Jefferson is a solicitor apprentice at DWF. Read more about his apprenticeship journey so far, and his tips for others considering the solicitor apprenticeship pathway.
Why did you choose to do the solicitor apprenticeship?
The apprenticeship was suggested to me by my employer, having assessed my prior learning and experience. It had been some time since I’d obtained my law degree, following which I had started working in law to obtain experience. I had intended to follow the traditional route of going through the Legal Practice Court (LPC) – and ended up building a career over 18 years! This has given me a great appreciation of the work that paralegals do and the “professional snobbery” sometimes faced. After that length of time it was, admittedly, daunting to think about going back into learning. Ultimately, I chose to do it to challenge myself, as well as to put myself in a position to supervise the delivery of legal services.
What do you think are the advantages of qualifying through an apprenticeship as opposed to more traditional pathways?
You’re earning a wage and getting time for training and study related to your role at the same time. Whilst more traditional pathways can be quicker, if studying full-time they’re also more intensive – being able to continue my career with the benefit of off-the-job training, away from my job role, has eased me back into learning and given me the flexibility I need to balance the demands of work in the legal profession, life with a young family, and study, using quieter work periods to access distance learning.
What have you learned and how has the apprenticeship impacted on you so far?
I’ve kept detailed notes on what I’ve learnt which I feel goes beyond my qualifying work experience and the “stock” content of SQE1 (on the application of legal knowledge) and stands me in good stead for SQE2 (focused on practical legal skills). Because of the “slower” pace, I have also had time to reflect on my learning experiences. I think this has positively impacted on me in a number of ways, improving my delivery of legal services to clients as well as satisfying my development needs in terms of the new knowledge, skills and behaviours required.
What impact do you think you’ve had on your organisation during your apprenticeship so far?
I think I’ve used the new knowledge and skills to improve my personal delivery of legal services to clients, but also more widely within my department. The apprenticeship and Damar Training require you to demonstrate and provide evidence of you putting your knowledge and skills into practice. Even after 18 years, looking back over the portfolio of work that I’ve just completed for submission is a great visualisation, showing me just how far I’ve come in the last year or so.
How have you found the apprenticeship and working with Damar Training and BARBRI?
I found that the robust initial assessment of my prior learning with Damar was very positive. It identified my specific needs, ensured that I didn’t duplicate knowledge and skills that I’d already gained during my career, providing me with a more tailored learning experience. Damar Training has given me the soft skills and “wrap around” support needed to keep on track with what is still a relatively new path to qualifying as a solicitor. BARBRI’s SQE prep course has given me the flexibility to suit my individual needs – I’ve been able to log in anytime and from anywhere to access the bite-sized modules that I need to complete. This has helped me to study at my own pace and around work and family commitments.
What advice would you give to other people considering the apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is not an easy option and should not be embarked upon lightly. It requires commitment from you and your employer. I have seen candidates fail all or part of their SQE so there is no guarantee of success. I feel fortunate to have been given this opportunity by my employer.
What advice would you give to new solicitor apprentices commencing their programme in order to maximise their chances of success?
Remember that “this is a marathon, not a sprint”. If you’re commencing the programme, you should already understand what is involved. Beyond that, I would recommend:
- Get the right gear for you. For me this included a notepad for my Damar work, a refill pad for BARBRI learnings, hard copies of the BARBRI SQE1 prep books, flash cards for revision, an erasable whiteboard to simulate exam conditions, and a motivational water bottle!
- Set your own pace and follow the training plan: The BARBRI learning platform is sophisticated, setting a personal study plan (PSP) based on your calendar preferences. Outside of the bite-sized modules, there is a lot of reading – try using the pomodoro technique to have focused reading sessions.
- Taper: Be kind to yourself, taking regular breaks during learning and keeping a routine outside of revision. SQE1 is hard. There will be setbacks along the way but “don’t sweat the small stuff”.
- Eat and drink: Not just whilst you are revising, this is also necessary for the SQE1 exams. Mine started before breakfast, with the break before lunchtime. A banana, M&S brain ball and peparami kept me going.
- Prepare mentally: There’s plenty of material available as to what to expect on exam day. Even when you’re commencing the programme though, remember this is for the long-haul and, fundamentally, your career. If you train hard and do the work then this should allow you to perform your best on exam day – even if it’s unlikely that you will enjoy that part of the experience!