If you told me this time last year that I would be preparing to start a solicitor apprenticeship, I probably would have laughed.

Not because it wasn’t something I wanted, becoming a solicitor has been my goal and what I have been working towards since Year 8. But because at that time, life looked very different. I was dealing with health issues, uncertain about what the future would hold, and questioning if I could even do the path I had worked towards, which was slowly slipping away.

Now I'm about to enter the field of law, not through the traditional university route, but through a solicitor apprenticeship at Simmons & Simmons. I’ve never felt more confident that I'm on the right path. This is a story about changing direction, rebuilding, and how a lifetime of gymnastics has quietly prepared me for this very moment.

Gymnastics: More than a Sport

I started gymnastics when at three years old, and it has been a huge part of my life ever since. Like many gymnasts, I quickly learned that it’s not all flips and foam pits. It’s about discipline, focus and learning to get back up when you fall (quite literally). Being a gymnast meant training for hours each week, countless bruises, a few breaks, a surprising amount of blood and repeating the same skill over and over until it was perfect. It meant pushing through fear, even when you’re standing at the beginning of the tumble track thinking, “What on earth have I gotten myself into?” But these moments of fear were always worth it. The feeling of landing that one skill, hearing the cheers, and knowing the hard work paid off is something I'll never forget. Nevertheless, gymnastics is about mental strength as much as physical. It taught me how to handle pressure, recover from setbacks, and keep going, even when there seemed to be no progress. I didn’t realise it at the time, but every hour spent in the gym was preparing me for much more than just competition.

When My World Turned Upside Down

In August 2023, I was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS), a condition that affects the nervous system, causing symptoms such as fainting, dizziness, fatigue and brain fog. I had been experiencing faints for about 8 months before the diagnosis, whilst it was a relief that I had got answers, but for someone who had spent years flying and twisting through the air and pushing their body to the limit, it was difficult. Gymnastics made me a person who always pushed through pain, who got back up when I fell. But this was different, this wasn’t something I could push through, I had to pause everything, gymnastics, school, socialising and my goals. Around the same time, I was writing my personal statement for university and preparing UCAS applications. But deep down, I wasn’t sure; I was excited about university. After so much waiting, I didn’t want to delay my career; I wanted to start. Falling ill didn’t change my ambition; it just made me reassess the route I wanted to take.

The Turning Point

With my entire life on pause, I started researching other routes into law after my friend mentioned he was at the final stage of a coding apprenticeship. That’s when I discovered solicitor apprenticeships, a route that allows you to work in a legal firm, earn a salary, and study part-time towards fully qualifying as a solicitor after 6 years. I had no idea this option even existed; I thought apprenticeships were mostly for trades or creative industries. The more I learned, the more it made sense. For someone who had always learned by doing, this was the perfect fit for me. So, on results day, I deferred my university place and took a gap year to focus on solicitor apprenticeship applications and my health.

Finding My Way

My route into a solicitor apprenticeship involved a lot of independent research, scrolling through law firm websites, checking government pages, piecing together deadlines, requirements and application formats. Compared to the UCAS application process, which is more structured and signposted, it was quite overwhelming at first.

But gymnastics had prepared me for that; I was used to working without instant results, staying focused through repetition, and pushing on despite setbacks. I approached the process like a gymnastics competition; I might not get through every round, but I always come back stronger and more prepared for the next.

There were rejections, long waits, and a lot of doubting myself along the way. Some days, it felt like I wasn’t getting anywhere, and these applications would just end up in a void. But I kept going.

Eventually, after a series of video interviews, situational judgment tests, I landed a place at an assessment centre. And then, I got the offer! It still doesn’t feel quite real. I remember being outside, working out, when the call came through. I thought, “There is no way this is happening” I ran upstairs to my childhood bedroom, leaving my family confused downstairs, then I came down and broke the news. It was one of the best and most surreal moments of my life.

A year earlier, I was dealing with a diagnosis that forced me to pause everything, to go from that uncertainty to starting a solicitor apprenticeship at a leading firm. It’s been a journey I never expected, but one I wouldn’t trade for the world.

For anyone considering an apprenticeship

-         Explore all your options: A year ago, I didn’t even know solicitor apprenticeships existed. You don’t need to have everything figured out to get started. Stay curious and be open-minded, you might find a path that fits you better than the one you first imagined!

-         Do your research: unlike UCAS, there’s no single, centralised process. Application timelines, requirements and formats vary widely between firms. Look beyond the obvious: check law firm websites, government apprenticeship listings, and recruitment platforms regularly.

-         Play to your strengths. Whether you’re involved in sport, had a part-time job, volunteered, or taken on leadership roles, those experiences matter more than you think. They show resilience, time management, and teamwork, key skills that firms are looking for.

-         Rejection is redirection: Setbacks are, unfortunately, part of the process. Rejections don’t mean you’re not capable; they’re a chance to reflect, improve and come back stronger. Keep going, even when you don’t want to.

-         Quality over quantity: it’s tempting to apply everywhere, but a tailored application will always stand out more. Focus on firms that align with your interests and values and take the time to show them why you’re the right fit.

-         Believe in yourself: Apprenticeships are competitive, there is no doubt about it, but don’t let that put you off. You never know what’s possible until you try. Self-doubt will talk you out of things you’re capable of.

What’s next?

Now I'm preparing to move to Bristol to begin my solicitor apprenticeship at Simmons & Simmons. Over the next six years, I'll be working full time, learning on the job, and studying part time toward full qualification as a solicitor.

It wasn’t the route I initially planned. But it aligns with how I learn best and the kind of career I want to build. If your journey isn’t going the way you expected, don’t panic. There’s more than one path to where you want to be, and sometimes, the one you had considered ends up being the perfect fit!

Nicole Oxenden

Incoming Solicitor Apprentice @ Simmons & Simmons

You can find out more and connect with Nicole on LinkedIn.