
As part of Apprenticeship Week, we’ve been catching up with some Jacksons Law apprentices, to find out how they are enjoying their roles and courses.
Today, we hear from partner Toby Joel, who has spent more than 34 years with Jacksons, after starting on a YTS scheme in 1989.
“It’s great to be supporting the next generation of solicitors,” says Toby Joel, who started his own career at Jacksons on a YTS in 1989.
“It’s very rewarding bringing new young people in and training them, as well as seeing them trained on an external course.
“You’re nurturing the next generation of solicitors in your office and solving a long-term recruitment issue.”
Toby adds the six-year apprenticeship programme means that “by the time they can call themselves a solicitor” they are well known and established at the firm.
Although much has changed in more than three decades, it was similar for Toby, who explains: “I left school in 1989 and I was enrolled to join Acklam Sixth Form College (now Middlesbrough College) – and then I heard about the legal executive route to qualifying as a lawyer.
“I found out that I could do that alongside a YTS and I started at Jacksons in September 1989 on a two-year YTS – the equivalent of a modern day apprenticeship.
“I studied part time while I was working and I qualified in 1994.”
Toby became a partner in 2009, a head of department in 2015 and an equity partner in 2020.
“I have gone from earning £28 per week to owning the business jointly with other equity partners,” he said.
“I think it was the thought of not having to move away to University that took me down this route.
“I would have had to go to York, Durham or Newcastle to University and I didn’t like the idea of moving away for three years at the end of sixth form, so to get a job in a law firm and study law made absolute sense to me.
“I had a job in the town I grew up in and didn’t have to move away.”
Very soon after he started, Toby had his own clients, was involved in meetings with other lawyers in the firm and court appearances – all the things that would have been five or six years down the line had he gone to University.
“When other law students my age were graduating, I’d had five or six years doing the job and had built up a client base and was going to court,” Toby said.
“I was also earning all the time and not running up any student debt.
“I’ve never worked anywhere else – I’ve been here 34 years – 35 this year.
“I’ve seen lots of coming and going as you do if you’re in a job for 35 years.”
Jacksons Law Firm offers opportunities for business apprentices too, like Alayna Johnson who works with the finance team.
There has been a raft of apprentices over recent years including Tom Dorgan, who completed his apprenticeship in finance, and Olivia Barugh, Lucy Dawes, Megan Galloway, Ellie McGavigan, Ellis Miller and Sam Rice who all completed their apprenticeships in business administration. And, hot off the press, Jacksons will welcome three new business administration apprentices later this month.
Speaking of the solicitor apprenticeships, Toby says: “You need A-Levels so you need to go to sixth form and once you’ve finished sixth form, assuming you get the grades, you can apply to go onto an apprenticeship course – but you have to get employment with a law firm.
“It’s a six-and-a-half year programme where you’re working and studying.
“As a firm, we commit to setting aside one day per week for the apprentice to study rather than come into work.”
Currently, Jacksons has got three solicitor apprentices.
“Our longest-serving solicitor apprentice, David Armitage, is only in his second year and the other two, Jay Proudler and Oliver McPartland, joined us in September,” Toby says.
“They are only four to five months into it and it’s early days, but they are our members of staff now until they finish the course and hopefully, beyond that.
They also have a mentor each. Jay and David have Emily Skillcorn as mentor and Oliver is being mentored by Jack Farrow.
“They are solicitors who haven’t had to go off and do a three-year degree and then an LPC, before doing a two-year training contract before they can become a solicitor.
“They are getting paid – not running up any debt and they are building up a client base and also a reputation in the firm as being a good lawyer.”
Toby believes this option is suitable for a number of people, as “it’s not everyone’s cup of tea to leave home at the age of 18 for three years”.
“Some people want to embrace the student lifestyle and for others, it’s not what they want,” he says.
“They want to earn money, stay at home and not run up any debt.
“At the same time, they are doing live work, they are a valued member of a team and working with clients.
“They are fee earning – they are making the business money and the practical side they are picking up in the office will also be helping them in the classroom.”
Toby says that by the time they formally qualify as solicitors, these apprentices will be able to “hit the ground running”.
However, he adds there is still a space for the traditional University route and Jacksons welcomes both types of students and employees with open arms.
“We’ve got some brilliant lawyers who have come through that route, but it’s looking like this will be one of the more popular ways of qualifying in the future, as it has so many advantages for the students and employees,” Toby says.
There are a limited amount of opportunities for apprentice solicitors, which means students often apply to University as well, in case they are not selected.
Similarly, when law graduates have qualified after four years, there are a limited number of training contract opportunities at firms and many graduates start in paralegal or administrative roles.
However, Toby hopes there will be more opportunities for solicitors in the coming years, whether they’re going down the apprenticeships route or seeking a training contract.
One thing is for sure, Jacksons is very active in enabling students to excel – whatever route they choose.
Toby says: “There are opportunities to develop a long career with Jacksons, beyond the apprenticeship or training contract.
“We will help those who show promise and commitment up the next rung of the ladder – whichever route they take to becoming qualified.”
Toby also hopes to see more schools and colleges promoting the apprenticeship route to those who would find it more appealing than going to University.
“It’s important that students have all the information about the different routes they can take into their chosen careers,” Toby said.
“We look forward to working with more schools and colleges to promote the opportunities we have here at Jacksons in the future and the different ways students can find a successful career in law in their hometown.”