Job Vacancy
Are you ambitious, driven and ready to build a career in law, without going to university full-time?
Holmes & Hills LLP is offering an exciting opportunity to join us as a Solicitor Apprentice. This programme combines hands-on legal experience with academic study, allowing you to gain a law degree (LLB) and qualify as a Solicitor through the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) route, all while earning a salary.
This role is for a September 2026 start. About Holmes & Hills Holmes & Hills is a leading regional law firm with seven offices across Essex and Suffolk. We provide high-quality legal advice to individuals and businesses, combining technical expertise with a collaborative and supportive culture.
At Holmes & Hills we are committed to investing in talent. Many of our Solicitors started their careers with us and through our consistent support and expert guidance, they have now become well rounded professionals. Many of which who have now advanced into our senior leadership team.
The Role As a Solicitor Apprentice, you will:
- Support fee earners with case preparation and legal research
- Draft legal documents and client correspondence
- Attend client meetings and, where appropriate, court hearings
- Assist with file management and maintain accurate records
- Communicate professionally with clients and third parties
Study towards your law degree and SQE qualification alongside your practical work.
This position is a 6 year apprenticeship, where you will rotate through 3–4 different departments during your first two years, including areas such as Property, Wills & Probate, and Family Law, gaining broad legal experience before specialising in your chosen practice area for the remaining period of your apprenticeship.
At the beginning of your apprenticeship, you will work closely with Legal Assistants and Secretaries to understand core processes and how a law firm operates. As your confidence and knowledge grow, you will take on greater responsibility and work more directly with Paralegals, Trainee Solicitors and Supervising Partners.
As part of the programme, you must be able to travel to all of our office locations. Study Commitment Apprentices spend 20% of their contracted working hours on structured learning. This includes:
- Online teaching sessions
- Assignment work and self-study
- Developing new skills and knowledge within your department
- Dedicated supervision and development time
We support you throughout balancing academic progress with real legal experience.
What We’re Looking For We are seeking candidates who demonstrate:
- 3 A Levels (or equivalent/predicted) totalling 128 UCAS points
- Five GCSEs (grades 9–4), including English and Maths
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong attention to detail
- Good organisation and time management
- Professionalism and a proactive attitude
- The ability to balance work and study commitments
- A genuine interest in pursuing a legal career
No prior legal experience is required; we are looking for potential, commitment and enthusiasm.
What We Offer- A fully funded law degree and SQE qualification
- A structured, supervised training programme
- Early responsibility and real client exposure
- Mentoring and career development support
- Competitive apprenticeship salary with annual reviews
- A clear pathway towards qualification as a solicitor
“I have thoroughly enjoyed the apprenticeship. The level of experience you gain by working alongside studying is invaluable. From day one you are able to get real insight as to the inner workings of a law firm. I’ve been lucky enough to get a range of experience which has assisted in my preparation for SQE2 including client interviewing, advocacy, drafting and much more. Of course, one of the more obvious benefits is earning while learning and avoiding the mountains of student debt at the end” –
Anna Becker, Solicitor Apprentice “At Holmes & Hills, apprentices are not observers, they are part of the team. We invest in developing confident, capable lawyers who understand both the law and our clients.” –
Lawrence Pearce, Training Partner How to Apply Please apply via the “Apply Now” button and upload your CV along with a covering letter explaining why you would like to be considered for this role.
Stage 1 – Once we have screened CV’s, shortlisted candidates will then be invited for one interview with 3 of our partners. You will be invited to an interview during these dates 27th April 2026 – 8th May 2026.
Stage 2 – The selected few will be invited to come along to an assessment day at our Marks Tey office on
Thursday 28th May 2026.We will be closing applications for this role at 5:30pm on Monday 13th April. If we receive a high volume of applications, we may close this vacancy earlier than the advertised deadline.