BBC launches solicitor graduate apprenticeship scheme

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The BBC has opened applications for its 2023 solicitor graduate apprenticeship scheme which will enable four graduates to work in the BBC’s legal team to qualify as a solicitor through the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) route.

The opportunity is available to law or non-law graduates who have not yet undertaken the Legal Practice Course or SQE. Non-law students can have already studied the Graduate Diploma in Law.

The apprentices will work as part of the BBC’s extended legal team while studying for the SQE1 and 2 exams, with the cohort inducted in March 2023.

The 30-month course will include studying with The University of Law (ULaw) for the first eight months, and then spending the remainder of the programme working full time in the business, with extra time off for necessary study or to sit SQE2. The BBC will pay for the learning costs with ULaw as well as paying a salary for the entire duration of the apprenticeship, meaning that candidates can start earning a salary straight after completing their degree, even while studying for the SQE at ULaw.

During their time at the BBC, apprentices will rotate around four or five seats in the BBC legal team and in legal teams in BBC Studios and commercial rights and business affairs. There is also the opportunity to take a secondment in private practice in a leading law firm.

All seats will be based in London but there may be occasional travel to other BBC locations or further afield.

The apprenticeship will finish in autumn 2025 with apprentices applying for admission to the roll of solicitors in order to qualify.

The BBC has stated it’s looking for “bright, commercially aware aspiring lawyers who want to work in what we think is the world’s most exciting in-house environment. You will be involved in a wide range of quality legal work throughout. You will be closely supervised by lawyers who are experts in their individual fields, but you will also get a chance to work with business colleagues across the BBC, in different teams, and build your legal career as part of a large and supportive in-house team which makes business-critical contributions to the success of the BBC”.

The apprenticeship scheme is open for candidates from all backgrounds and those with a disability (seen or unseen) are actively encouraged to apply.

Applications close on 30 August 2022. You can find out more and apply via the BBC careers website.

Discover more apprenticeship opportunities with LCN’s apprenticeship vacancies page.