Passmore: Credit to the government
The government is to restrict funding for Level 7 apprenticeships, like the solicitor offering, to those aged between 16 and 21, it has announced.
Despite concerns about the impact on social mobility and diversity in the profession, there is relief that it has not been scrapped altogether.
Last autumn, ministers announced a new growth and skills levy to replace the existing apprenticeship levy, introducing new foundation apprenticeships and shorter apprenticeships too.
The Department for Education has announced a range of changes as part of new £3bn apprenticeship fund, including “refocusing funding away from Level 7 (masters-level) apprenticeships from January 2026, while maintaining support for those aged 16-21 and existing apprentices”.
It added: “This will enable levy funding to be rebalanced towards training at lower levels, where it can have the greatest impact.”
We have been reporting since last year about the alarm of lawyers and training providers about the impact the removal of funding could have.
The Law Society welcomed the decision to retain funding for those aged up to 21 but said the government should rethink its approach to older apprentices.
“Level 7 solicitor apprenticeships continue to be the only route outside of university to qualify as a solicitor due to specific qualifications set by the Solicitors Regulation Authority,” said president Richard Atkinson. “Apprenticeships play a vital role in promoting social mobility.”
In 2023-24, 45% of the more than 1,300 people who started solicitor apprenticeships were aged between 20 and 24.
Mr Atkinson continued: “Continuing to fund solicitor apprenticeships after the age of 21 is critical if we are to support recruitment within the legal profession.
“Targeted recruitment is particularly needed in smaller regional areas. Offering apprenticeships in these areas encourage young people to look for opportunities locally, knowing they do not have to move to bigger cities to work in law.”
The decision was welcomed by City Century, the solicitor apprenticeship initiative backed by the City of London Law Society.
“This is a sensible, principled outcome and we are grateful that government has listened to the evidence, seen the impact, and acted,” said Colin Passmore, chair of the City of London Law Society. “Credit to government is very much due.”
Aster Crawshaw, senior partner at Addleshaw Goddard, who has carried out advocacy on behalf of the society as well as his firm, said: “I am pleased that the Department for Education is protecting opportunities for young people. The Level 7 apprentice programme has been a real game-changer for social mobility in the legal profession, and that has been a key objective for all of us.
“The profession is stronger for being able to access a deeper pool of talent, and that supports both the rule of law and economic growth.”
Marc Shrimpling, partner and training principal at Osborne Clarke, another City Century member, added: “We see this decision as a vindication and validation of the solicitor apprentices who have worked so hard to establish the programme’s incredible reputation.
“It’s also a great result for the legal profession, which will continue to benefit from the dedication, enthusiasm and diversity of the next generation of solicitor apprentices.”
A report published last year by Damar Training, which runs a solicitor apprenticeship programme, said that of 110 apprentices surveyed, 35% had received free school meals, 94% attended a state school, 73% did not have a parent who went to university, and a third came from working-class backgrounds, figures significantly higher than the wider solicitor profession.
Nearly 90% of the apprentices worked outside London. Over 70% of employers were in-house or public sector teams, or were smaller law firms with annual payrolls of less than £3m.
Damar managing director Jonathan Bourne said the decision was “a much better outcome” than the full defunding from 1 August than had been feared.
“It means that those planning to commence solicitor apprenticeships in 2025 will still be able to do so. And, in the future, there is reassurance for under 22s, including for the many young people who begin, aged 18 or 19 on the two-year level 3 paralegal apprenticeship which they and employers can use as a stepping stone to the solicitor apprenticeship aged 20 or 21.”
But he said many of those from less advantaged backgrounds have a “squiggly” start to their careers.
“First jobs do not always work out, some face periods of unemployment or find that college or university is not for them. For them, and for later-life career changers or returners to the workplace, the age barrier for funding will now exclude most.
“It is important that we now find solutions to support these talented, ambitious future lawyers.
“We should bear in mind too that most smaller and regional firms, in-house and public sector teams – all of whom provide vital legal services – will not be able to commercially fund the solicitor apprenticeship in full.”
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