February 5th–11th sees National Apprenticeship Week 2024, the 17th annual celebration of apprenticeships, and what better way to celebrate than by starting one?
Here is the experience of Eve, who just started her apprenticeship as a paralegal, but first…
Why is National Apprenticeship Week important?
National Apprenticeship Week promotes this alternative method in the world of work and academic achievement, with this year’s theme being ‘Building Skills for Life’, showing the impact an apprenticeship can have by equipping individuals with lifelong skills that can help future success.
Undertaking an apprenticeship allows you to gain greater understanding, work towards a qualification, and build vital transferrable skills, all while working and getting paid.
What is a legal apprenticeship?
A legal apprenticeship is a great alternative to the traditional methods of progressing your career in the legal sector, allowing you to gain a solid foundation of legal knowledge and the practical skills needed for a role in the law with the opportunity to apply these on a day-to-day basis while working in the sector.
Eve’s experience
At the beginning of 2024, I embarked on a paralegal apprenticeship programme with BPP University, supported by my employer, Hansells Solicitors. While I am new to my apprenticeship journey, I can already see the benefits of this course as I progress in my legal career.
- Having a safe space to learn skills and knowledge without the pressure or fear of making mistakes
- Being able to apply knowledge and skills learned directly to your day job pretty much instantly can be rewarding
- Pushing yourself towards a qualification and learning new things in a supportive environment is fulfilling
- Gaining confidence by being able to learn new information, developing practical skills, being faced with new situations requiring you to problem-solve, and communicating these with fellow students, colleagues, and clients.
While it is still very early on in my apprenticeship, I am looking forward to developing my knowledge, gaining new experiences, progressing my career, and building skills for life as I continue through this qualification.
If you have doubts about how to progress in your legal career, get in touch with Eve (evestaton@hansells.co.uk) or with our HR team for any questions.
Check out the National Apprenticeship for more guidance on this path.
