Review
at BCLP
Higher Level Apprenticeship
Legal/Law
Manchester
Review Submitted: February 2022
Overall Rating
4.8 /5
The Overall Rating is the average of all the ratings given in each category. We take those individual ratings and combine them into one final score!
5/5
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Overview of Role
5/5
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Skills Development
4.4/5
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Structure and Support
Overview of Role
Please give an overview of your role and what this involves on a day-to-day basis:
5/5
My role varies depending on which department I am working in. As an apprentice we rotate (like a trainee) into different seats. Currently I am in the Real Estate Disputes team. My day-to-day work includes drafting claim forms and particulars, submitting claims at court, meeting court deadlines, drafting various notices and a lot of client facing work.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I really enjoy my programme. I love the fact that I am able to learn practical skills from a young age, that university alone would not have taught me. I am also grateful to be working for a global law firm, which specialises in many areas of law, some of which I will have/have had the opportunity to experience during my programme.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I am currently a qualified paralegal so I attend all of the paralegal training that the firm offers. We have monthly training sessions with the knowledge and development lawyers, who go over typical document drafting, new laws and can help out with any university questions we may have. I have also previously attended client training on their external datasites.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
My programme is very well organised. It gives opportunities to progress internally and gives us a wide range of knowledge of law which will be useful when we qualify. The firm are very dedicated to meeting apprentices' needs and are quick to notice any changes that need to be adapted to better the programme even further.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
I receive a lot of support from my employer. BCLP recognise apprentices' needs around study time, and are very understanding when we need time off to study.
As apprentices, we have an apprenticeship manager who remains the same throughout the programme. We also then have the managers in each team that we rotate into. Everyone is understanding and we have the consistency of the apprenticeship manager who understands our needs.
As apprentices, we have an apprenticeship manager who remains the same throughout the programme. We also then have the managers in each team that we rotate into. Everyone is understanding and we have the consistency of the apprenticeship manager who understands our needs.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
Every term we have a coaching day, which is a lecture (sometimes in face or online) which gives us an opportunity to meet other apprentices. This focuses on practical skills, and on any coursework or portfolio submissions we have coming up.
The training providers are always available to answer any queries, but are not the best at providing information proactively.
The training providers are always available to answer any queries, but are not the best at providing information proactively.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
4/5
I think that the fact we can choose which areas of law we want to study in the first two years helps massively towards understanding your practice area. My area of law is real estate, so we chose to study land law and commercial property early on. We still have to sit all core areas of law, but this is over the 7 years of the programme.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
5/5
There are many extra-curricular activities offered at my work such as monthly drinks trolleys, which offers drinks and snacks after work to encourage socialising. We also have a netball team and a cricket team at the office, even though this has been postponed due to COVID-19. Over lockdown, the social committee organised an office game of virtual bingo after work, where prizes were sent home to the winners.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend BCLP to a friend?
Yes
Why?
I would recommend BCLP as it is very inclusive and organised. Through my apprenticeship I have had many opportunities which I wouldn't have gotten in another law firm, such as pitching apprentice work to a client in London and visiting client premises.
My time at BCLP so far has been enjoyable, and the people are so welcoming and lovely, at all levels.
My time at BCLP so far has been enjoyable, and the people are so welcoming and lovely, at all levels.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to BCLP?
I would say that you should research the firm, and definitely research which office you are applying for. The Manchester office focuses on real estate predominantly, however the London office specialises in so many more areas of law.
I would also recommend connecting with people who already work at BCLP to ask their experiences at the firm, as I recognise that not everyone applying for a job is applying for the apprentice role. It could be good to connect with other paralegals if you are applying for a paralegal job for example.
I would also recommend connecting with people who already work at BCLP to ask their experiences at the firm, as I recognise that not everyone applying for a job is applying for the apprentice role. It could be good to connect with other paralegals if you are applying for a paralegal job for example.
