About the firm

Senior partner: Camilla Wallace

Managing partner: Martin Arnold

Who we are: We have strong expertise in real estate, private client, dispute resolution and business services. Our driving force is to empower our clients by providing quality legal advice, insight and intelligence that enables them to achieve their goals, whether personal or business. We are large enough to advise on the most complex matters, but small enough to ensure that our people and our work remain exceptional and dynamic.

What we do: With 78 partners supported by over 200 lawyers and support staff, we operate on a four practice group model: private client, business services, real estate and dispute resolution.

What we’re looking for: We are looking for self-motivated apprentices – individuals with potential who will thrive in a small, close-knit intake. The key areas that we focus on are enthusiasm and a strong work ethic.

What you’ll do: The Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme is a six-year route to qualification which combines on-the-job learning with studying for a law degree and the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). If you are considering a career in law, but are unsure about pursuing a university degree, a solicitor apprenticeship could be the route for you.

By the end of the six years, you’ll be fully qualified as a solicitor and have avoided student debt. Apprentices will be based in our London office and study one day per week with the University of Law.

Apprentices are allocated a trainee buddy and a mentor to help them settle into life at the firm. Alongside their day-to-day role, the apprentices will also attend a bespoke learning and development curriculum which covers core skills to complement their learning.

Perks: Pension, health insurance, dental insurance, personal health and wellbeing support including virtual GP service, life assurance, season ticket loan, corporate gym membership, additional holiday scheme, give as you earn, cycle to work scheme, employee mortgage advice, birthday leave, subsidised firm-wide trips.

Sponsorship

We cover costs of the SQE as this is done over the course of the last two years of the apprenticeship.

Seat options

  • Insolvency
  • Private client
  • Real estate

Diversity and Inclusion

Wedlake Bell is committed to being a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Wedlake Bell runs a mentoring scheme and hosts wellbeing events throughout the year. The firm offers mental health and wellbeing support with access to therapy services, an employee assistance programme and trained mental health first aiders.

The firm works with Rare Recruitment and also offers work placements through the Sutton Trust, the Law Society Diversity Access Scheme, City University Micro-placements and 10,000 Black Interns. We have recently launched a Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme and partnered with Causeway Education to run an open day and application workshop for students from a social mobility background.

The firm also has active internal networks and a diversity and inclusion committee. Recent sessions include a series covering micro-aggressions in the workplace and neurodiversity.

Percentage of female associates: 63%

Percentage of female partners: 35%

Percentage of BAME associates: 15%

Percentage of BAME partners: 9%