Job Description

Role

Legal Apprenticeship 2026

=============================

Category:

Apprentices

Location:

Bristol

Want to earn while you learn from the best team in law? Our Legal Apprenticeship will give you practical insight into a career in the legal sector and help develop transferable skills that will be valued in any profession.

"An apprenticeship is a really great way to go into law because you're learning from the ground up, you get to work with professionals every day and you get to apply what you're learning in class straight into practice."



Jasmine, Solicitor who qualified via the Legal Apprenticeship route

The

programme

Our programme allows you to qualify as a solicitor by completing the Level 7 Solicitor apprenticeship over a period of six years.


You will spend 4 days a week working at the firm under the supervision of qualified lawyers and 1 day studying towards formal legal qualifications. Our training provider is BPP University.

Throughout the apprenticeship you will have the opportunity to spend time in several of our legal departments.

All positions will be based at One Glass Wharf, our Bristol HQ, only five minutes' walk from Temple Meads station.
We are taking on 4 legal apprentices to start with the firm in September 2026.

Entry requirements

GCSEs:

grades 4 and above are essential. (A to C under the old scoring system). You will need to have achieved at least a 6 in Maths and English (B).

A Levels / Level 3 qualifications:

equivalent to BBB / 120 UCAS points. You must be 16 or over by the end of the summer holidays 2026, have lived in England or Wales for at least 3 years and completed full-time education before the start of the apprenticeship. Unfortunately, we do not currently offer a graduate solicitor apprenticeship and therefore are not able to accept Law graduates onto our apprenticeship programme.

Important information

All applications must be made via the Burges Salmon website by clicking the pink 'Apply Now'icon. Please ensure to submit your application

before midnight on Monday 10 November 2025

to be considered for this apprenticeship. If you are invited to a selection event (assessment centre) you will need to be available to attend the Bristol office on either 9th or 11th December 2025 - candidates select their places on a first come, first serve basis.

If you are successful in reaching the final selection stage, you will need to be able to commit to attending a work experience wee

k from

16- 20 February 2026 at our Bristol office. As a firm, we are committed to providing an equal experience for all. Therefore, Travel, (if necessary) accommodation and other subsidiary expenses would be covered for this.

The application

Once you submit your application form, you'll receive an email inviting you to complete

two online assessments.

Your application will not be considered

until both assessments are completed, so please allow enough time before the deadline.

Stage 1: Emerging Talent Assessment

Online and untimed (approx. 45 minutes). Simulates realistic workplace scenarios. Assesses decision-making, behaviours, and preferences. No legal knowledge required.

Stage 2: Critical Reasoning Assessment

Timed online test (approx. 45 minutes), completed after Stage 1. Measures critical thinking and evidence-based judgement. Focuses on evaluating arguments, assumptions, and conclusions. Based on reasoning ability, not prior knowledge.

If you require any adjustments or have any accessibility requirements to complete these, please get in touch with Jess McGee at

jess.mcgee@burges-salmon.com

.

or Grace Elliotr at

grace.elliott@burges-salmon.com

.

Key dates

Apprenticeship application deadline - 10 November 2025 Selection event at our Bristol office - 9 & 11 December 2025 Vacation scheme (work experience week) - 16-20 February 2026 Offers made - February/March 2026 A-level and Level 3 qualification results - August 2026 Apprenticeship start date - September 2026

Please note that selection events and the vacation scheme take place in person at the Bristol office on the above dates only - we are unable to be flexible with this.

What we offer you

You will be earning from

day one.

Your salary will increase each year as you become more experienced:

Bristol Salary

Apprentice

Year 1 Paralegal


25,000


Year 2 Paralegal


27,000


Year 1 Solicitor


30,000


Year 2 Solicitor


34,000


Year 3 Solicitor (same as Year 1 Trainee Solicitor)


49,500


Year 4 Solicitor (same as Year 2 Trainee Solicitor)


51,500

Trainee Solicitor

Year 1


49,500


Year 2


51,500

Newly Qualified Solicitor

76,000


+ As of September 2025

Plenty of support during your time with us.

You'll be allocated a central point of contact for the duration of your apprenticeship, as well as a 'buddy' who will be on call for any questions you may have about life at the firm.

It's not all work here!

We have an active social life and there are plenty of opportunities to participate in corporate responsibility activities as well as sports and social events. Find out more here.

The chance to learn from experts in their field.

You gain new skills and discover your potential.

The opportunity to work in central Bristol.

Working in one of Bristol's most eco-friendly buildings, in the city's legal and business hub.

Wishing you the best of luck with your application!

It's important to us that our organisation represents the diverse community in which we operate and we encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and identities. As a Disability Confident Leader, we will provide a fully accessible recruitment process and invite disabled applicants to our selection event who meet our entry requirements and the minimum scoring criteria.
Meet the recruiter

Jess McGee

--------------


jess.mcgee@burges-salmon.com


+44 117 307 6123