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Solicitor Apprentice 2026
About us
We combine the global with the local as a polycentric law firm with no global headquarters and 4 offices in the UK: Milton Keynes, London, and the Central Belt (Edinburgh & Glasgow)
We welcome Diversity & Inclusion Enthusiasts and have 6 diversity networks sponsored by our CEO, Paul Jarvis, and shaped by our people: Inspire, Glow, Black Professional Network, Fusion, Parents and Carers Network, My Healthy Balance
Last year, 10,540 volunteering hours were invested by partners and legal staff, representing a saving of £2.9m to our local communities across legal and non-legal CSR and Pro Bono activities
We are Dentons. The world’s largest law firm. With more than 12,500 people in 80+ countries around the world, we have unique breadth, depth and diversity. Alongside our award-winning global work, we are committed to a culture of innovation, giving back and inclusion. Dentons is designed to be different. The landscape we work in is changing at an accelerating pace. We embrace this change and are looking for trainees and apprentices to join us in redefining what is possible and in shaping the future of law. Your career at Dentons can shape up to be something extraordinary. It’s a place for those who are driven to challenge. To question. To break tradition. To put your career firmly into fast-forward. This could be the start of something big.
GAP APPRENTICESHIPS: MARKETING
Natasha Rooney
What was your apprenticeship qualification?
"I completed a SCQF Level 6 - Digital Marketing Apprenticeship with QA Apprenticeships."
What did you learn during your apprenticeship?
"I liked the idea of being able to learn and work at the same time. I gained so much experience during a short space of time. All aspects of marketing, including email marketing, legal requirements in sales and marketing and marketing principles. I participated in many training weeks where I gained many skills like how to perform an SEO audit, and how to complete a marketing strategy to increase brand awareness."
What support did you receive from GAP during your time as an apprentice?
"I had a great team during my time as an apprentice. If I ever had any questions, I always knew that I could ask someone, and they’d be happy to help. I was able to take time out of work to complete training during business hours."
How did you find the experience overall?
"I really enjoyed my time as an apprentice because I gained so many skills and am now able to put them to use in my day-to-day job."
How has your role changed since completing your apprenticeship?
"I have taken on a lot more responsibility within the team. I am able to complete any task that is given to me. I’ve worked closely with new members who have joined that team and am able to support them with familiarising themselves with GAP Marketing.
Do you have any advice for future apprentices?
"Work hard because it’s worth it."
What are your future plans now you have completed your apprenticeship?
"Since completing my apprenticeship I have progressed to the role of Marketing Assistant. I know all aspects of marketing thanks to my apprenticeship, and I plan to continue to develop my skillsets and progress in my career."
Who Should Apply?
There is no such thing as a ‘typical’ trainee or apprentice at Dentons and that’s the way we like it. Our expertise within the Firm are as diverse as the needs of our global clients. We generally look for a strong performance at A-Level (ABB), but consider every application we receive in context and holistically. If you feel you can submit a strong application even if you do not meet these grades we encourage you to apply. We also encourage you to include mitigating circumstances if relevant. We implemented the Rare Recruitment Contextual Recruitment System, to give us additional context to every candidate’s application.
Why Join Us?
Dentons has welcomed nine cohorts of solicitor apprentices over the years, and we are now recruiting for our tenth cohort who will start with the firm in September 2026. We were pioneers as one of the first firms to introduce a programme, and tosee our first Solicitor Apprentices qualify through the route in 2023.We are proud of our leading position, and have received legal sector recognition for our Solicitor Apprenticeship programme by being shortlisted for multiple awards in 2023/2024 including the Legal 500 ESG Awards, Women Influence & Power in Law Awards, ISE Awards, People in Law awards, and were awarded Excellence in Human Resource Innovation for the Legal Innovation Awards 2024.
We are a member of City Century, the award-winning solicitor apprenticeship initiative that identifies, recruits, educates, and develops the very best talent, connecting them to the City of London. Within this initiative we have been using our experience to mentor other firms as they embark in their journey to welcome their first cohort of Solicitor Apprentices At Dentons, we are committed to ensuring parity across all routes to qualification within the firm. At the end of our Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme, participants are encouraged to apply for Associate roles across a range of our practice areas. This reflects our belief in the equal opportunity of our talent, regardless of their route to qualification and recognising the need to enhance social mobility within the legal profession. "I chose the apprenticeship route to avoid the debt! On the programme, I have been able to work on trailblazer cases and draft complex legal documents with support from highly experienced lawyers. This route has laid a solid foundation for me to thrive in a (hopefully!) successful legal career," says Ameena Ahmed, a fourth-year Solicitor Apprentice.
Diversity, inclusion and wellbeing
At Dentons, inclusion, diversity, and wellbeing are not only core values, but they are also fundamental to our overall strategy. We are committed to building a more inclusive and diverse law firm because we recognise that this approach delivers better outcomes for our clients, our communities, and for Dentons as a whole. Our aim is to create an environment where everyone can thrive. We work hard to nurture a sense of inclusion and wellbeing that is empowering to the
individual, to the teams and to the Firm. Our strategy is brought to life through a range of initiatives, such as improving access to opportunities, offering mentoring programmes, providing support resources, and hosting events and discussions centred on well being and inclusion. Our Inclusion Networks also play a huge part in fostering a sense of belonging and support for everyone at the firm. These groups include Accessibility (Disability), BPN (Black Professionals), Fusion (Asian Professionals), GLOW (LGBTQ+), Inspire (Gender Equality), and our Parents and Carers network.
Innovation
Here at Dentons, innovation isn’t something that sits in isolation - we believe it comes from everywhere and from everyone, and it is critical to our position as the world’s largest global law firm. We do this by challenging ourselves to identify and implement innovation across all areas of service delivery to our clients. Throughout your programme you will be encouraged to enrich your innovation skills and knowledge. See here for further information on how we help our clients innovate in different ways.
Job Sectors
Apprentices are able to choose from a wealth of seats to work with experts across our practice areas: Banking and Finance, Competition, Corporate, Dispute Resolution, Projects, PRM (People, Reward and Mobility), Real Estate, Tax and TMT (Technology, Media and Telecommunications). Work is also about more than just work here. It's about the environment too, and the feeling you get from your team, office and beyond. Our teams are focused on inclusion, giving back, and on looking forward with innovation.