“I went from working at the world's largest restaurant chain to the world's largest law firm”

I was a part of the second ever intake of solicitor apprentices – and in the first cohort at my firm, Dentons.

Back then, the programme was a bold new initiative, embraced by a handful of firms. It has since evolved into a significant pathway for those entering the profession, providing opportunities that were once unobtainable to lots of us.

I joined the apprenticeship scheme straight after school. I like to tell people that I went from working at the world's largest restaurant chain, McDonald's, to working for the world's largest global law firm.

When I embarked on this journey, I was filled with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. The first lawyer I ever met was the man who ran my interview at Dentons.

The closest I had ever been to one before that was watching Judge Judy dispense harsh but fair justice on TV on Saturday evenings with my mum.

I had known I would never attend university. The costs were too high and the risks too large.

I knew that while my family would give what they could, I mostly had to rely on myself.

First steps into the legal world

In full honesty, I didn’t restrict my applications to the legal sphere. I applied to a swathe of apprenticeships – including in architecture, accounting and shop management.

In fact, I assumed I would never be offered a solicitor apprenticeship – the number of places available were few and far between at the time.

I was so convinced that the legal world was beyond the grasps of someone like me that after my interview at Dentons, following what felt like a very long train ride back to my hometown Grays, in Essex, I applied to join the navy.

Fortunately for a man of my height, I did not end up in a job that could have involved crouching in a submarine. Instead, I was offered a career in law.

Challenges, certificates and competition

It has been more than seven years since then. I have had so many wonderful opportunities – I have contributed to legal textbooks, closed billion-pound deals and built a fantastic network around me. Not bad for a Grays lad!

I was even offered a six-month secondment at footwear brand Doc Martens. At school I had been very jealous of those who could afford a pair of ‘DMs’.

I wonder what I would have thought, at 14, if I’d known my career would bring me a free pair of those boots. I still wear them with pride, thinking of the hard graft that went into it all.

Image credit (above and central lead image): Jam Pond Photography.

I consider myself very lucky to have had the apprenticeship pathway as an option. If I had left school a few years earlier, I would not be working in law.

What a shame that would have been. Towards the end of my six years as an apprentice, I discovered what would become my true love (if my wife will excuse me) – competition law.

After the arduous process of getting my legal practice degree and passing the SQE, I finally qualified as a solicitor, was issued a practicing certificate and offered a permanent role in the competition team at Dentons.

I believe it’s one of the most technically challenging areas you can go into.

My chosen sector seemed to surprise some people – just a few years ago, I was asked by a solicitor how I could "justify opening up the legal industry to those that are academically challenged".

I think that solicitor would think twice if they met the capable apprentices who are on the pathway today.

Watch Jacob share his career story and advice for apprentices: