‘I’ve got solicitor apprenticeship offers from two Magic Circle firms and a top US firm – how do I choose?’

Try and understand their working styles, if possible. Legal Cheek do great “training contract” analyses of different firms to help you understand the profile and pace of work. See if you can find something similar for this US firm. Working culture at US law firms can be gruelling, typically more than UK-based, so I would also assess whether that’s something you would enjoy or avoid.

Also, rather than looking at just the firms, look at their specialisms. Which firm does more of the kind of work you would aspire to? Are they all more M&Aish or does one of them also do Private Client, for example (if that was your interest).

Many congratulations on getting the offers. The apprenticeship model is so exciting for the profession and it’s great to see students starting to get offers and get into the building.

For something where you’ll be joining most likely straight from school, and you’re stuck there for 6 years, I think the MC offers are the obvious decision here. They have a long history of offering the best quality of training and they have the biggest infrastructural resources at their fingertips in terms of L&D, HR support etc which are all going to be really important for apprentices.

Within the two MC offers, I think it’s important to trust your gut (as nebulous as that sounds) – don’t get distracted by which has a flashier office, or which has the best merch/marketing materials. I also wouldn’t get too hung up on the idea of one being a firm which does more in X area than Y area at your stage – the training you get will be exceptional across the board regardless and there’s plenty of time in your career for moving to firms that are super specialist in an area you become interested in.

Get a read off of the people you speak to – do they seem to enjoy their work? Do they seem to have good relationships with colleagues? What types and forms of support (particularly informal support) are the firms offering you throughout your apprenticeship? These are all the things that are going to have a massive impact on your day to day life and general levels of happiness over the next few years and the things you should put at the top of your priorities list when making this decision.

Whatever you go for, wishing you the absolute best of luck with your apprenticeship.

Already covered my intended points but for something as long as an apprenticeship I’d take one of the MC options.

Easy, do none. Go to university, get an education and become a real lawyer not a woke excuse for a lawyer.

Anyone advising otherwise should be thoroughly ashamed of misleading an impressionable young person.

I couldn’t find any US firms offering L7 Degree Apprenticeships!! so very well done getting 3 offers.

Congratulations!!! This is a tremendous achievement – absolutely fantastic. Others have made excellent points and their advice will help you make the right decision (though there’s no wrong choice here!).

I urge you to reconsider the apprenticeship route. While it’s a fantastic opportunity, I view it similarly to Milbank Leverage Finance TC or Palantir’s Merit Fellowship – the real winners are the firms getting bright young talent to mold into perfectly specialized workers. The very people admitted to these schemes often have the most to lose.

University comes with debt and learning that can seem disconnected from the “real world,” but as a senior associate at a US law firm, my greatest career advantages are tied to my university experience. I won’t bore you with abstract virtues, but here’s what will significantly impact your career long-term (assuming you’re more than capable of getting into top universities):

1. University isn’t just about friendships, its about the network. It’s about building broad networks through classes, sports, clubs, and alumni connections that become the foundation of your professional network. Law is relationship-driven, and no small apprenticeship cohort can compete with that ecosystem.

2. Being on a different timeline than your peers, means missing valuable relatability with future colleagues and clients. Young professionals often mistakenly think they must network upward when lateral networking is more crucial. The peers at university now will be your most valuable connections later.

3. Legal careers require dynamism. An apprenticeship is essentially a job that leaves little time for other pursuits – sports, language immersion, research projects. As your career progresses, legal practice involves significant socializing beyond stereotypical networking. Coming from a council estate as the first in my family to attend university, college grants gave me access to experiences that expanded my worldview and ability to connect with diverse clients.

4. University teaches you HOW to learn. I studied what’s now derided as a “three-letter degree,” but it gave me space to explore topics intellectually – one of life’s most rewarding experiences. Great lawyers apply frameworks across domains and understand client concerns deeply. Dedicated time learning how to learn is an invaluable gift to yourself.

5. The prestige factor matters. Despite UK optimism about degree apprenticeships, the legal profession remains driven by prestige both domestically and internationally. Foreign counsel, especially where law is a postgraduate degree limited to elite institutions, may view your path differently. Consider whether you want to be part of this experiment.

My perspective stems from seeing myself in your shoes if this option had existed back then. These legal apprenticeships will attract the brightest students for whom university isn’t financially seamless. Ask yourself: would the partners encouraging these programs recommend the same path for their own children? The answer is revealing.