The degree apprenticeship pathway into the legal profession: a game changer?

The dramatic expansion of participation in higher education over the past half-century has contributed to a crowded graduate jobs market and intense competition for access to the most lucrative occupations, such as law. Existing research in the UK suggests a strong association between attendance at elite higher education institutions (HEIs) and entry into elite law firms. With individuals from less privileged socio-economic backgrounds being less likely than their privileged peers to apply for or gain entry to more elite HEIs, they are consequently less likely to be recruited into the legal profession. This has been a long-standing issue and persists despite decades of diversity and widening participation initiatives. Degree apprenticeships (DAs) have been recently introduced as an alternative to HE as a route to a professional occupation, including access to the legal profession, and could potentially disrupt the relationship between HE and access to the legal profession. This study investigates the perceptions and experiences of aspiring solicitors following either of two pathways, university, or degree apprenticeship. By conducting interviews with twenty-two individuals, the study builds a picture of their transitions through school, subsequent choices and pathway decision-making. The aim is to understand their perceptions of the choices available to them, their experiences through both HE and DA pathways and how this varies according to social background. Ultimately, the study reveals the uncertainty faced by many in access to the legal profession, the different strategies adopted to negotiate this across both pathways and the impact on individual wellbeing.