Gorizzume

Freshfields: does its solicitor apprenticeship programme, six years to qualified solicitor sponsor a UK visa?

NoSolicitor Apprenticeship Programme, six years to qualified solicitor (Law LLB with BPP)

No. Freshfields does not sponsor its solicitor apprenticeship programme, six years to qualified solicitor for international students who need a visa. Freshfields describes the scheme itself as being for UK national school leavers, and separately requires three years of UK residence before the programme starts. It is a six-year, London-based programme: four days a week in the office and one day a week studying towards a Law LLB at BPP's Waterloo campus for years one to four, with qualification following in years five and six. Eligibility also requires AAB at A level or equivalent, at least seven GCSEs at grade 6/B or above including English and Maths, and not yet having studied at undergraduate level or above.

Sponsors grads?
No
Pay vs threshold
Not published
Opportunity
apprenticeship
2027 cycle
Next application window shown as opening 2 November 2026, with a programme start of September 2027; the page's stated closing date of 28 January 2026 predates that opening date, which looks like a publishing error on Freshfields' own site rather than a typo introduced here.
Confidence
high
“Our London-based solicitor apprenticeship scheme gives UK national school leavers a chance to build their future in law.”
Freshfields, from its own careers pages
The catch: The page also states a separate three-year UK residency requirement, so even a UK national who has spent under three years living in the UK before the start date would not meet the criteria.
Freshfields early careersVerify on gov.ukSee the licence record

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Sources

Verdict last checked 2026-09-22.

Common questions

Does Freshfields sponsor visas for its solicitor apprenticeship programme, six years to qualified solicitor?

No. Freshfields does not sponsor its solicitor apprenticeship programme, six years to qualified solicitor for international students who need a visa. Freshfields describes the scheme itself as being for UK national school leavers, and separately requires three years of UK residence before the programme starts. It is a six-year, London-based programme: four days a week in the office and one day a week studying towards a Law LLB at BPP's Waterloo campus for years one to four, with qualification following in years five and six. Eligibility also requires AAB at A level or equivalent, at least seven GCSEs at grade 6/B or above including English and Maths, and not yet having studied at undergraduate level or above.

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 Freshfields?

The page also states a separate three-year UK residency requirement, so even a UK national who has spent under three years living in the UK before the start date would not meet the criteria.

How should I confirm Freshfields's sponsorship before applying?

Read the specific vacancy on Freshfields'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.

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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.