The apprenticeship funding rules for law firms changed twice in 2026. In this 45-minute webinar we'll work through what it would cost a small firm and a levy payer to train a junior, an experienced paralegal and a graduate, and leave 15 minutes for your questions.
What we'll cover
What changed, and when
- 1 January 2026: Level 7 apprenticeships, including the solicitor and graduate solicitor routes, are only funded for apprentices aged 16 to 21 at the start, or 22 to 24 with an education, health and care (EHC) plan or care-leaver status.
- 1 August 2026: firms that don't pay the levy pay nothing for apprentices aged 16 to 24, and 5% for apprentices aged 25 or over. Levy payers who run out of funds pay nothing for 16 to 24s, and 25% for apprentices aged 25 or over.
- 1 August 2026: new levy funds expire after 12 months instead of 24, and the 10% government top-up no longer applies.
- 1 October 2026: a £2,000 hiring payment for firms that don't pay the levy and take on a new apprentice aged 16 to 24.
Worked examples
- A 12-partner high street firm that doesn't pay the levy hires an 18-year-old school leaver on the Level 3 Paralegal apprenticeship. Training costs the firm nothing, and it can receive the £2,000 hiring payment and a £1,000 payment because the apprentice is 16 to 18.
- The same firm trains its 34-year-old conveyancing assistant on the Level 4 Conveyancing Technician apprenticeship. The firm pays 5% of the training price, spread over 18 months.
- A levy-paying firm wants a graduate solicitor apprenticeship for a 23-year-old paralegal. It can't be government funded unless the paralegal has an EHC plan or care-leaver status, so we'll compare the options: paying for it privately, the Level 5 Advanced Paralegal apprenticeship with SQE1 preparation, or the Chartered Legal Executive apprenticeship.
- A levy payer with unspent funds transfers part of its levy to a smaller firm it refers work to.
What the firm actually does
The apprentice must be employed by the firm and spend at least half their working time in England. We'll cover how training time fits into the working week, the apprenticeship agreement and training plan, progress reviews, and setting up an apprenticeship service account. DataLaw can reserve funding on your behalf and advertise the role on our jobs board.
Who it's for
Practice managers, HR and learning and development leads, COLPs and partners at law firms in England. The session is suitable for your training record.
Presenters
Sean Brogan and an apprenticeship adviser from DataLaw.
Can't make it?
Register anyway and we'll send you the recording on Wednesday 2 December 2026. In the meantime, our guide to the apprenticeship levy in 2026/27 and the employer funding rules cover the detail.