Funded Routes
Welsh Legal Services Apprenticeships
A funded route into a legal career.
If you’re employed in an eligible legal or legally aligned role in Wales, a Welsh Legal Services Apprenticeship may allow you to gain recognised legal qualifications while continuing to work.
For eligible learners, the training is funded by the Welsh Government, with employers responsible for exam resits.
Two Apprenticeship Routes
Choose the route that fits your starting point.
Brightlink delivers Level 3 and Level 5 Welsh Legal Services Apprenticeships for eligible learners at different stages of their legal career.
Level 3 Welsh Legal Services Apprenticeship
Level 3A starting route for eligible employees who are new to legal study or do not yet hold incompatible legal qualifications.
- Employment
- You must be employed in a legal or legally aligned role.
- Working hours
- At least 16 hours per week.
- Pay
- At least the applicable National Minimum Wage.
- Location
- At least 51% of your working time must be in Wales.
- Prior qualifications
- Existing legal qualifications can affect eligibility. If you’re unsure whether your existing qualifications are compatible, talk to Brightlink.
- CILEX
- You’ll also need to meet the relevant CILEX membership requirements.
- Duration
- Around 2 years.
- Funding
- Fully funded by the Welsh Government for eligible learners. Exam resits are funded by the employer.
- Could lead to
- Progression towards paralegal-level work and, where relevant, the Level 5 apprenticeship, subject to the applicable professional and eligibility requirements.
Level 5 Welsh Legal Services Apprenticeship
Level 5For eligible employees who have already completed the CPQ Foundation Stage or the Level 3 Welsh Legal Services Apprenticeship and want to progress further.
- Relevant starting point
- CPQ Foundation Stage or Level 3 Welsh Legal Services Apprenticeship.
- Employment
- Legal or legally aligned employment.
- Working hours
- At least 16 hours per week.
- Pay
- At least the applicable National Minimum Wage.
- Location
- At least 51% of working time in Wales.
- Study includes
- Professional and legal skills alongside areas such as property, dispute resolution, criminal law and an optional specialist subject.
- Duration
- Around 2 years.
- Funding
- Fully funded by the Welsh Government for eligible learners. Exam resits are funded by the employer.
- Could lead to
- Can support progression into Advanced Paralegal-level work and further professional study, subject to the relevant professional and regulatory requirements.
Apprenticeship places are offered at fixed starts and availability is limited. Talk to Brightlink about upcoming opportunities and whether the route may be available to you.
Why Choose an Apprenticeship?
Build your skills while you work.
-
Earn while you learn
Continue working and earning while completing your apprenticeship.
-
Funded training
For eligible learners, apprenticeship training is funded by the Welsh Government, with employer-funded exam resits excluded.
-
Practical experience
Develop your knowledge alongside real legal or legally aligned work.
-
Career progression
Build capability that can support greater responsibility and progression within legal work.
-
Structured support
Study with structured learning, tutor support and guidance throughout the apprenticeship.
Where Could This Take Your Career?
Progress through legal work.
An apprenticeship can help you develop the knowledge, practical experience and professional capability to take the next step in your legal career.
Develop your legal capability
Build legal knowledge and practical skills while applying them through your work.
Take on greater responsibility
As your knowledge and experience develop, you may be able to progress towards more complex, fee-earning or specialist legal work.
Progress towards professional recognition
Depending on your apprenticeship level, qualifications and experience, you may be able to work towards relevant CILEX professional recognition and further progression, subject to the applicable requirements.
Important to Know
Your employment is part of the apprenticeship.
- You’ll need qualifying employment in a legal or legally aligned role to be eligible. An apprenticeship isn’t a standalone course.
- Your employer continues to employ and pay you throughout the apprenticeship.
- Your training and your day-to-day work need to align with the apprenticeship requirements.
- Eligibility is assessed individually, taking into account your role, hours, location and existing qualifications.
- Existing legal qualifications can affect which route, if any, is available to you.
If you’re interested in an apprenticeship but are unsure whether your current employment is eligible, talk to Brightlink and we’ll help you understand your options.
Not Sure If You’re Eligible?
Talk to us.
Tell us about your role, working location, qualifications and career goals. We’ll help you understand whether a Welsh Legal Services Apprenticeship may be relevant to you.
Prefer to speak to someone?