We understand that for some people ambition can't wait, and that is why WBD champions alternative routes into your chosen profession. We've been successfully recruiting Apprentice Paralegals in to the business for the past eight years and now we're looking for our next cohort to join us in September 2025 based in our Plymouth office.

Whether you're leaving school, college or changing career path, our Paralegal Apprenticeship programme offers a formal qualification, protected study time, an abundance of support and valuable hands-on experience through paid on-the-job learning. 

Why are we recruiting?

We were one of the first law firms to introduce the Paralegal Apprenticeship so we've learned what really works.  Our previous cohorts have successfully completed their apprenticeships and have since been promoted into our innovative Paralegal team to continue developing their legal careers.  We need new talent to join the business and that's where you come in! 

What will you actually be doing?

Over the two year duration of the apprenticeship, you'll be part of a high performing team of Paralegals, called the Legal Solutions Centre, in servicing our legal teams based across all of our UK locations. There is plenty to get your teeth stuck in to, once settled into the team you'll be introduced to the basics such as admin, but don't worry that's not all you'll be doing! From drafting correspondence, carrying our legal research to building relationships with clients, your role and responsibilities will grow as you progress throughout your apprenticeship.

You'll be allocated a Supervisor, who will help you to keep on track with your studies and a mentor, an experienced Paralegal within your team dedicated to you to learn from. You'll experience a broad variety of quality legal training, with exposure to household-named clients and cutting edge work, which will help shape the direction of your legal career.

You'll receive 20% off the job training time which usually works out at one day a week to dedicate to your studies towards your Level 3 Paralegal Apprenticeship with CILEX Law School. They provide first-class online teaching resources – including extensive use of digital assets – with live and streamed online classes, masterclasses and workshops to help you to pass the qualification.

What do you need to be eligible?

To be eligible for the Paralegal apprenticeship you'll need:

• 5 x GCSE at A-C/9-4 including Maths and English
• And a minimum of three A levels at grade C or equivalent. 
• Please note that this apprenticeship is not open to those who already have a Law Degree or Graduate Diploma in Law (or LPC/BPTC)
• It is also not open to those who have previous experience as a lawyer, paralegal or in a similar role.

Please drop me an email if you'd like to check your eligibility.

What happens after you apply?

Everyone who has applied and is eligible for the apprenticeship will be invited to complete our blended high potential assessment online. You'll be sent this a few days after applying so please keep an eye on your inbox.

The application window is open from Monday 10 February to Friday 14 March 2025.

Here's the timeline for the whole process:

• Applications will close at 11.00am on Friday 14 March and the Amberjack assessment will close at 11.00am on Monday 17 March.
• You'll then be notified if you've made it through to the work placement week by Friday 21 March.
• The assessed work placements will be on the weeks commencing 7 April (Monday to Thursday) and 14 April (Monday – Thursday) which are during the Easter holidays. You'll only need to do one of these weeks.
• You'll spend 4 days with us in our Plymouth office, the first 3 days with various teams and, the last day (the Thursday) is an assessment day, also in the office. Again, you'll on do one assessment day, which will be on your allocated work placement week.
• We'll then deliver final outcomes to everyone by the end of April.
• The apprenticeship will then begin with WBD (your A-Level results depending) at the end of August/start of September this year.

If you have any queries on any of the above, please email me on Charlotte.Hall@wbd-uk.com.

So what makes it great to work here?

We continually work hard to create an open culture that sets us apart from other firms. Our culture gives us much more of a human feel, emphasising that we're more than just suits!

As signatories to the Mindful Business Charter, it's important to us that our people are able to maintain healthy and happy lives, both in and out of work. We have a number of resources and initiatives designed to support health and wellbeing and we're very happy to talk flexible working, full-time or part-time working patterns.

Through our DEI initiatives we create an environment in which difference is valued. We have an Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Group, led by our Board Sponsor, which works with our colleague networks (we currently have firm supported networks for race, ethnicity, and cultural heritage, LGBTQ+, disabilities, families, and women's career development and we're in constant dialogue with our people about how we expand our networks to better support everybody). Find out more about ED&I at WBD here. We encourage applicants from all social backgrounds, ethnicities, disabilities, gender identities and sexual orientations.

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. If you have a disability or long term condition and need us to make any adjustments to give you the best possible recruitment process, please let us know by contacting the recruiter on the right hand side of this page. Please also let us know if you need this job advert or the application form in a different format.