Apprentice Solicitor Review

As an apprentice solicitor, I have one dedicated study day per week for SQE preparation, and I work for the other four days. I am in the office 60% of the time and working remotely 40% of the time. My start and finish times are flexible as long as I do all my hours.
I am based in a couple of teams. One is a mini-team with just a few litigators and paralegals, which gives me time to practice creating the usual court documents and learn about the processes. The other is a larger paralegal team where I can take on pieces of work for litigators who have upcoming cases, giving me more hands-on experience. I have been preparing court bundles and documents alongside my usual training and study time.
There are regular meetings between mini-teams, regional centres, apprentice cohorts, and others. Because I am early in my apprenticeship, I've also had online meetings about how to use the various HMRC systems and resources.

The structure was well outlined in the application bundle so I know when I will be taking exams, when I will be progressing through different seats, and when my teams will change. We are regularly put into contact with former trainees and apprentices who are further along in their programme so we can discuss stages and get advice from them.

There is plenty of support. I work with qualified litigators who are always on hand to answer questions. For simple things, I can send a quick Teams message to fellow apprentices or trainees. I have a paralegal manager who can answer work-related questions and an apprenticeship manager who can give general advice about work patterns, annual leave, flexi-time, and general office matters. I also have a sponsor, which is a senior officer who regularly checks in with me to see how I am progressing. There are lots of opportunities for progression and development - I haven't engaged much with these since I'm already on a study pathway, but I can see that HMRC encourages upskilling and promotions for its employees and I'd like to take on a few in the future.

I feel well supported in my studies. Allocated study time is protected so I can focus on SQE preparation during those days. The work I'm doing is relevant to my studies as well. Being part of a cohort of apprentices helps, as I can check in with them to see if we're all on the same page.

My qualification will allow me to practice as a solicitor, so I can take on litigation myself. For now, my legal studies are helping me perform better as a paralegal, and the training modules are giving me good grounding for my future work in the tribunal.

Yes

I have recommended HMRC to friends already! They're a very flexible and supportive employer. There are a lot of employees so it's a great place to make connections and feel like part of a team. The workspaces and offices are well-equipped and welcoming, and there are great opportunities to grow your skills and progress if you are looking to advance in your career. My work so far has been really interesting and I feel I have lots of opportunities ahead of me here.