Advanced Paralegal Apprenticeship
Take your legal career to the next level. SQE1 preparation embedded, up to £18,000 government funding, and live 1-to-1 tutorials fit around your working week.
From Advanced Paralegal to qualified Solicitor
Your Level 5 Advanced Paralegal embeds SQE1 prep. Follow the roadmap to see how you progress onwards to CILEx or the Solicitor Apprenticeship.
Advanced Paralegal Apprenticeship (SQE)
The apprenticeship that embeds SQE1 preparation. Twelve advanced modules covering legal research, drafting, ethics, client care, property, dispute resolution and business law. Delivered as live Zoom group sessions plus one-to-one tutorials.
Recognised Level 5 Advanced Paralegal qualification
Embedded SQE1 preparation built into the programme
Live 1-to-1 tutor sessions plus Zoom cohort workshops
Advanced research, drafting, advocacy and client-care skills
Ownership of your own caseload and complex file management
The eligibility criteria.
Entry requires the Level 3 Paralegal Apprenticeship, a law degree, or equivalent legal work experience. Plus a UK legal role.
You need a legal role to start. Browse live paralegal apprentice vacancies. Most firms hire quickly if you're keen to train.
See our recruitment pageUp to 100% funded. You pay nothing.
If you're under 25 and work for a small organisation (under £3m annual payroll) the Department for Education covers 100% of your apprenticeship. You and your organisation pay nothing.
Small firms (under 50 employees) also receive a £1,000 incentive payment when they hire an apprentice aged 16–24.
If your organisation has a payroll over £3m they will pay 0.5% of their monthly payroll into the apprenticeship levy pot, and will be able to use this accumulated pot directly towards apprenticeships , see employer funding for more information.
Your programme, module by module.
Twelve advanced modules plus the SQE Prep Course Route. Delivered as live Zoom group workshops and one-to-one tutorials with your Progress Tutor.
Advanced Paralegal, SQE1 competencies embedded.
Level 5 Advanced Paralegal qualification awarded, SQE1 competencies embedded. A natural launch pad onto CILEx or the Solicitor Apprenticeship.
The natural next step after Advanced Paralegal. Become a Chartered Legal Executive or Solicitor.
See next apprenticeshipsSupported at every step.
The programme is built for people completely new to law. From day one you have a Progress Tutor, structured feedback and a clear path to the end-point assessment.
A dedicated Progress Tutor
The same expert Progress Tutor from onboarding to end-point assessment. One-to-one Zoom tutorials every 12 weeks.
Live learning
Face-to-face one-to-one sessions with an expert tutor, plus live group workshops with your cohort. Never a recording playing at you. Real conversations, real questions answered on the spot.
The Datalaw Learning Platform
All your workshop recordings, module notes and portfolio in one place. Accessible for 12 months after you qualify.
Portfolio review before EPA
In the final months we work with you and your line manager to make sure your evidence meets every standard.
Best-practice legal training
Every workshop, tutorial and assignment is grounded in current SRA and CILEx best practice. How good firms actually run files today. You leave modelling how senior fee-earners work, not textbook theory.
Off-the-job training built in
Off-the-job training hours are tracked and evidenced for you against your standard's minimum. Live workshops, private tutorials, self-study and reflection all count. No spreadsheets to keep, no last-minute scramble at EPA.
Reviews from
learners.
“I love having my 1-to-1 coach, she is brilliant… she is really supportive and we have a lovely chat figuring out what my goals are and navigating through what I need to achieve.”
“The 1-to-1 tutorials are the highlight for me. Real conversations, real questions answered, and everything I learn goes straight into live matters at work.”
“Being able to prepare for SQE1 as part of my apprenticeship. With my employer covering it and no student debt. Is a total game-changer.”
Hear it in their own words.
A current apprentice, her line manager, and a graduate who progressed all the way to CILEx. Recorded with them at their firms, unscripted.
Everything applicants ask us.
How does work and study fit together?
Most of your time is spent in your legal role; the rest is structured learning that counts toward your standard's minimum off-the-job hours. Live Zoom workshops with your cohort plus one-to-one tutorials with your Progress Tutor. Delivery is entirely online, fits around your working week and gets logged as evidenced off-the-job hours.
What is included in SQE1 preparation?
SQE1 prep is embedded in the Advanced Paralegal Apprenticeship at no extra cost. A package that would typically cost around £2,350. It covers the FLK (Functioning Legal Knowledge) content SQE1 assesses, so you leave the apprenticeship SQE1-ready if you choose to sit the exam.
Do I need a degree to enrol?
No degree needed. Law graduates and non-law graduates (with legal work experience) are both eligible. You do need to be currently employed by a UK organisation in a legal role.
How long is the apprenticeship?
14 to 24 months of training time, depending on your prior experience, plus up to six months to complete your final assessment. Fastest completion is around 14 months.
What does it cost me and my employer?
£0 to you. Up to £18,000 in government funding is available. Co-funded employers pay no more than £900. Levy-paying employers use their apprenticeship levy pot at no extra cost.
What can I do after I qualify?
You finish with a Level 5 Advanced Paralegal qualification and SQE1 competencies embedded. Direct progression routes include the Level 6 Chartered Legal Executive Apprenticeship or the Level 7 Solicitor Apprenticeship.
Four steps from day one to qualified.
Already in a legal role? We funded
You're already employed in a UK organisation. As a government-approved provider, we draw down the funding so there's nothing for you to pay.
Learn live, around your work
Live group Zoom sessions plus one-to-one tutorials with your Progress Tutor. Everything fits around your working week.
Build advanced legal skills
Twelve modules covering research, drafting, ethics, client care, property, dispute resolution and business law. Applied on real files.
Qualify Advanced Paralegal with SQE1 prep embedded
Finish as a Level 5 Advanced Paralegal with SQE1 competencies embedded in the programme, a natural launch pad onto CILEx or the Solicitor Apprenticeship.
Your legal career starts here.
Register your interest and our team will walk you through funding, eligibility and your start date. It takes two minutes.