Your journey into law starts here
Early Careers
Looking to start your career in law? At Attwells, we offer apprenticeships and training programmes that give you the chance to earn while you learn, work with real clients, and gain hands-on experience from day one. Our programmes are designed to support you every step of the way, combining practical training with guidance from experienced solicitors. Whether you’re finishing school, leaving university, or changing direction, we’ll help you build the skills and confidence you need to succeed.
What do we provide?
At Attwells Solicitors, we’re passionate about nurturing future legal talent. We offer a range of apprenticeships and structured training routes, including Paralegal and Solicitor Apprenticeships, as well as training contracts. Our supportive environment ensures hands-on experience, one-to-one mentoring, and clear progression. Our apprenticeships and training routes are designed with long-term growth in mind. Whether you start as a legal assistant, paralegal apprentice, or trainee solicitor, we provide a clear pathway to qualification and career advancement, helping you grow your legal career from day one.
Real Stories from Our Team
Want to know what it’s really like to train at Attwells? Hear directly from two of our team members who’ve experienced our apprenticeship and training programmes first-hand, from starting out in law to qualifying as solicitors. Their journeys highlight the support, opportunities, and real-world experience you can expect when you begin your career with us.
Are you a great communicator, well-organised, hard-working, and wanting to “Earn While You Learn”?
The Attwells Lawyer Apprenticeship is for you!
Apprenticeship Outline
The Apprenticeship will provide you with the knowledge, skills, and understanding required to become a proficient Property Lawyer. You will develop your structured professional qualification alongside full-time employment at Attwells Solicitors. You will be supported on the job with a designated Lawyer committed to your development and a dedicated Academy Tutor to oversee your academic online course.
- Full-Time 9-5 pm (Office Based)
1 Day a Week Study fully funded
12 months to be a proficient Paralegal
3 years minimum to become a qualified lawyer (CLC qualified)
Application Requirements
- A-Levels or equivalent
5 GCSEs at Level 4 (C) or above including English and Maths
The application window is now closed.
Are you a great communicator, well organised, hard-working and wanting to “Earn while you learn”?
The solicitor apprenticeship will provide you with the knowledge, skills, qualification and understanding required to become solicitor. You will work from one of our offices supporting the team with a mix of administrative and legal work and will have the equivalent to one day a week studying with our chosen provider.
Over the course of the solicitor apprenticeship you will obtain an LLB law degree, undertake the SQE1 and SQE2 exams, and at the end of the apprenticeship be a qualified solicitor with at least 6 years of practical experience.
In the first two years you will work in various departments of the firm learning and developing the skills needed to become an excellent lawyer. You will get experience in administration, marketing, sales, compliance and customer service, along with directly supporting our lawyers.
In year three onwards you will work within specific legal departments of the firm, firstly providing support with the legal work and then moving to provide legal services directly to our clients.
The application window is now CLOSED
Work Experience at Attwells Solicitors
At Attwells, we understand how important it is for those with an interest in law to gain an insight into the workings of a law firm to support their future career aspirations. We therefore offer work experience placements across our offices, providing students with practical exposure to legal practice and the day-to-day operation of a modern law firm.
Our ethos is to encourage young people into a career in law regardless of their background. Founder Nick Attwell is keen to inspire personal development and understands that a diverse team supports Attwells’ purpose of breaking down barriers in law. We therefore welcome students from all backgrounds to apply for our work experience programme.
Non-Traditional Routes into Law
A number of our lawyers and leaders chose a non-traditional route into the legal profession.
Holly is a conveyancer who manages a caseload of residential property transactions, including new builds, Help to Buy schemes and shared ownership properties. She is also the Deputy Manager of our Ipswich Conveyancing Team. Holly has worked at Attwells since graduating from the University of Bristol in 2017. Her journey into law began in 2011 when she completed a week of work experience at Attwells while still at school.
Partner Laura Catania also demonstrates that university is not the only route into law. Laura joined Attwells as a Conveyancing Assistant and completed her Licensed Conveyancer qualification whilst working at the firm. Today, Laura is Head of Conveyancing and oversees our conveyancing teams across all offices.
Gain Legal Experience
Our work experience programme has been designed to help students develop skills that are valuable within the legal profession and beyond, including:
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Legal research
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Drafting and business correspondence
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Problem-solving
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Communication skills
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Time management
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Presentation skills
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Professional workplace etiquette
Who Can Apply?
Our work experience programme is primarily aimed at Year 12 students (or second-year college students) who are considering a future career in law.
Where capacity allows, we may also consider applications from Year 10 and Year 13 students.
Ipswich Work Experience
We have developed a structured programme that gives students experience across a range of departments, including:
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Conveyancing
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Private Client
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Commercial Law
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Marketing
Students will also participate in a personal development day focused on CV writing, interview preparation and presentation skills.
