Throughout all of high school and college, it was well-known among my peers and teachers that I had big dreams of going to a top university to study law. Fast forward three years and I am halfway through my solicitor apprenticeship with DLA Piper.

Hi, my name is Sophie, and I am a fourth-year solicitor apprentice with DLA Piper. If someone had told me five years ago that this is the position I would be in currently, I would have thought that they were making stories up. I don’t often give people the full picture of my journey to my apprenticeship but today I am because I am extremely proud to say I overcame obstacles thrown at me to get myself to this point and I believe my story truly shows that nothing can stop you from pursuing something you want, regardless of personal battles; with resilience, determination and strength, anyone can make the most of their lives, even at the young age of 18.

Background

When making solicitor apprenticeship applications, I was 17 preparing to complete my A-Level exams. I had always wanted to do law since the age of 13 and throughout all of high school and college, I was set on going to a top university to complete my law degree. During my time at school, I was fortunate to have a strong teacher support system and guidance coaches informing me about the top universities available and pushing me to make ambitious applications as my intelligence and extracurricular activities gave me a strong chance at receiving offers. However, after starting college in September of 2020, I was faced with my own challenges for the next 2 years.

I suffered from depression and anxiety and halfway through my first year of college, I was diagnosed with an eating disorder. This took a huge toll on my health and so inevitably affected my college experience, attendance and performance. Due to my illness, it was uncertain if I would have to defer my university place to the following year and this was something I was set on not letting happen as it would only delay my career even further. As I spent time battling with my mental health, this clouded my excitement of going to university to complete my law degree and this is when I started looking at other options where I then discovered the solicitor apprenticeship route.

Presenting to my college the idea of me applying for a solicitor apprenticeship was a nerve-wracking experience. As a high achiever throughout high school and college, it was always an unspoken assumption that I would go on to a top university so the change of heart I was experiencing, really surprised everyone around me. No one in my college had gone on to do a degree apprenticeship previously and so the concept, the process involved, and the knowledge of them were extremely limited. This meant I had to do a lot of the preparation myself which was daunting at the time of revision for A-Level exams, but I knew that this was the better option for me, making all the preparation time worth it.

Four, nearly five, years on and I will always be thankful to 17-year-old me for not listening to the pressures of going to university and conforming to what was expected of me. At 17 years old, battling mental health, revision for exams, and the stigmas attached to apprenticeships from people around me, was a tough time, but the resilience I had at such a young age has paid off more than I ever could have anticipated.

Resilience

Degree apprenticeships are becoming more of a widely accepted route into many professions, but they still carry a lot of stigma and stereotypes. This can be really difficult to manage at the young age people start considering apprenticeships and it can very easily influence your decision. This is where resilience comes in; without it, the apprenticeship concept would not be where it is now, recognised nationally and supported by some of the largest organisations in the country. You have to follow what is right for you and if you think that gaining on-hand, real life, practical work experience whilst also working towards your education alongside is the best route for you, keep working at this and put your time, energy and effort into pursuing this pathway.

Advice to students considering apprenticeships

• Persistence – if you receive any push back from peers, coaches, teachers or your wider support system, do not let this discourage you from making those applications, you are responsible for determining your own future.
• Research – utilise the resources out there, whether these be on YouTube, Instagram or websites like Placer and Prospects, there are so many platforms available giving out hints and tips and advertising apprenticeships.
• Introspection – take some time to consider your own skills and attributes because the more self-aware you are of these, the more confidence you will have and the better applications you will put forward.
• Do not rush – applications are always going to be year in, year out, and with the competitive nature that comes with them, you do not want to feel rushed into completing your applications.

Keep going!

I am sharing my story with you all to hopefully show you that it doesn’t matter if you haven’t had a smooth journey during college, or if you are going against what other people think is best for you, or if you are worried that the tough times will prevent you from doing what you want – they won't.

The apprenticeship programme gives you so many opportunities to grow and develop personally, as well as academically and in your career. They are a route that will always provide you with endless opportunities, and a broad range of skills and knowledge that you will then carry for the rest of your career. The experiences apprenticeships provide you with are second to none and the amount of people that vouch for this is always growing, from Partner level in a law firm to friends completing the "traditional" university route.

What harm can an extra application do alongside university applications? It landed my dream job for me and looking back now, I would never change my decision. 

Sophie Kenny

Fourth year Solicitor Apprentice at DLA Piper based in Leeds

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