George Denton is currently working as a Litigation Executive with Browne Jacobson. He started with the firm as a Level 2 Legal Administration apprentice , followed that by completing a Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship in Legal Services and is now studying for his Level 6 units as part of a Chartered Legal Executive apprenticeship.
I come from a very much performance and creative arts background rather than an academic one. I was always confident academically in school, but just found more of a passion for performing and creating. It’s difficult to know what you want to base your future around at that age, especially when academically the skills school currently teaches are rather general, and if you’re not interested in mathematics or science it’s hard to see an appeal to the academic world.
Vicki Melhuish, who turned down a university place to take up a legal apprenticeship with Kennedys, describes what it is like to have this role.
Setting my sights on a high flying career within the legal sector is something that I have always dreamed of, but it seems now that it really is becoming a reality.
During my GCSEs it seemed everyone had decided exactly what they wanted to do once they left school. It was the usual “I’m going to do A-Levels/College then onto University”. I knew university wasn’t for me so I decided to complete my further education at college and then get a job.
When I was in year 10 at school, a lady from a well-established law firm gave a talk to my class about a new career path into law; the apprenticeship route. I thought it was a good idea but still had in mind that I would go to University as I assumed this would be best.
I was a good student at school and, as per teacher recommendations; I went to university to study History and English Literature with a view to then taking the GDL. I found out quickly that it wasn't for me. I worked in retail for a few years unsure about my next steps before discovering the apprenticeship route.
My secondary school and sixth form was a grammar school so it was quite an academic environment that prided itself on its students securing places at Russell Group universities. It wasn't really surprising that university was considered the 'next step' and that was really the only option given to us.
I was formerly a software developer and was looking for a career change. I wanted to study law and CILEx really looked like the best way into a law career.
Legal apprenticeships are on the rise. Since the inception of the formal legal apprenticeship just a few years ago, each year more and more A-level leavers are applying for - and accepting places at - firms offering the scheme. However, despite this growth, there are still a great number of students who remain unaware of what this alternate route into a legal career has to offer them.
