White & Case — solicitor apprenticeship

So why White & Case? Unsurprisingly for a firm with a hefty international footprint, its global offering features heavily. One apprentice says the international side was “a big draw”, adding: “I’ve constantly had the chance to work on deals with international clients and colleagues.” But the people sealed the deal too. After attending a White & Case open day, she found that “everyone I met was ambitious, interesting and genuinely friendly.”

The White & Case apprenticeship kicks off with an extended induction programme before apprentices spend their first six months in one of the firm’s business services teams. It’s a slightly unusual start to life as a future solicitor, but one that gets a thumbs up from the rookies. “It felt like a thoughtful stepping stone in to our legal seats, a space to build soft skills, integrate into the firm and a team, and find your footing without the immediate pressure of hard deadlines,” one apprentice explains.

Another recruit, who began in legal project management and finance, says the rotation gave her “a unique insight into how the firm operates as a business”. She adds: “It was very different to a traditional trainee seat and allowed me to see the systems, processes and strategic considerations that sit behind the legal work.”

After this initial business-focused stint, apprentices move into yearly legal seat rotations, completing three before preparing for the first stage of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE). White & Case takes a distinctive approach to SQE1, giving apprentices five months away from the firm to study full-time between years four and five. One rookie is already a fan of the arrangement, saying: “I also really appreciate the firm’s decision to give us five months of block study leave for SQE1. That time will allow us to focus our full attention on the exams, and it shows that the firm is invested in our success and thinks carefully about what preparation method will work best in practice.”

And there appears to be plenty of support before apprentices reach that stage. Recruits have supervisors, partner mentors, buddies and The University of Law skills coaches, alongside regular contact with the firm’s early careers team. One apprentice describes mentorship as “a real highlight”, noting that alongside formal supervisors, there are “so many opportunities to find your own mentors, whether through affinity networks or simply reaching out to colleagues who work in areas you are interested in.”

But what does the actual legal work look like? One insider has moved from the office of general counsel into private equity, where her days can involve “reviewing an NDA against our guidelines, carrying out valuations, reviewing a data room, or drafting and editing documents, alongside a fair amount of client and team correspondence.”

Another apprentice is currently getting stuck into public and private M&A. “Day-to-day, that involves helping with due diligence, drafting ancillary documents, supporting deal project management, and assisting with completion overviews and creating bibles,” she tells us. Meanwhile, another rookie has gone from conducting multi-jurisdictional research in the firm’s research and market intelligence team to commercial litigation, where her work now includes “correspondence updates, preparing expert statements, and disclosure tasks.” Quite the change from the average school timetable!

Alongside all of this comes the small matter of studying for a law degree. Apprentices receive one dedicated study day each week, and the recruits we spoke to say organisation is key. “The firm is really considerate about our study day on a Friday,” one tells us, explaining that it helps to treat it “with the same structure and discipline as a normal working day”. Another puts it even more simply: “For me, it comes down to pure discipline and self-accountability.”

It’s not all deals, disclosure and study timetables, though. Sporty apprentices can get involved in football, badminton, Pilates and yoga, while the W&C World Cup gives staff from across the firm’s international network the opportunity to compete (or spectate) together. Firm and team socials sit alongside events run by W&C’s affinity networks, giving apprentices plenty of chances to build a community away from their immediate teams.

And then there are the perks. White & Case’s London office is home to the Broad St Kitchen, its restaurant and café, with free coffee, pastries and meals available to staff. New joiners also receive a £500 annual wellbeing allowance and have access to an on-site physio. Not exactly your standard student meal deal.

For apprentices, however, it seems the people have been as memorable as the perks. One recruit says her favourite part of the programme has been “seeing the genuine friendships I have made”, as well as building relationships with mentors who are “genuinely invested in your growth”. Another says the best part has been “feeling genuinely integrated into the firm”, adding: “There are many opportunities to get involved in high-quality work and broader firm initiatives, and I never feel limited by my title as a solicitor apprentice.”

So, what should hopefuls bear in mind before hitting submit? White & Case’s apprentices are united on the importance of doing your homework — on both the firm and the apprenticeship route itself. “Be sure an apprenticeship is genuinely right for you, not just an alternative to university,” one advises. “Think about whether you are ready for full-time work alongside studying for several years and how you learn best.”

And don’t assume a lack of legal work experience puts you out of the running. As another apprentice puts it: “There are transferable skills in almost everything, so don’t undervalue what you bring just because you haven’t had lots of legal work experience!”

This is White & Case’s Solicitor Apprenticeship profile. Read White & Case’s full Legal Cheek profile here.