Best of both worlds for apprentice Jay Proudler, who will have years of experience in a Law Firm when his peers graduate from University.
As part of National Apprenticeship Week, we caught up with some Jacksons apprentices to find out how they were enjoying their roles and courses.
Today, Jay Proudler, 18, from Middlesbrough, shares his story.
Jay is enjoying the best of both worlds after choosing a solicitor apprenticeship over University life.
While he admits he thought he would be jealous of his mates who went off to experience the social side of University, he is confident he has made the right decision by going down the apprenticeship route.
What’s more, he often visits them on campus at weekends – so the only thing he might be missing out on is the substantial student loans and tuition fees his friends will face when they graduate!
Jay, who excelled at his A-Levels at Macmillan Academy in English Language, History and Geography, said: “Of course, the practical experience I am getting through working in a law firm is the main advantage of choosing an apprenticeship over the University degree route.
“Instead of just learning the theory, I can immediately put everything I’m learning into practice while I’m working in a law firm.
“The fact I will have no student debt and a steady wage is a bonus, as the main advantage is the practical experience I’m getting.”
Jay received support in applying for the role at Jacksons from his Mum, who is a careers adviser.
She felt this was the best route for him to become a solicitor, although he did have a place at York St John University lined up in case he was unsuccessful in securing the role.
He admits: “There was a while when I found myself thinking ‘have I really picked the right option’ but I’m still able to visit my friends at University in York, Leeds and Manchester when I’m not working.
“I have been able to stay over and experience that life with them.
“It’s been a big jump going from college to an apprenticeship, but I think this has been the best option for me to take and I now have a mixture of friends on apprenticeships and friends at university.”
Jay is aware that in seven years’ time, he will already have an immense amount of experience working at a law firm under his belt.
Currently, he is doing administration and secretarial work in the residential conveyancing department, but he expects to progress to fee earning work that solicitors carry out as early as next month.
He says: “I will start doing fee earning work and the solicitors’ side of things in March – and that’s something I’m really looking forward to.
“I’m constantly talking to clients and helping them through, from processing initial documentation to ordering searches on properties.
“I’m also engaging more with lenders and external providers like Land Registry and learned how to exchange contracts and now seeing through the legal completion of the property and understanding the post completion element of the transaction.”
While he is enjoying the work in residential conveyancing, Jay is also looking forward to moving around the firm’s varied departments until he finds his niche.
“I will try a few departments and hopefully come back to the one I enjoy most,” he says.
“I definitely want to try working in the corporate team, commercial property and litigation, but right now I do really enjoy where I am.”
Jay says he has been made to feel welcome at Jacksons from day one – starting from when he did work experience at the firm in the autumn of 2022.
“Because I did this work experience, I already knew one of the partners, Toby Joel and I also knew Emily Skillcorn,” Jay said.
“I had two interviews for the role, which obviously went well.
“The second interview, with Lindsey Scott and Jonathan Wall felt a little bit more like a chat.”
Jay attends the University of Law one day per week and has achieved first class marks in his last assessment.
He has also just submitted a piece of coursework and will find out his grade for this by the end of February.
Jay says: “It can be quite hard and intense learning online at home, as I love learning in person.
“It’s difficult just sitting in my home office working alone, but ultimately, it’s worth it.
“One of my really close friends is someone I go to University with, so you do still get some kind of social experience.”
For Jay, the sociable atmosphere at Jacksons is also a bonus, as he says everyone around him is supportive and helpful.
“I sit close to fee earners and secretaries and they are all really lovely,” he says.
“When I’m 25, I will be a fully qualified solicitor and also have seven years’ experience working with people like them.
“Some of my peers will have to try to get a training contract or find their way in a position as a paralegal after they graduate, whereas I will have been doing fee earning work from the age of 18.”
For Jay, this is the main reason he believes taking the apprenticeship route, rather than the University route is a no-brainer.
“I’m friends with some people in the year below me and I’ve explained to them that this is a really good option with no downside,” Jay says.
“There are degree apprenticeships now in all sorts of careers that enable you to combine work and study and prevent you accruing student debt.
“When you don’t have that lingering over you, the apprenticeship becomes a much better route.”
