Our offer
Are you ready to Launch into Law?
Launch into Law is our new solicitor apprenticeship programme. It's for bright, determined and confident school leavers who want to start their career at a leading global law firm without having to go to university.
Over six years as a Launch into Law apprentice, you'll earn a salary while studying and get all the experience you need to make your mark at our Firm.
Launch into Law offers a professional-level (Level 7) degree apprenticeship that provides a mix of on-the-job learning and formal study. You'll graduate ready to start your career as a newly qualified associate, with unbeatable experience of working as a commercial lawyer in the City of London.
What we offer
- Starting salary £32,000
- Tuition fees paid
- £1,000 set-up bonus
- Comprehensive benefits package
- Start September 2025
Minimum requirements
- AAB at A Level (or equivalent)
- 5 GCSEs at 5 or above, including maths and English
The Launch into Law Solicitor Apprenticeship programme
As a Launch into Law solicitor apprentice, you'll get everything you need to begin a successful career in law. You'll spend four days a week working in our City of London offices, and one day studying at the University of Law (ULaw). You'll be awarded an LLB (Hons) in Legal Practice and complete the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQE) Parts 1 and 2.
What you’ll be doing
You will spend some initial time in Business Services to gain a broader understanding of the firm and ease your transition into working at a City firm. Following this, you will rotate through multiple practice groups to gain hands-on experience in what we do for our clients around the world and how we do it. From day one, you will be part of our friendly teams, working side-by-side with our lawyers on real client work, often on matters that make business headlines. We are also building a flexible structure that includes periods of block study at university and access to secondments.
What you’ll learn
You'll get exposure to exciting, real work, deadlines and practical legal knowledge across different parts of our business that will stand you in great stead as a future lawyer. Expect to build a fantastic network of friends and colleagues along the way.
We'll support you at every step to develop the professional and personal skills that will help you succeed.
Programme overview
Our programme combines practical experience with academic studies, guiding you across different legal practices through to completing the SQE.
Years 1 to 4
- Work in the office four days a week
- Year-long placements in different legal practices
- One day a week at ULaw, completing your LLB modules via a blend of virtual and face-to-face workshops, seminars and assessments
Years 5 and 6
- Shorter placements in different legal practices
- A mix of on-the-job and part-time study plus a period of full-time study with ULaw completing your SQE
What we’re looking for
We're not looking for one type of person—we want solicitor apprentices with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. Yet there are some attributes that everyone who works here has in common. Here’s how you know you belong at White & Case:
You have real integrity
You'll work hard to maintain the trust of our clients and your colleagues.
You’re driven to succeed
None of us are afraid of hard work, and we know that's what it takes to achieve great results.
You’re constantly curious
You'll always want to know what we're doing and why.
You share our mindset
Everyone who works here is smart: Intelligence and academic excellence is vital.
You’re always a team player
We're One Firm and one team.
You’re 100 per cent client-focussed
Our clients come first, and you'll never lose sight of this.
Your salary and benefits
Your starting salary will be £32,000 and will increase every year. We'll also give you a set-up bonus of £1,000 to help with the costs of, for example, buying work clothes and getting set up for your new life working in the City of London.
When you're in the office, you can enjoy complimentary food and refreshments from our onsite Broad Street Kitchen (BSK) restaurant.
And when it's time to study and complete your professional training, all your tuition fees will be paid.
Here are some of the other benefits that you will get from your first day at the Firm.
Our recruitment and assessment process
Get ready to apply
You can apply from 9 September 2024 until 19 January 2025. We will review and assess every application, so be sure to take all the time you need. Get to know our Firm, find out about the six-year Launch into Law programme and make sure that we're the right Firm for you.
An online application form
This is your chance to introduce yourself and tell us why you're interested in becoming a solicitor apprentice at White & Case specifically.
Tell us about your education history and any work experience that you have. This doesn't need to be legal experience, but can include any paid or unpaid work or volunteering.
Video assessment
During the video assessment, you'll answer three questions and your response will be recorded. You'll have a few moments to prepare for each question and c.90 seconds to answer. Before you answer the questions, you'll have the opportunity to complete a practice question to help you feel more at ease.
Assessment day
We'll invite you to our offices in the heart of the City of London for an assessment day. This is your opportunity to meet with the Early Careers Legal Recruitment and Development Team, associates and partners. You’ll have an interview and also complete a written assessment and group exercise.
