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Lucy Parsons

Lucy is an apprentice solicitor in our Cambridge office. She gives her advice to those thinking about an apprenticeship.

Why did you choose to do an apprenticeship? 

The apprenticeship route allows you to gain two years of experience in your department, providing you with much more confidence at qualification if you know which area of law you’re passionate about.

One benefit is that I’ll remain in the commercial department while studying for the SQE, allowing me to gain extensive experience and confidence in this area before I qualify in 2026. Additionally, I’ve been able to immediately apply the SQE content in practice and ask colleagues questions whenever I encounter something I don't understand.

What’s the best part of your apprenticeship?

The small cohort of current and former apprentices allows us to easily connect and check in on each other. We’re all assigned buddies who have either completed or are nearing the end of their apprenticeship to share their experiences, offer advice, and provide support, which has positively impacted my journey as an apprentice.

What’s one of the biggest challenges that you’ve had to overcome in your apprenticeship? 

The workload of the SQE is undoubtedly challenging, particularly in the second year when balancing reading, revising, coursework, and preparing a portfolio of qualifying work experience. It's crucial to manage your time effectively and establish boundaries between work and study to stay on top of the SQE workload while also gaining the best possible experience from on-the-job training.

What would you say to anyone thinking about an apprenticeship? 

If you’re sure on the area of law you’d like to qualify into, the apprenticeship route is a great way to train. It’s great to be continuously supported throughout the apprenticeship by Mills & Reeve, which I wouldn’t typically have if I went down a different path. I can focus on training in one particular area of law, meaning I will be more confident upon qualification.