Emma Tankard
“I started to study for my A levels at a local college, however, after 6 months I felt that this career route was not right for me. I wanted to be more independent and wanted to start earning some money, whilst still been able to develop a career."

Emma Tankard is one of many young people who chose an alternative route to do a degree course - via an Apprenticeship.

She started a Foundation Modern Apprenticeship in Business Administration with LITT Limited, an independent training provider, whilst working at Lupton Fawcett Solicitors, a Leeds based law firm.

“Whilst working towards my Apprenticeship I started to consider what I wanted for my future. I moved jobs to join DLA Solicitors, an international law firm. Due to the work that I had to carry out for my Apprenticeship and the knowledge I gained from working within solicitors’ offices, I decided that law was the career that I wanted. So I decided to study for a law degree on a part time basis.

I enquired around local universities and colleges and found out that Leeds Metropolitan University offered a part-time law degree (LLB (Hons) Law), which could be studied on two evenings a week over 4 years.

To get onto the course I had to show the course administrator that I would be able to study part time as well as work full time. This was what I had been doing while gaining my Apprenticeship, so she offered my a place on the condition that I completed my NVQ Level 3 as they accepted this as equivalent to 2 A-Levels.

This spurred me on and I managed to complete my Advance Apprenticeship in 8 months, starting at the university in September 2004.

DLA offered to pay the course fees but I wanted to stay independent and took advantage of the new grants that are offered by local government for people undertaking part time study at a higher level. I received the maximum allowance of £575 towards my course fees and a further £250 towards other costs, such as books and travel.

I’ve have now moved to Walker Morris Solicitors in Leeds as another step forward in my chosen career in law. With one more year of the course to go, I am now applying for a training contract to commence in 2009, upon completion I will then be a qualified solicitor".