Paralegal apprentice Review
at DWF
Level 3 Apprenticeship
Legal/Law
Manchester
Review Submitted: March 2022
Overall Rating
3.9 /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!
4/5
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Overview of Role
4/5
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Skills Development
3.4/5
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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:
4/5
This role involves writing letters and sending them to Client's, creating bundles for Court, working on team projects, attending team meetings and overall supporting fee earners with their legal work. As an apprentice you are give then responsibility of your own work load, and meet deadlines that are set.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
So far it has been an enjoyable experience and it has taught me a lot about being independent as you are given you own workload and responsibilities as an apprentice. My team members are supportive and always give help when needed and answer my questions, which makes adjusting into the business very easy.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
4/5
So far I have learnt many skills, that I would not have had learnt otherwise at university. I have learnt how to speak with Client's and deal with them correctly, as well as all the legal jargon that goes with the job. My confidence has also improved as it is required in this role to speak up and I have improved this from the help of my peers.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
3/5
The programme is organised with 1 study day a week and 4 days of working in the office. During the study day we complete our preparation work and then attend a lecture. There is communication between the apprenticeship manager and the university regarding your performance to ensure that you are working well in university.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
When starting to work at the business I received lots of support and help from the team. I was given lots of training material before starting real work so that I could learn and understand the work I was gong to be given better. I also received lots of training sessions to understand how the systems and how the business works overall.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
There is a lot of independent studying required to complete the course. In our lectured we have the chance to go over most of the individual tasks we have to complete for each module, and can ask any questions we have regarding the tasks and the topic. We also have the opportunity to complete a mock assessment to help prepare for the real ones.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
3/5
It helps better perform in my role as I can understand things such as client care and contracts better when I complete the modules and this knowledge can then be applied at work. Reading case studies as part of my prep work helps me see how the topic we are on can be applied to cases I might work on.
Are there extra-curricular activities to get involved in at your work? (For example, any social activities, sports teams, or even professional networking events.)
4/5
There are plenty of activities to get involved in at work, however this has only started opening up due to the pandemic, so I have not yet had the opportunity to take part in in any in person activities. However, I have been taking part in sessions that help students understand different pathways into law.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend DWF to a friend?
Yes
Why?
They have many apprenticeship options in different offices, with the opportunity to progress into the solicitor apprenticeship after completing the paralegal one. There is also the chance to get a permanent job within the business once the course is over, as a qualified paralegal, which can be difficult to get otherwise.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to DWF?
When doing the interview on the assessment day try to be confident and speak up, especially in the group activities. Try to apply any past work experience into the interview when asked questions. It's a difficult and long process but worth it in the end - a degree and the chance of a permanent job!
