As National Apprenticeship Week 2026 begins, with its focus on 'Skills for Life', it is timely to reflect on how the legal profession is developing the long-term capability of its future workforce. The debate is no longer about whether solicitor apprenticeships can work, but about how effectively firms are using them to build confident, resilient lawyers who are equipped for the realities of a modern practice.
Apprenticeships are particularly effective in law because learning takes place alongside real casework. This allows individuals to develop technical knowledge in parallel with the practical and professional judgement that only comes from experience. Managing workloads, meeting client expectations and working within regulated environments from an early stage helps to build confidence and resilience, while the SQE framework ensures that academic and professional standards remain consistent and robust.
At Winn Group, apprenticeships form a central part of our people and succession strategy. Since 2017, the group has enrolled 158 apprentices across the business, with 48 currently in training in areas including legal, personal injury, vehicle damage, IT, finance and customer services. We work closely with training providers such as the University of Law and Learning Curve Group to ensure that programmes support both qualification outcomes and the wider skills needed to progress and build long-term careers.
The SQE route is already demonstrating its value. We have seen our first solicitor apprentices qualify while managing demanding caseloads and moving into roles with greater responsibility, including litigation supervision and complex claims work. From a workforce development perspective, this experience of balancing study with professional responsibility creates lawyers who are organised, resilient and confident in their ability to handle pressure. Many former apprentices have continued to progress within the business into fee-earning and supervisory roles, strengthening internal career pathways and supporting retention.
Crucially, apprenticeships are about more than gaining a qualification. They help widen access to the profession and support social mobility by allowing people to earn while they learn. They also provide employers with a sustainable way to develop talent that reflects the communities they serve and the skills the profession will need in the future.
As the legal sector looks ahead, solicitor apprenticeships should be viewed as a core route to building skills for life, helping to create stronger careers, more resilient businesses and a profession that is well equipped for many years to come.
Chris Birkett is the chief executive of Newcastle-based Winn Group
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