Our Ipswich office currently offers up to 10 placements per year, with each placement lasting one week. Priority may be given to students from local schools and colleges with whom we have established relationships.
Colchester Work Experience
Our Colchester office offers students the opportunity to experience life within a busy regional law firm. Placements provide exposure to a variety of legal disciplines and allow students to develop an understanding of client service, legal processes and professional practice.
London Work Experience
Our London office offers placements focused on Conveyancing and Property Law. As this is a smaller office, we are able to take a more flexible approach to placements, although most students will attend for a full week.
How to Apply
Applications for our work experience programme open on 1st September 2026 and close on 13th October 2026.
As part of your application, you will be required to submit:
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A CV
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A covering letter
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Your preferred office location (Ipswich, Colchester or London)
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Your preferred placement week
Please note that London placements are available in Conveyancing and Property Law only.
All application fields must be completed before an application can be submitted.
Once your application has been received, it will be reviewed by our team. Successful applicants will be contacted with further details. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, unfortunately we are unable to offer placements to every applicant.
Frequently asked questions
While we cannot guarantee a qualified position upon completion of the apprenticeship—due to commercial considerations and the duration of the programme—we are committed to retaining the talent we invest in.
As a small to medium-sized firm, it is in our best interest to support and develop our apprentices, and we are proud to have a strong track record of retention. At Attwells, you are recognised as a valued individual and team member—not just a number.
From A-Levels:
Complete a Law Degree, followed by the Solicitors Qualifying Exams (SQE 1 and 2). This route can also be undertaken through a Solicitor Apprenticeship.
Alternatively, begin with a Property Apprenticeship and study towards your CLC Licensed Conveyancer qualification.
After a Degree:
If you hold a law degree, you can progress directly to SQE 1 and 2. This can be completed at Attwells through our Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship.
If your degree is in a non-law subject, you would first complete the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL or have sufficient legal experience to be able to start prep courses for the SQE1.
The traditional route to qualifying as a solicitor typically involves attending university, completing the SQE, and gaining two years of qualifying work experience. This process can take up to six years and often involves significant financial costs with limited income during that time.
At Attwells, we offer a more accessible alternative. Our apprenticeships are fully funded through a combination of government support and firm investment, meaning there are no tuition fees for you to pay. You will earn a salary while gaining practical experience from day one.
We are committed to making a legal career accessible to all, regardless of background or previous experience.
We receive a high number of applications for our apprenticeship programmes. From these, approximately 10 candidates are shortlisted for an interview. Ultimately, 6 apprentices are selected across the offices and departments, depending on business needs and capacity.
Our work experience placements offer a comprehensive introduction to life at a law firm. During your placement, you will:
Shadow solicitors across departments such as Conveyancing, Commercial, Private Client, Employment, and Litigation
Gain insight into daily legal work through hands-on tasks
Receive practical guidance on improving your CV, writing effective cover letters, and succeeding in interviews
No prior preparation or materials are required. Simply bring yourself, a positive attitude, and any questions you may have. Prior legal experience is not expected.
For any enquiries regarding work experience placements, please contact:
Charlotte Reason
Head of Training
In your first year, you will be placed in a centralised department, allowing you to gain foundational experience across various areas such as administration, compliance, and general firm-wide processes.
In your second year, you will transition into a client-facing, transactional department, such as Conveyancing or Commercial Law.
From the third year onwards, you will have the opportunity to express preferences for departments you would like to gain further experience in. Departmental placements from this point will be based on both your interests and the firm’s commercial needs.In your final two years, our aim is to place you in the department in which you hope to qualify, helping you build the skills and experience necessary for a successful legal career.
Our solicitor apprenticeship programme is delivered in partnership with BPP University Law School.
To learn more about the course structure and BPP, please visit:
https://www.bpp.com/law/apprenticeships/solicitor-apprenticeship
- Property Litigation
- Employment
- Conveyancing
- Private Client
- Commercial
- A Levels or equivalent
- 5 GCSEs at level 4 or above including Maths and English
- Able to work independently while also being a team player
- Have a friendly and caring attitude
Our Property Lawyer Apprenticeship is delivered in partnership with Total People.
For more information about the programme and provider, please visit:
https://www.totalpeople.co.uk/sectors/property-apprenticeships/
Not immediately. At Attwells, we believe it is important for our apprentices to gain a broad understanding of the business before specialising.
Before starting your formal property apprenticeship, you will have the opportunity to work across several departments, such as:
- Marketing
- Compliance
- Reception
- New Business Team
This introduction helps you:
Understand the structure and workflow of the firm
Build relationships with colleagues across departments
Help you gain insight into how each team contributes to the client experience and your career development
This approach ensures you are well-prepared and confident before entering a specialised conveyancing role.
- A-Levels or equivalent
- 5 GCSEs at Level 4 (C) or above, including English and Maths