GoRizzume

CMS: does its solicitor apprenticeship sponsor a UK visa?

NoSolicitor Apprenticeship (England & Wales): six-year Level 7 route with an LLB in Legal Practice and Skills at the University of Law, then the SQE

No. CMS does not sponsor its solicitor apprenticeship for international students who need a visa. The CMS FAQ states plainly that it cannot provide visa sponsorship for this programme.

Sponsors grads?
No
Pay vs threshold
Below the threshold
Opportunity
apprenticeship
Pay
Starting salary: Bristol £28,000, London £30,000, Manchester and Sheffield £26,000
2027 cycle
Applications open in 2027, no exact date published as of 12 October 2026
Confidence
high

CMS Solicitor Apprenticeship: at a glance

CMS's Solicitor Apprenticeship in England and Wales is a six-year programme in which apprentices work in a fee-earning team while studying for a Law Degree in Legal Practice and Skills (LLB) with the University of Law, then progress to the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQE). Apprentices work four days a week at CMS with one study day a week, gaining hands-on experience across the firm's practice groups, with no university or SQE fees to pay. By the end, apprentices have an LLB, have passed the SQE and have gained qualifying work experience, leading to qualification as a solicitor. The page says applications open in 2027. Source

Duration
Six yearsSource
Who can apply
School or college leavers, and career changers who meet the academic criteria“This apprenticeship is ideal for school or college leavers and for career-changers who meet the academic criteria and are looking for an alternative route into law”Source
Locations
Bristol, London, Manchester, SheffieldSource
Starting pay
Starting salary £30,000 in London, £28,000 in Bristol, £26,000 in Manchester and SheffieldSource
Degree requirement
5 GCSEs including Maths and English at grade C/4 or above, and 3 A Levels at grade C or above (or equivalent)Source
Recruitment stages
  1. Online application form
  2. Critical thinking test
  3. Video interview
  4. Assessment day
Source

Every programme and stage at CMS

“If you’re applying for our solicitor apprenticeship, please note that we can’t provide visa sponsorship for this programme.”
CMS, from its own careers pages
The catch: The page says applications open in 2027 but prints no exact date, and CMS's Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore routes have different visa arrangements that do not apply to this UK apprenticeship.
CMS early careersVerify on gov.ukSee the licence record

Applying to CMS? Check your CV first.

Most graduate applications are filtered by an ATS before a human ever sees them. GoRizzume Pro scores your CV against the job description and shows you what to fix.

Try Pro free for 7 days

£0 today, then Pro is £14.99/month from day 8Card needed.We email you the day before you pay.Cancel anytime in Settings, Billing.

What CMS publishes about this programme

Checked against CMS's own careers pages on 2026-10-12. Anything not published is worth asking the early careers team before you apply.

  • Visa sponsorship policy: published
  • Application dates: published
  • Programme description: published
  • Duration and start date: published
  • Who can apply: published
  • Pay: published
  • Locations: published
  • Degree requirement: published
  • Recruitment stages: published

More early careers programmes at CMS

Sources

Verdict last checked 2026-10-12. How we check programme verdicts

Common questions

Does CMS sponsor visas for its solicitor apprenticeship?

No. CMS does not sponsor its solicitor apprenticeship for international students who need a visa. CMS's own early talent site describes a six-year solicitor apprenticeship for school and college leavers and career changers. Apprentices work four days a week in a fee-earning team at CMS and spend one study day a week on a Law Degree in Legal Practice and Skills (LLB) with the University of Law, then sit the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQE) and complete qualifying work experience, leading to qualification as a solicitor. There are no university or SQE fees to pay. Locations are Bristol, London, Manchester and Sheffield, with starting salaries of 28,000 pounds in Bristol, 30,000 pounds in London and 26,000 pounds in Manchester and Sheffield. Entry needs 5 GCSEs including Maths and English at grade C/4 or above and 3 A Levels at grade C or above, or equivalents. The CMS FAQ states plainly that it cannot provide visa sponsorship for this programme.

What is the CMS solicitor apprenticeship?

CMS's Solicitor Apprenticeship in England and Wales is a six-year programme in which apprentices work in a fee-earning team while studying for a Law Degree in Legal Practice and Skills (LLB) with the University of Law, then progress to the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations (SQE). Apprentices work four days a week at CMS with one study day a week, gaining hands-on experience across the firm's practice groups, with no university or SQE fees to pay. By the end, apprentices have an LLB, have passed the SQE and have gained qualifying work experience, leading to qualification as a solicitor. The page says applications open in 2027.

Does the pay clear the UK Skilled Worker salary threshold?

The pay for this scheme sits below the Skilled Worker salary threshold, which is itself a reason sponsorship is not possible.

What is the catch international students miss with CMS?

The page says applications open in 2027 but prints no exact date, and CMS's Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore routes have different visa arrangements that do not apply to this UK apprenticeship.

When do applications open for the CMS solicitor apprenticeship?

Applications open in 2027, no exact date published as of 12 October 2026. Checked on 2026-10-12 against CMS's own site.

How long is the CMS solicitor apprenticeship?

Six years, according to CMS's own careers information.

Who can apply for the CMS solicitor apprenticeship?

School or college leavers, and career changers who meet the academic criteria, according to CMS's own careers information.

Where is the CMS solicitor apprenticeship based?

Bristol, London, Manchester, Sheffield, according to CMS's own careers information.

What does the CMS solicitor apprenticeship pay?

Starting salary £30,000 in London, £28,000 in Bristol, £26,000 in Manchester and Sheffield, according to CMS's own careers information.

What degree do you need for the CMS solicitor apprenticeship?

5 GCSEs including Maths and English at grade C/4 or above, and 3 A Levels at grade C or above (or equivalent), according to CMS's own careers information.

What are the recruitment stages for the CMS solicitor apprenticeship?

Online application form, Critical thinking test, Video interview, Assessment day, according to CMS's own careers information.

How should I confirm CMS's sponsorship before applying?

Read the specific vacancy on CMS's careers site, ask its early-careers team directly, and check the employer on the gov.uk Register of Licensed Sponsors. Policies and thresholds change, so treat this page as a starting point and confirm for the exact role and cycle.

Related guides

All visa and sponsorship guides

Other law schemes

Before you apply

Check your CV against UK applicant tracking systems, then tailor it to the schemes that can actually sponsor you. GoRizzume Pro and Premium start with a 7-day free trial on monthly billing.

Try Pro free for 7 days
See what each plan includesSee all graduate schemes

Pro: £0 today, then £14.99/month. Card needed, we email you the day before, cancel anytime.

Other law schemes we track

Sponsorship data: Home Office register + job ad wording. Not immigration advice, verify on gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. How we check this data.