During the interviews, we want to hear about your experiences so far and why you're interested in a career in law. We also want to know why you're interested in joining White & Case. You'll be given the opportunity to ask any questions you have.
Frequently asked questions
We think it is important to be upfront about Launch into Law—it is a long, structured and rigorous six-year programme. The learning curve will be huge, and you will have to juggle your study commitments with client deadlines and a demanding workload.
Be honest with yourself about whether it will suit you—ask the people around you who know you best. We encourage you to attend our information events, try out our virtual learning programme and do your own research about the life of a City lawyer to make sure that it's the right career for you.
If you've already done your research, our Launch into Law programme will provide you with a great platform to start your career, straightaway without the cost of university and the uncertainty of securing a role on graduation.
Absolutely! There are lots of different ways to meet some of the people that you'll be working with and find out more about the Launch into Law programme. Keep an eye out on our website for details of any Open Days or Insight evenings to come, or complete a virtual work experience project to understand more about the work that we do.
Look out for events for you and a parent or responsible adult where you can find out more together about the solicitor apprenticeship route to becoming a lawyer, and more details about the support available at every stage of the Launch into Law experience.
You can see all our events here.
As for university graduates applying for our training contracts, we require all Launch into Law applicants to achieve AAB (predicted or actual grades) in their A Levels. We also ask for a minimum of 5 GCSEs (including English and maths) at Grade 5 or above. Intellectual ability is important for City lawyers, so it's important that anyone who wants to join us has the academic skills needed to succeed.
However, we know that sometimes things don't go to plan. If you have not done as well as expected on your A Level exams due to something that unexpectedly impacted your performance, let us know by filling out the mitigating circumstances section on the Launch into Law application form.
Solicitor apprentices are not expected to have any previous office work experience. We want you to feel comfortable and confident about everything, from using our IT systems to office etiquette or practical skills like how to take meeting notes, and we'll give you training and help with every aspect of office life.
Expect to cover the basics and more during your initial induction and get ongoing support whenever you need it, including training and guidance to support every aspect of your well-being.
We know it will take you some time to get used to your new workplace, and we will provide all you need to help you settle in and grow here.
We know that our Launch into Law apprentices will want to be challenged in their work, and we will provide the right level and variety of work to meet your expectations, whilst not piling on too much pressure, especially at the start. You'll work with your supervisor to ensure that you're taking on the appropriate level of responsibility at each stage of the programme.
Examples of the types of tasks you might typically undertake include:
- Attending client and internal meetings
- Producing notes of meetings
- Research
- Proofreading documents
- Attending trials and hearings
- Conducting online searches (e.g., company searches)
It is important to us to provide international opportunities that come with working in a global Firm. International office secondments are one way that our people will get the chance to work with colleagues in other offices, to see what being part of a global organisation and working for global clients means in practice.
Opportunities for our apprentices will be subject to ensuring that they are able to continue working and studying towards their qualifying assessments.
Taking on a solicitor apprenticeship is no small feat, and we know that balancing work in a fast-paced City firm whilst studying won't be easy. It is important that our apprentices feel supported, and that they can be honest and open about the support they need to help them succeed. Here are some of the support systems that we have in place.
Your supervisor will be your main point of contact for all work-related matters in the team you are working in. Expect to have regular informal and formal feedback sessions with your supervisor.
Apprentices will also be given a mentor who will remain the same throughout the six-year Launch into Law programme. They'll offer advice and guidance on your development and progression at the Firm, and will be a great sounding board for you.
As soon as you accept an offer, you'll be introduced to your buddy. They'll help you settle in and show you around.
You'll meet many members of the Early Careers team during the recruitment process, and they will also be on hand to help guide and support you over the six-year programme.
The University of Law will provide academic support, including a personal tutor, and have a range of services to help apprentices overcome any difficulties and to help you achieve your full potential. Supervisors will also meet regularly with the University of Law professors to discuss progress with your legal studies.
The Firm is also a member of the City Century network, through which our Launch into Law apprentices will have access to additional support, networking and social events.
On successful completion of the programme (and subject to meeting the regulatory standard set by the Solicitor Regulatory Authority (SRA) of 'Character and Suitability'), solicitor apprentices will become qualified lawyers, the same level as for university graduates who have completed a two-year training contract.
The following qualifications being awarded at the end of the programme:
- Solicitor Level 7 Apprenticeship
- LLB (Hons) in Legal Practice Skills
- Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQE) Parts 1 and 2