National Apprenticeship Week 2026: Skills for Life, Skills for Law

9–15 February 2026

National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) returns from 9–15 February 2026, bringing together apprentices, employers, training providers and professional bodies to celebrate the power of skills.

Now in its 19th year, NAW is the UK’s biggest annual celebration of apprenticeships and technical education. The 2026 theme, “Skills for Life”, highlights how apprenticeships create meaningful careers, strengthen businesses, and drive economic growth by developing the skills employers need.

For the legal sector, this message could not be more important.

Why National Apprenticeship Week Matters

Apprenticeships are no longer viewed as an alternative route — they are a strategic, high-quality pathway into skilled professions.

Across England:

• Over 650 employer-designed apprenticeship standards are available

86% of employers report satisfaction with their apprenticeship programmes

77% report improved productivity

86% of apprentices say they are satisfied with their apprenticeship

94% of apprentices who complete their programme move into work or further training

(Source: Department for Education, October 2024)

National Apprenticeship Week provides an opportunity to spotlight these successes — and to challenge outdated perceptions about routes into professional careers. In law, apprenticeships are transforming access to the profession.

CILEX Apprenticeships: A Professional Pathway into Law

CILEX Apprenticeships offer a structured and respected route into legal careers, combining paid employment with recognised legal qualifications.

Through apprenticeships, individuals can:

• Earn while they learn

• Gain real workplace experience from day one

• Achieve nationally recognised legal qualifications

• Progress towards becoming a CILEX Lawyer 

For employers, CILEX Apprenticeships provide a practical and sustainable way to:

• Develop future-ready legal teams

• Address skills gaps

• Improve retention and loyalty

• Support social mobility and widen access

By embedding legal learning directly into the workplace, apprentices develop not just technical knowledge, but the professional behaviours, commercial awareness and client skills essential to modern legal practice.

Breaking Down Barriers to Opportunity

One of the core aims of National Apprenticeship Week is to highlight how apprenticeships break down barriers to opportunity.

CILEX has long championed accessible routes into law. Apprenticeships remove some of the financial and structural barriers traditionally associated with qualifying as a lawyer.

They allow talented individuals — regardless of background — to build sustainable legal careers through structured progression and professional recognition.

This supports a more diverse, representative and resilient legal profession.

The Future of Legal Careers Starts with Skills

National Apprenticeship Week 2026 reminds us that professional success begins with strong foundations.

In law, those foundations are built through practical experience, structured learning and recognised standards.

CILEX Apprenticeships demonstrate that there is more than one route to becoming a lawyer — and that skills, commitment and opportunity matter more than background.

Because in the legal profession, it all starts with skills.