Level 7 apprenticeships: What’s next?

The Government is cutting the eligibility for Level 7 legal apprenticeships in a step backwards for diversity in the profession, I’m disappointed to report.

Bolt Burdon Kemp has been lobbying against funding cuts to the apprenticeships which have already proven to be a vital route into the profession offering a more inclusive and accessible alternative to traditional pathways.

And while our work has limited the damage funding cuts would bring, we still believe inclusivity will take a hit under the new entry requirements coming in next year.

We first shared our concerns about proposed cuts to the funding of Level 7 legal apprenticeships last November. Since then, Bolt Burdon Kemp and other firms across the legal sector have lobbied the Government to reconsider. We raised the issue directly with the Skills Minister, contacted the Shadow Education Minister, and met with our local MP. Our efforts were even referenced in Parliament by Neil O’Brien MP, recognising just how important the scheme is in tackling the lack of diversity and social mobility in law.

Now, the Government has confirmed funding for Level 7 solicitor apprenticeships will remain, but only for those aged between 16 and 21 from January 2026. There will be an exception for care leavers and individuals with an Education, Health and Care Plan who are under 25 at the start of their apprenticeship in England.

While we are relieved the programme will not be scrapped entirely, this age restriction is a significant blow to widening access to the legal profession. It creates a major barrier for improving social mobility in the law, particularly for aspiring lawyers who come to the profession later in life or cannot afford the cost of qualification through the academic route.

Why this matters

The Level 7 apprenticeship route enables individuals to qualify as solicitors without taking on enormous student debt. Apprentices work while they train, earning a salary and gaining experience, while their tuition and exam costs are covered through the apprenticeship levy.

The traditional route into law can cost upwards of £80,000, including tuition fees for an undergraduate degree and the Solicitor Qualifying Exams. That kind of expense is simply out of reach for many, especially those from low-income households. Without apprenticeships, some of the brightest and most determined candidates would be excluded from entering the profession altogether.

In contrast, recent data shows Level 7 solicitor apprenticeships are achieving what years of discussion about diversity have failed to deliver:

• 94 percent of solicitor apprentices attended state schools
• 33 percent come from working-class backgrounds
• 88 percent work outside London
• 70 percent are employed by smaller firms or in-house and public sector teams

The model is working, so it is disappointing it will now be restricted.

The impact of an age cap

By limiting funding to those aged under 22, the Government is overlooking the reality of how many people enter law. Career changers, mature students, and those who need to work for financial reasons before pursuing their goals will no longer be eligible. It also puts pressure on firms to self-fund apprenticeships for older applicants, an option many small and medium-sized firms simply cannot afford.

At Bolt Burdon Kemp, we have seen first-hand how transformative the Level 7 route can be. We have recruited four apprentices so far, with plans to grow our scheme in the years ahead.

One of our apprentices summed it up perfectly: “Without the level 7 apprenticeship, I wouldn’t have been able to pursue a career in law. Coming from a low-income household, I couldn’t afford the SQE course or exams without this route.”

What’s next?

We welcome the Government’s decision to retain Level 7 apprenticeships, but the introduction of an age cap is a step backwards. If the goal is to create a legal profession that reflects the society it serves, this decision moves us further away from that vision.

We will continue to campaign for the removal of the age cap to ensure that, regardless of age or your background, everyone has equal access to entering the legal profession.

To find out more about BBK Careers and what roles are currently available you can visit our careers hub here.