From apprentice to qualified solicitor
Ramsdens Solicitors, a well-known law firm in Yorkshire, has reached an exciting milestone. Their first graduate apprentice, Megan Smith, has officially qualified as a solicitor through the firm’s Graduate Entry Solicitor Apprenticeship Scheme.
Megan, a Newcastle University graduate, passed the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) and is now a fully qualified solicitor. She was the first in her group to finish the two-and-a-half-year programme and has secured a permanent job at Ramsdens.
Celebrating success
Natalie Lang, a partner and training principal at Ramsdens, praised Megan’s success: “Megan has been an outstanding apprentice. She achieved excellent SQE results while working at the firm and performed so well in the Intestacy team that she has now been offered a full-time position. She is a great role model for other trainee apprentices.”
Megan reflected on her journey: “My time on the apprenticeship programme has been incredibly valuable in building my career. It’s amazing to see my hard work over the past two and a half years pay off, and I’m excited to continue at Ramsdens as a solicitor.”
Looking to start an apprenticeship in law?
An apprenticeship is a great way to learn new skills whist you earn. Currently, Ramsdens supports seven apprentices, including six in the graduate apprenticeship scheme, and eight trainee solicitors following the traditional training route. This highlights the firm’s commitment to developing new legal talent.
Before her apprenticeship, Megan worked as a legal assistant in child law. During her training, she gained experience in three key areas:
- Child law – This involves helping families with legal issues like child protection, custody disputes, adoption, and social services cases. Solicitors in this area work to keep children safe and protect their rights.
- Private wealth & succession – This focuses on helping people plan what happens to their money and property after they pass away. It includes writing wills, setting up trusts, and reducing inheritance tax.
- Intestacy – This area deals with cases where someone dies without a will. Solicitors help find the right heirs, divide the estate fairly, and guide families through the legal process.
What does the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) entail?
The SQE is the new assessment process for becoming a solicitor in England and Wales. It consists of two stages: SQE1, which tests legal knowledge through multiple-choice questions, and SQE2, which assesses practical legal skills such as client interviewing, advocacy, and case analysis. The exam ensures that all aspiring solicitors meet the same high standard, regardless of their route into the profession.
