Reed Smith opens door to law for school leavers with new UK apprenticeship

Reed Smith launches six-year solicitor apprenticeship for school leavers, starting in 2026

Reed Smith has announced the launch of its first solicitor apprenticeship programme in the UK, offering school leavers a direct, debt-free route into the legal profession. The international law firm will welcome its first cohort of apprentices to its London office in September 2026.

The global firm, which employs more than 1,800 lawyers worldwide, will take on an initial three solicitor apprentices for the six-year programme. Each apprentice will be based in London, gaining practical experience across the firm’s practice areas while studying for a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and completing the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).

The scheme mirrors similar initiatives now emerging across City law firms as part of efforts to widen access to the profession. The apprenticeship offers participants the chance to “earn while they learn”, combining paid legal work with academic study and professional qualification.

Reed Smith confirmed that first-year solicitor apprentices will receive a salary of £26,500, plus a £2,000 sign-on bonus. On successful completion of the programme, apprentices will qualify as solicitors — the same as those completing traditional university-based routes.

The launch follows the publication of Legal Cheek’s 2026 Solicitor Apprenticeship Most List, which provides insights into apprenticeship opportunities at 40 leading law firms across the UK. The guide allows school leavers to compare programmes by salary, size, and location.

The new initiative also reflects Reed Smith’s long-standing commitment to social mobility and inclusion within the legal industry. Speaking about the launch, Brigid North, Reed Smith’s London office managing partner, said:

“We are excited to launch our Solicitor Apprenticeship programme and to welcome and support our first apprentices in 2026 as they join the next generation of future lawyers. These apprenticeships provide a fantastic opportunity for talented individuals to pursue a career in law without the financial burden of university. Reed Smith is committed to an inclusive profession, and this is an important step for us toward improved social mobility in the practice of law.”

Rebecca Schrod, the firm’s senior early careers recruitment and development manager, echoed this commitment, highlighting the firm’s goal of widening access to the legal profession:

“We’re really excited to launch our Solicitor Apprenticeship programme. We’re passionate about opening up new pathways into the profession and reaching talented people who might not have seen a traditional route as accessible. We want to remove barriers and make a legal career possible for more people, whatever their background.”

Applications for the programme are now open and will close in January 2026. Successful candidates will begin in September 2026, joining Reed Smith’s London office full-time.

The solicitor apprenticeship will run alongside the firm’s established training contract programme, which recruits around 26 trainees annually. Apprentices will rotate through the firm’s departments, gaining experience in key practice areas such as commercial disputes, finance, corporate law, and regulatory work.

The launch positions Reed Smith among a growing list of global firms introducing solicitor apprenticeships, including Allen & Overy, Linklaters, and Clifford Chance, as part of a wider push to open alternative pathways into the legal profession.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) introduced the solicitor apprenticeship route in 2016, allowing firms to train school leavers to qualification level through a combination of work-based learning and formal study. The model is designed to make legal education more inclusive by reducing the cost barrier of traditional law degrees.

Reed Smith’s entry into this market signals growing confidence in the apprenticeship model as a viable route to qualification, particularly amid rising university fees and concerns about access to elite professional careers.

The firm said the new programme would be “a key investment in the next generation of lawyers”, aimed at ensuring the legal profession reflects “the diversity of the communities it serves.”