See Lawyer 2B summer 2012 edition for more Apprenticeships offer a cost-effective alternative to the traditional route into law, providing trainees with on-the-job experience. Laura Manning weighs the pros and cons The story of the 16-year-old who leaves education with two GCSEs, begins a skills or a trade apprenticeship and goes on to run their own business before they hit 25 is not an uncommon one.