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DLA Piper UK Solicitor Apprenticeship, Level 7 2027

NoSolicitor Apprenticeship, Level 7 (LLB in Legal Practice and Skills plus SQE, with the University of Law)

No. DLA Piper UK does not sponsor its solicitor apprenticeship, level 7 for international students who need a visa. DLA Piper's FAQ says the firm itself sets no academic requirements, but its tuition provider requires at least three A levels grade C or above and five GCSEs grade C/4 or above including Maths and English.

Sponsors grads?
No
Pay vs threshold
Not published
Opportunity
apprenticeship
2027 cycle
No published date as of 1 October 2026; the most recent applications closed 17:00 on 20 February 2026
Confidence
high

DLA Piper UK Solicitor Apprenticeship, Level 7: at a glance

Locations
London, Manchester, Leeds, BirminghamSource
Degree requirement
At least three A levels grade C or above, and five GCSEs grade C/4 or above including Maths and English, or equivalentSource

How DLA Piper UK recruits

2026 solicitor apprenticeship intake (closed 20 February 2026); 2027 round not yet published. 3 stages, from DLA Piper UK's own careers pages, checked 2026-10-03. Test providers are named only where DLA Piper UK names them.

  1. Application form

    Application form

    Application form with written answers on motivation for DLA Piper and understanding of the apprenticeship, plus a CV. No cover letter. Optional Rare contextual survey.

    “Our application form will capture some key information about yourself. We will also ask you to submit awritten answers regarding your motivations to apply to DLA Piper and understanding of the apprenticeship programme. We will also ask you to submit a CV, but you do not need to submit a cover letter.”
    Source

  2. Telephone interview

    Phone interview

    Live telephone interview on motivation, fit with the apprenticeship, the behaviours the firm values and alignment to its values.

    “The telephone interview has been developed to assess your motivations and alignment to apprenticeship programme. It It will be a live telephone call, with the questions focused on the behaviours which are important to be successful at DLA Piper, as well as your alignment to our values.”
    Source

  3. Assessment centre

    Assessment centre

    In-person assessment centre as the final stage, made up of strengths-based exercises and a chance to meet the firm.

    “The final stage of the application process is an in-person assessment centre. It will comprise of exercises which give you the chance to demonstrate your strengths, to meet our people, and for us to help get to know you better.”
    Source

Every programme and stage at DLA Piper UK

“Having been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least the last three years (or other eligible residency status), and having the right to permanently live and work in the UK for the full duration of the apprenticeship.”
DLA Piper UK, from its own careers pages
The catch: DLA Piper says it will review applications against the full funding criteria after submission and may request further information to confirm eligibility status, so residency is checked, not just declared.
DLA Piper UK early careersVerify on gov.ukSee the licence record

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What DLA Piper UK publishes about this programme

Checked against DLA Piper UK's own careers pages on 2026-10-01. Anything not published is worth asking the early careers team before you apply.

  • Visa sponsorship policy: published
  • Application dates: not published
  • Programme description: not published
  • Duration and start date: not published
  • Who can apply: not published
  • Pay: not published
  • Locations: published
  • Degree requirement: published
  • Recruitment stages: published

Sources

Verdict last checked 2026-09-22. Application dates last checked 2026-10-01. How we check programme verdicts

Common questions

Does DLA Piper UK sponsor visas for its solicitor apprenticeship, level 7?

No. DLA Piper UK does not sponsor its solicitor apprenticeship, level 7 for international students who need a visa. DLA Piper's FAQ says the firm itself sets no academic requirements, but its tuition provider requires at least three A levels grade C or above and five GCSEs grade C/4 or above including Maths and English. Because the programme is funded through the Level 7 Apprenticeship Levy, candidates must have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least the last three years, or have other eligible residency status, and have the right to permanently live and work in the UK for the full six-year duration. The most recent cycle's applications closed at 17:00 on 20 February 2026; no 2027 dates were published as of 22 September 2026. Solicitor apprentices are based in offices including London, Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham.

Does the pay clear the UK Skilled Worker salary threshold?

The pay for this scheme is not published clearly enough to judge against the threshold.

What is the catch international students miss with DLA Piper UK?

DLA Piper says it will review applications against the full funding criteria after submission and may request further information to confirm eligibility status, so residency is checked, not just declared.

When do applications open for the DLA Piper UK solicitor apprenticeship, level 7?

No published date as of 1 October 2026; the most recent applications closed 17:00 on 20 February 2026. Checked on 2026-10-01 against DLA Piper UK's own site.

Where is the DLA Piper UK solicitor apprenticeship, level 7 based?

London, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, according to DLA Piper UK's own careers information.

What degree do you need for the DLA Piper UK solicitor apprenticeship, level 7?

At least three A levels grade C or above, and five GCSEs grade C/4 or above including Maths and English, or equivalent, according to DLA Piper UK's own careers information.

How should I confirm DLA Piper UK's sponsorship before applying?

Read the specific vacancy on DLA Piper UK'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

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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.