This article considers whether degree apprenticeships could disrupt traditional university routes to professional careers and redress longstanding inequalities in access between individuals from different social backgrounds. Using the solicitors’ profession as a pertinent case, issues of access and choice are explored, utilising Breen and Goldthorpe’s theory of Relative Risk Aversion to understand variation across social background. Drawing on 23 in-depth interviews with law students, trainee solicitors and solicitor degree apprentices from four universities and five law firms across England, the analysis illuminates the decision-making approaches of aspiring solicitors through both the university and the degree apprenticeship routes. Contrary to expectation, the degree apprenticeship route appears to be discounted as unfamiliar and risky by many of those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Instead, it is tactically adopted as an alternative by some middle-class students. As such, the degree apprenticeship is not likely to disrupt existing patterns of access to the solicitors’ profession.

本文考虑了学徒制是否会破坏传统的大学发展职业道路，并纠正来自不同社会背景的个人之间长期存在的不平等现象。以律师的专业为例，探讨了获取和选择的问题，并利用布林和戈德索普的相对风险规避理论来理解社会背景之间的差异。通过对来自英国四所大学和五家律师事务所的法学院学生，实习律师和律师学徒进行的23次深入访谈，该分析阐明了通过大学和学徒制路线寻找有抱负律师的决策方法。与期望相反，学徒之路似乎被许多处境不利的人打折，因为他们不熟悉和冒险。取而代之的是，一些中产阶级学生在战术上将​​其作为替代方案。因此，学徒制不可能破坏律师职业的现有获取方式。