Solicitor Apprentice Review
at Experian
Degree Apprenticeship
Commercial Law, Corporate Law, Legal/Law
Nottingham
Review Submitted: April 2026
Overall Rating
4.9 /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!
5/5
-
Overview of Role
5/5
-
Skills Development
4.8/5
-
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
I work as a Paralegal/Solicitor Apprentice within Experian’s Global Procurement team, based in Nottingham. My role is focused on supporting the business with legal and contractual matters, particularly in relation to third‑party supplier agreements, procurement processes, and legal operations. On a day-to-day basis, I act as a key point of contact between Legal, Procurement, and the wider business to ensure that supplier engagements are structured, compliant, and effectively risk-managed. In practice, my role involves a combination of legal analysis, contract management, and stakeholder coordination. I regularly: Review, draft, and negotiate commercial contracts, including MSAs, SOWs, DPAs, and related supplier documentation, identifying legal and commercial risk and proposing practical, business-focused mitigations. Support Global Procurement by advising on contractual terms, managing contract approval workflows, and ensuring agreements align with Experian’s internal standards and risk appetite. Manage contract lifecycle processes, including renewals, terminations, non-renewals, and maintaining accurate contract records for audit and governance purposes. Provide guidance to internal stakeholders on contractual interpretation, key obligations, and operational implications of supplier terms, often translating complex legal concepts into clear, actionable advice. Assist with legal operations and process improvement, including the use of contract management tools and automation to improve efficiency, consistency, and visibility across procurement-related legal work. Collaborate with colleagues across Legal and Finance, escalating higher-risk issues where necessary and supporting more senior lawyers with research, risk notes, and structured summaries.
How the Role Adds Value
Overall, my role helps ensure that Experian can engage suppliers efficiently while protecting the business from legal, regulatory, and commercial risk. By combining detailed contract analysis with a practical, solutions-focused approach, I support both compliance and commercial objectives across the procurement lifecycle.
How the Role Adds Value
Overall, my role helps ensure that Experian can engage suppliers efficiently while protecting the business from legal, regulatory, and commercial risk. By combining detailed contract analysis with a practical, solutions-focused approach, I support both compliance and commercial objectives across the procurement lifecycle.
To what extent do you enjoy your programme?
5/5
I love my role and I receive a lot of guidance and support
Skills Development
Have you learnt any new skills or developed existing skills?
5/5
My contract review and drafting skills have developed significantly. On a day‑to‑day basis I review and negotiate a wide range of supplier agreements, including MSAs, SOWs and DPAs, which has strengthened my ability to spot legal and commercial risk, understand how clauses interact across an agreement, and propose pragmatic amendments that work for both Legal and the business. I’ve also become much more confident in contract interpretation, particularly when explaining key obligations, termination rights, liability positions, and data protection requirements to non‑legal stakeholders in clear, practical terms.
My stakeholder management and communication skills have also progressed. I regularly act as a bridge between Legal, Procurement and the wider business, which has improved my ability to manage expectations, prioritise competing requests, and tailor my communication depending on the audience — whether that’s a senior stakeholder, Procurement colleague or external supplier. This has helped me become more assertive and commercially aware when discussing risk and legal positions.
My stakeholder management and communication skills have also progressed. I regularly act as a bridge between Legal, Procurement and the wider business, which has improved my ability to manage expectations, prioritise competing requests, and tailor my communication depending on the audience — whether that’s a senior stakeholder, Procurement colleague or external supplier. This has helped me become more assertive and commercially aware when discussing risk and legal positions.
Structure and Support
How well organised/structured is your programme?
5/5
Overall, I would say my programme is well structured but deliberately flexible, which has suited the nature of the role and the team I’m working in.
There is a clear core framework underpinning the programme. From the outset, expectations around my role, responsibilities and progression have been set, and I’ve had consistent supervision and support from my manager and wider team. Work is allocated in a way that steadily builds responsibility, allowing me to develop confidence and competence over time rather than being exposed to tasks in a disjointed way. This has helped ensure that my learning is continuous and purposeful rather than ad hoc.
At the same time, the programme allows for a good degree of flexibility, which I think is a real strength. Because the work is aligned to live business needs, my day‑to‑day tasks naturally evolve based on priorities within Legal and Global Procurement. This has meant I’ve been able to gain broad exposure to different types of work while still working within a clear structure. My development hasn’t been limited to rigid checkpoints; instead, learning happens organically through real matters, with ongoing feedback and reflection.
There is a clear core framework underpinning the programme. From the outset, expectations around my role, responsibilities and progression have been set, and I’ve had consistent supervision and support from my manager and wider team. Work is allocated in a way that steadily builds responsibility, allowing me to develop confidence and competence over time rather than being exposed to tasks in a disjointed way. This has helped ensure that my learning is continuous and purposeful rather than ad hoc.
