At Attwells Solicitors, we believe legal apprenticeships are a vital pathway into the profession—offering a debt-free, practical route for aspiring solicitors. We have seen first-hand how valuable this scheme is through the experience of our apprentices over the past few years. However, over the past year, we’ve watched with concern as the future of Level 7 apprenticeship funding hung in the balance.
We are relieved to see the government has now confirmed it will continue to fund Level 7 apprenticeships—but with a significant change: funding will now be limited to apprentices under the age of 22.
What’s Changing?
Until now, solicitor apprenticeships (Level 7) have been open to applicants of all ages, with the government covering the majority of the cost. For small to medium-sized firms like Attwells, the government funded 95% of the cost, with Attwells contributing the remaining 5%.
This has enabled firms like ours to offer six-year apprenticeships that lead to:
- Qualification as a solicitor via the SQE
- Years of valuable legal experience
- No student debt / Earn while you learn
This funding will continue, but from January 2026 it will only be available for those under the age of 22.
Why This Still Matters
Despite the restrictions, solicitor apprenticeships remain a powerful alternative to university—especially for school leavers. At Attwells, we’ve seen how this route produces talented future lawyers.
We are incredibly proud of our current apprentices, including Hannah Campbell, who was nominated for Paralegal of the Year at the national paralegal awards, and Adam Smith, who recently won our internal Newcomer of the Year award. Their achievements reflect the quality, dedication, and potential of those choosing the apprenticeship pathway.
Protecting Diversity and Access in Law
At Attwells, we’ve always viewed apprenticeships as key to improving diversity and social mobility in the legal profession. While we’re relieved that solicitor apprenticeships will continue, we’re concerned that the new age cap could undermine the progress made in widening access.
In particular, this change means that graduates who later decide to pursue a career in law will no longer be eligible for funded solicitor apprenticeships. With SQE preparation courses and exam costs reaching around £20,000, many will find the route to qualification prohibitively expensive without employer sponsorship or private funding. The SQE is a mandatory qualification for becoming a solicitor.
This restricts opportunities for those who:
- Realise their interest in law after completing a degree
- Were unable to secure an apprenticeship straight from school
- Are looking to retrain or change careers later in life
By limiting funding to under-22s, we risk closing the door on aspiring solicitors who may not follow a traditional path—a step backwards for a profession striving to be more inclusive and representative of society.
We hope the government will revisit this decision in the future and explore more flexible funding models that support a broader and more diverse range of future legal professionals.
What’s Next at Attwells?
We’re excited to welcome six new apprentices in September 2025, continuing our long-standing commitment to nurturing legal talent through the apprenticeship route. These include a mix of solicitor and property apprentices across our offices.
While our 2025 cohort is now finalised, we anticipate opening applications for our 2026 intake towards the end of this year. We encourage any interested students or school leavers to follow our updates and prepare early.
It is important to note that funding for our property apprenticeships currently remains open to people of all ages, and this pathway continues to be a fantastic route into property law.
Stay Informed
If you’re under 22 and considering a career in law, solicitor apprenticeships remain a fantastic option. At Attwells, we’re proud to continue investing in the next generation of legal professionals—despite the challenges.
For updates on our next apprenticeship opportunities, visit https://attwells.com/solicitor-apprenticeship-programme/. We also recommend following us on social media to stay informed.
If you are looking at a career in law regardless of your background, age or experience and want to talk to us about our options please do not hesitate to contact our head office on 01473 229 200. Our receptionist will connect you to the right team member – Colchester, Woodbridge, London, or straight to Ipswich.
