National Apprenticeship Week: Investing in the Next Generation of Solicitors

To mark National Apprenticeship Week, we are proud to celebrate our commitment to supporting apprentices and nurturing early legal careers. Apprenticeships are an important part of the firm’s approach to talent development, combining practical, hands-on experience with structured academic study to help aspiring solicitors build strong foundations for the future.

Late last year, we welcomed a new cohort of Solicitor Apprentices: Lucy Barnes, Farris Saleem, Simran Ark and Gemma Brien. 

They join our existing Solicitor Apprentices Lydia Walsh, Ellie Saroglou, and Sukhvir Rai, who began their apprenticeships in September 2024. Together, they reflect our long-standing investment in creating accessible routes into the legal profession.

Lucy Barnes is undertaking her Level 7 Solicitor Apprenticeship with Datalaw, whilst currently working within our Family Law team in Derby. Lucy highlights the supportive environment of the firm, “I have felt supported beyond expectations throughout my time at Smiths so far. The proactive culture has been instrumental in my growth; my colleagues take a genuine interest in my professional development, while my manager ensures I have dedicated time to prioritise my studies and complete 'off-the-job' training, essential for the qualification”   

Lucy added that being able to combine structured study with real work has been invaluable to her development and confidence as she works towards qualification.

The remaining apprentices in the new cohort have all started their Solicitor Level 7 Apprenticeship LLB (Hons) / PGDip at Nottingham Trent University, while gaining experience across different practice areas and offices. 

Simran Ark and Farris Saleem are both based at the firm’s head office, located in Derby city centre, within the Dispute Resolution team. Simran, who assists the team with drafting legal documents and conducting research across a variety of dispute areas, expressed an interest in pursuing the apprenticeship route as it provides a unique opportunity to earn while studying, with the experience gained at work supporting her academic learning.

Farris joined the firm in January 2025 and has primarily assisted with Aviation matters since then. Speaking about her decision to take the apprenticeship route, she said:

“The apprenticeship route gives me the practical experience I have been looking for. It allows me to bridge the gap between what I learn in an academic environment and how the law is applied day to day, which has been really valuable in helping me develop my understanding and confidence.”

Gemma Brien, who is based in the Leicester office, is completing her apprenticeship within our Residential Conveyancing team, further strengthening the firm’s early careers presence across multiple locations and practice areas.

Bally Atwal, who oversees trainees and apprenticeships within the firm said supporting apprentices is central to the firm’s long-term approach to talent development. 

He commented, “Apprenticeships play a vital role in helping us develop the next generation of solicitors. By combining structured learning with real, hands-on experience, we are able to support individuals from an early stage in their careers and help them build the skills, confidence and professional judgement they need to succeed. Our apprentices are an important part of the firm, and we are proud to support them throughout their journey.”

As National Apprenticeship Week shines a spotlight on the value of apprenticeships across the UK, we are proud to recognise the contribution apprentices make to the firm and the wider legal profession, and to celebrate the role apprenticeships play in shaping the next generation of solicitors.