At the same time, the programme allows for a good degree of flexibility, which I think is a real strength. Because the work is aligned to live business needs, my day‑to‑day tasks naturally evolve based on priorities within Legal and Global Procurement. This has meant I’ve been able to gain broad exposure to different types of work while still working within a clear structure. My development hasn’t been limited to rigid checkpoints; instead, learning happens organically through real matters, with ongoing feedback and reflection.
How much support do you receive from your employer?
5/5
Overall, I receive a high level of support from my employer, both in terms of day‑to‑day supervision and wider developmental support.
On a practical level, I’m well supported by my manager and the wider legal team, who are available to provide guidance when needed and are proactive in checking in on workload, priorities and development. While I’m trusted to work independently and take ownership of matters appropriate to my role, I always have access to support when issues are complex, higher‑risk, or new to me. This balance between autonomy and oversight has helped me build confidence while still feeling well supported.
On a practical level, I’m well supported by my manager and the wider legal team, who are available to provide guidance when needed and are proactive in checking in on workload, priorities and development. While I’m trusted to work independently and take ownership of matters appropriate to my role, I always have access to support when issues are complex, higher‑risk, or new to me. This balance between autonomy and oversight has helped me build confidence while still feeling well supported.
How much support do you receive from your training provider when working towards your qualifications?
5/5
I receive a good and consistent level of support from my training provider while working towards my qualifications, particularly in relation to academic guidance, structure, and accessibility.
There is clear academic support in place, including access to tutors and support staff who are available to answer questions, clarify course content, and provide guidance on assessments. When I’ve needed clarification on requirements or feedback on my progress, support has been accessible and responsive rather than difficult to navigate. This has helped me stay on track and feel confident about what’s expected academically.
There is clear academic support in place, including access to tutors and support staff who are available to answer questions, clarify course content, and provide guidance on assessments. When I’ve needed clarification on requirements or feedback on my progress, support has been accessible and responsive rather than difficult to navigate. This has helped me stay on track and feel confident about what’s expected academically.
How well do you feel that your qualification (through your training provider) helps you to perform better in your role?
5/5
Overall, I feel that my qualification supports my performance in the role very effectively, particularly by strengthening the theoretical and analytical foundation that underpins the practical work I carry out day to day.
The qualification helps me perform better by providing context and structure to the work I’m doing in practice. Many of the topics covered—such as legal principles, contractual risk, professional conduct, and applied legal reasoning—directly complement the contracts, stakeholder interactions, and risk assessments I deal with in my role. This means I’m not just carrying out tasks procedurally, but I understand why certain approaches are taken and how they fit into a wider legal framework.
The qualification helps me perform better by providing context and structure to the work I’m doing in practice. Many of the topics covered—such as legal principles, contractual risk, professional conduct, and applied legal reasoning—directly complement the contracts, stakeholder interactions, and risk assessments I deal with in my role. This means I’m not just carrying out tasks procedurally, but I understand why certain approaches are taken and how they fit into a wider legal framework.
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
Yes, there are a good number of extra‑curricular opportunities available at work, covering social, wellbeing, and professional development activities, and I’ve found these to be a positive part of the working environment.
From a social and wellbeing perspective, there are organised activities and resources promoted internally, including wellbeing initiatives and group activities linked to the Nottingham site. For example, internal communications highlight wellbeing sessions and shared resources designed to support work–life balance and employee wellbeing, such as group activities and learning-focused initiatives. These create opportunities to connect with colleagues outside of day‑to‑day work and contribute to a sense of community within the organisation.
In terms of professional and networking opportunities, there are regular chances to get involved beyond core role responsibilities. These include learning sessions, internal events, and wider business initiatives that allow employees to broaden their knowledge, engage with colleagues across teams, and develop professionally. Being part of a large organisation also means there are cross‑team forums and events where people can share expertise, learn from others, and build internal networks informally alongside their roles.
From a social and wellbeing perspective, there are organised activities and resources promoted internally, including wellbeing initiatives and group activities linked to the Nottingham site. For example, internal communications highlight wellbeing sessions and shared resources designed to support work–life balance and employee wellbeing, such as group activities and learning-focused initiatives. These create opportunities to connect with colleagues outside of day‑to‑day work and contribute to a sense of community within the organisation.
In terms of professional and networking opportunities, there are regular chances to get involved beyond core role responsibilities. These include learning sessions, internal events, and wider business initiatives that allow employees to broaden their knowledge, engage with colleagues across teams, and develop professionally. Being part of a large organisation also means there are cross‑team forums and events where people can share expertise, learn from others, and build internal networks informally alongside their roles.
Recommendations & Advice
Would you recommend Experian to a friend?
Yes
Why?
It is a great company to work for and they always back your corner
What tips or advice would you give to others applying to Experian?
Just be completely yourself, they aren't looking for someone who says what they think you want to here, be yourself and let that shine through
