To succeed as a solicitor, you need to be determined and highly motivated.
It will take at least three years to train if you are a law graduate, at least four years if you are a non-law graduate and at least six years if you are not a graduate. It can be a challenge to find an employer to support you through the training and from 2014 law firms will be free to choose the level of pay for trainees. You can enter the police service as a graduate.
Example jobs
Barrister
The role of a Barrister is usually in the court room using their legal knowledge to defend someone. They can also be called upon to offer specialist legal advice in their particular area of expertise.
Solicitor
A Solicitor generally offers legal advice outside the courtroom to private or commercial clients. Solicitors also may specialise in a particular aspect of the law such as family, property or tax for example.
Legal Executive
A Legal Executive will study to the the same level as a Solicitor but specialise in a particular area of law for example, litigation or conveyancing.
Case study
You need to be able to handle situations with all types of people. Good communication skills are probably the most essential part of practical policing...
Neil Baskerville, criminal justice inspector at Cheshire Police
Things you need to know
Typical working conditions
- You will be based in an office or court, working with individuals, businesses, courts or other law-related organisations such as the police.
- Most graduates in the legal profession are employed, but some are self-employed, including most barristers.
- Working hours are officially 9am–5pm, Monday to Friday, but extra hours are common, including taking work home. The work is likely to be fast-paced.
Qualifications needed
All legal professions need to gain additional qualifications or training after completing a degree.
Solicitors take a law degree followed by further study and training. Other programmes of study are available for those with a non-law degree and for non-graduates with appropriate experience and qualifications.
There are three stages in training to be a barrister: a minimum of a second-class honours degree; the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC), which is one year full-time or two years part-time; pupillage, which is one year of in-service training.
Career path
Once you qualify in your chosen legal profession, your career options are very varied.
Solicitors can choose to work in private practice, within a business or organisation, in local or national government or in the court services. After a few years working in private practice, you may be able to become a partner or train to become a barrister.
Judges are selected from the ranks of experienced lawyers.
Experienced solicitors or barristers can become notaries. The work is often about international trade and other overseas affairs.
Useful links
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