Are you in year 12, S5 or your first year at college and wondering what direction to go in? Do you have an interest in law but are unsure what a career in law would involve?
Our Unlocked Programme is the perfect answer. This innovative programme is aimed at students who have academic potential and an interest in law, but who may believe that a legal career is out of their reach. We're here to prove that it isn't.
If you attend a state school/sixth form or college and you are in your first year of A-Levels, with mainly GCSE 9 - 6/A* - B grades, little or no family history of higher education and a genuine interest in law - and lots of enthusiasm, then you are eligible to enrol on to our program.
We're passionate about opening up legal careers to the best and brightest young minds - especially students, like you, who may not share the typical background of most legal professionals.
Don't just take our word for it though, watch our video to hear what students have to say.
The finer points
Our 2026 program will be ran virtually over three days, you will engage in a range of different activities to help you think about the actions you need to take to get to where you want to be in your career, both in the short term and the long term.
The program will:
- dispel myths about what it's like to work in a major law firm
- give you the chance to interact with current apprentices, trainees, partners, clients and barristers
- explore the benefits of setting ambitious but achievable goals
- offer advice on different ways of entering a firm
- support you with one-to-one coaching sessions
- help you develop non-academic strengths such as communication skills
In short, Eversheds Sutherland Unlocked will actively engage you, inform you and inspire you to start your journey into law, whichever route you decide to take.
It's informative. It's interesting. It's useful. And, most importantly, it's fun.
So why not get some brilliant experience and explore what a law career looks like from the inside out?
As part of the application form you will be required to complete:
- your personal details such as name and address
- your education details such as GCSE grades
- information about your background such as eligibility for free school meals, if you at-tend a fee paying school and ethnicity
- three strengths-based questions (further guidance on completing these are provided in the system)
- You should:
- attend a state (non-fee paying) school; and
- in Year 12; and
- You must also meet one or more of the following additional criteria:
- be or have been eligible for free school meals (or where this information is difficult or sensitive to obtain, the participant attends a school that significantly above the regional average in terms of number of students eligible for free school meals)
- be of the first generation in your immediate family to attend university
- You have been, or are currently, in local authority care (for a period of three months or longer)
- You are, or have been, a full-time or part-time carer
- You came to the UK as a refugee or asylum seeker
- The occupation of the main household earner (parent/guardian) is considered as follows; technical and craft occupations such as: motor mechanic, plumber, printer, electrician, gardener, train driver routine, semi-routine manual and service occupations such as: postal worker, machine operative, security guard, caretaker, farm worker, catering assistant, sales assistant, HGV driver, cleaner, porter, packer, labourer, waiter or waitress, bar staff long-term unemployed (claimed Jobseeker’s Allowance or earlier unemployment benefit for more than a year)
If you have any further questions, please email EvershedsUnlocked@eversheds-sutherland.com.
Applications for Unlocked
Our 2026 virtual Unlocked program will take place during the following dates and align to the following offices:
- 31st March – 2nd April – Nottingham, Birmingham, and Cardiff
- 8th – 10th April – London, Newcastle, Manchester and Leeds
We are now closed to applications for our 2026 scheme. We will open to applications for our 2027 scheme later this year.