Solicitor apprentice Review
at CMS
Degree Apprenticeship
Legal/Law
London
Review Submitted: February 2023
Overall Rating
4.6 /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
5/5
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Skills Development
4.2/5
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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
My daily routine in year three is primarily focused on legal work, with some admin tasks to fill out the gaps. I regularly draft documents and legal advice for clients (under supervision from a senior lawyer). We are given 1 working day a week to cover our uni work.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
4/5
I very much enjoy my programme and the role. The apprenticeship allows me to learn and improve my skills every day and carry out the practical applications of what I am learning, for me, as a predominantly kinaesthetic learner this is very helpful.
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
I have learned/improved many new skills including written and oral communication, researching skills, critical thinking and analysis, interviewing clients to identify their legal issues/concerns and navigating complex contracts.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
4/5
The programme at CMS is now entering its 5th year, this has allowed time for many of the issues to be worked out. Our HR team has also set up a representative meeting to improve things for apprentices. I would say it is very well stricter now and getting better.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
4/5
The firm puts its money where it’s mouth is providing numerous employee benefits which to me shows it has a focus on wellness. Gym memberships and massages are heavily subsidised along with regular training and mental health resources are available for all employees.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
3/5
We have regular meetings with a skills coach to ensure we’re on track with learning. Lecturers are on hand to answer questions relatively quickly. I would say it could be improved with more interactive learning rather than recorded lectures as we cannot attend lectures outside our study day.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
I think the combination of theoretical and practical makes the learning much easier for me. For most people, things stick in your brain when you use them regularly not when you read them once in a book 6 years ago.
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
CMS is very focused on D&I, I run one of our 10 networks which regularly involves social events and client collaboration to train people on LGBT+ issues. The firm also offers various sports teams, chess clubs, debating teams and a book club.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend CMS to a friend?
Yes
Why?
It’s a very friendly place, the culture is unlike any firm of its size. Every other firm with that prestige of clients and size seems to be a much more tense place. But CMS seems to strike the balance between professional and welcoming.
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to CMS?
There are too many to fit in 50 words. Instead I would recommend attending the training sessions we run on how to have a successful application!
