Who Can Be an Apprentice? An Employer's Guide

When many employers first consider an apprenticeship, they often picture a 16-year-old school leaver.

While hiring new, young talent is certainly one option, the modern apprenticeship is a far more flexible and powerful tool. Apprenticeships are for motivated people of any age—whether you are hiring new talent into your firm or looking to upskill your existing team.

This guide explains the simple apprentice eligibility criteria and the two main pathways you can use to build your team.

Two Powerful Ways to Use Apprenticeships in Your Firm

As an employer, you can use apprenticeships to fill skills gaps in two distinct ways.

• 1. Hiring a New Apprentice

This is the traditional "grow your own" model. You recruit a new individual specifically for an apprentice role, such as a Trainee Conveyancer, Legal Assistant, or Probate Apprentice.

This approach is ideal for:

• Finding new, ambitious talent and shaping them to fit your firm's specific culture and processes from day one.
• Bringing in fresh perspectives and new ideas from motivated candidates who are eager to build a career in law.
• Succession planning by building a strong talent pipeline for the future of your practice.

As your training provider, we can even support you with the recruitment and shortlisting process to find the perfect candidate.

• 2. Upskilling Your Existing Staff

This is one of the most valuable and overlooked benefits of the apprenticeship system. You can use apprenticeships to provide formal, structured training and qualifications to your current, valued employees.

This is a perfect solution if you have:

• A loyal Legal Assistant or Administrator who is sharp, capable, and ready for the next step.
• A Paralegal you want to develop into a fully qualified Licensed Conveyancer or Probate Practitioner.
• A team member in a support role who has shown a keen interest in the legal side of the business.

Instead of risking that employee leaving to find progression elsewhere, you can invest in their development. By enrolling them in a conveyancing apprenticeship or probate apprenticeship, you deepen their loyalty, enhance their skills, and gain a highly qualified, productive employee who already understands your business.

The Official Apprentice Eligibility Criteria

The rules for who can be an apprentice are refreshingly straightforward. To be eligible for an apprenticeship in England, an individual must:

• Be 16 or over. There is no upper age limit.
• Live in England and have the right to work in England.
• Not be in full-time education. An apprentice must be employed and spending at least 50% of their working hours in England.
• Be taking on a new role or new responsibilities.

• For a new hire, this is automatic.
• For an existing employee, the apprenticeship must teach them significant new skills, knowledge, and behaviours to do their job competently. For example, moving an assistant into a fee-earning paralegal role clearly meets this.

Myth-Busting: Who Can Be an Apprentice?

Let's clear up a few common misconceptions.

MYTH: Apprentices must be 16-18 years old. FACT: This is the most common myth. There is no upper age limit for an apprentice. You can use an apprenticeship to train a 19-year-old, a 30-year-old career-changer, or a 50-year-old team member.

MYTH: Apprentices must be new employees. FACT: As explained above, upskilling existing staff is one of the most effective uses of apprenticeships. It's a fantastic tool for staff development and retention.

MYTH: You can't hire an apprentice who already has a degree. FACT: You absolutely can. For example, a candidate with a History or Business degree who wants to retrain in law is a perfect legal apprentice. The only rule is that the apprenticeship must be in a different subject than the one they already hold a qualification in.

Finding Your Ideal Candidate for Conveyancing & Probate

So, who is the ideal apprentice for your firm?

It's less about their existing qualifications and more about their attributes. When recruiting, we find the best candidates are:

• Organised with strong attention to detail.
• Client-focused with excellent communication skills.
• Proactive, motivated, and eager to learn.
• Resilient and able to manage a busy workload.

You find the person with the right attitude, and we will work with you to train them in the complex legal skills they need.

What's Next?

Now you know that apprenticeships are a flexible talent solution for new and existing staff of any age. The next logical question is, "How is it all paid for?"

• Explore our simple guide to Apprenticeship Funding & The Levy
• Discover the full Benefits of Hiring an Apprentice
• See our specialist programmes: Conveyancing Apprenticeships and Probate Apprenticeships

Ready to discuss your firm's specific needs? Contact our expert advisors today.