Case study

Ava Mathias — Solicitor apprentice

Employer
RPC

Ava applied for an apprenticeship after deciding that no student debt combined with a more secure pathway to qualifying was for her. She’s now a solicitor apprentice in the Matter Support team at RPC

Why did you decide to do an apprenticeship?

I initially applied for apprenticeships alongside university as I wanted to keep my options open. Throughout the application process, I realised how much an apprenticeship appealed to me as I would have no student debt and wouldn't have to apply for a training contract further down the line, so it felt like a more secure pathway to qualifying. I also find it easier to learn practically, so working more days than I'm studying has definitely been a better method for me.

Tell us about your team.

Our Matter Support Team supports all the legal teams across the business. I am on a placement with the Costs Team, who work with the legal teams to prepare documents outlining the costs incurred for hearings, case management conferences, trials and settlements. Through my work with Matter Support and the Costs Team, I have been exposed to most of the different teams across the firm and have experienced a great variety of work.

How have you found juggling work with your study days?

I have Monday as my study day which I find works well, as I work uninterrupted through the week. Sometimes around exams or when it’s busier, I find myself studying after work or on weekends, but generally I'm happy with the balance between the two.

As an apprentice, it is important to have good time management skills as there will always be competing demands on our time. It's completely doable as long as you're focused and make sure to commit fully to both work and study.

What’s the qualification process like?

I did a Paralegal Apprenticeship from November 2021 to September 2023, which was a nice intro into working without the studying being too intense. I'm now in the second year of my degree with the University of Law. After I finish my degree, I will do a two-year training contract while I complete my SQE. Overall the process will take about seven years. It does take a long time, but it isn't much longer than the 'traditional' university route, which is a three-year degree, one to two years studying for the SQE, and two years obtaining qualifying work experience or a training contract. Plus, apprentices don't have any student debt at the end.

What’s the most enjoyable aspect of being an apprentice?

I've really enjoyed working across multiple areas of law - it's changed my ideas on what areas I find interesting, and I think it will benefit my career in the long run as I've gained practical experience in different areas so I will be more confident in my decision to qualify into a team when that time comes. We also have a very supportive team of paralegals and apprentices, which makes the whole process easier. At RPC, lawyers are very helpful with the apprenticeship, people make a real effort to provide good work for our portfolios and respect our study days.

How has AI impacted the work you do as a solicitor apprentice?

Artificial intelligence (AI) hasn’t had a major impact on my day-to-day work just yet, but it’s something I’m becoming more aware of as I develop in my role. The firm is actively exploring how AI can support everything from legal research to document review and even insurance claims handling, so I know it’s something that will shape the way we work in future. Even though I haven’t used AI tools directly, I’ve started to see its impact - including how the firm is advising clients on regulation, compliance, and governance around AI.

What advice would you give to anyone considering an apprenticeship?

My biggest piece of advice would be to really research the firm and the programme - it's a big commitment and you want to make sure it works for you. For your application, having some information that is tailored to the firm which shows you have put some thought in will make you stand out.

I would also say that soft skills and a willingness to learn are just as important as legal experience, if not more so. As an apprentice, a benefit of the job is that you're not expected to know things when you join - you will be given lots of training over your first few months, and across the whole programme. Being open-minded and enthusiastic when you join will make a good impression and will help you build connections across the firm.

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