Once a trainee has completed their training contract (or two-year period of qualifying work experience), and “provided they meet the regulator’s professional standards and regulations”, they will be admitted to the roll and become a qualified solicitor in England and Wales.

What’s next?

The majority of newly qualified (NQ) solicitors remain at the firm they trained at. Law firms aim to retain all their trainees, given the considerable investment they put into their respective training programmes, however retention rates do vary significantly between firms due a range of factors including financial performance, career progression opportunities, and competition around practice areas to qualify into. For a complete rundown of firm retention rates, see Legal Cheek’s Firms Most List and select ‘Most retained trainees’ as the criteria.

Which practice area should I qualify into?

It is important to carefully consider which area of law you want to practice as an NQ as this will set you on the pathway for the rest of your legal career.

Things to consider include:

● Is it an area you are likely to excel in?
● Do you find the work rewarding?
● Does this area offer good opportunities for career progression?
● Do you enjoy the team you would be joining?

When to apply for NQ positions

When a trainee should apply for an NQ position will inevitably vary from firm to firm, however the general rule is to apply as soon as the vacancies are announced internally. Trainees should aim to know whether or not they will be retained around three to six months before qualifying, so they can plan ahead and, if required, look to secure an NQ position at another firm.

What should I expect as a NQ solicitor?

The main difference from trainee to NQ level is that the expectations placed on you shift. As a NQ solicitor, you will be expected to take on more responsibility for your own clients with less supervision and oversight. Another notable difference is that NQs are usually required to meet higher billable hours targets — the set number of hours that solicitors are required to bill to clients each year in order to bring in income to the firm.

Pay also increases significantly upon qualification, with many firms offering nearly twice the salary from trainee to NQ level. For a complete comparison of law firms’ target hours and salaries, see our Firms Most List.

Post-qualification experience

The years after qualification are formally graded based on what is known as ‘post-qualification experience’ (PQE). For example, a lawyer who qualified two years ago would be often described as a ‘two PQE associate’. Like with the transition from trainee to NQ, pay between PQE levels increases too.

At one to three years PQE the attrition rate is relatively high, making it a prime time for lateral hires (associates moving from one firm to another). The motivations behind these moves vary based on individual circumstances. However, common reasons include the desire to work at a different law firm, to become more specialist, or to move in-house. Moving in-house is particularly popular as this kind of work tends to be less time pressured and often brings with it a better work/life balance.

Partnership

For many junior lawyers, partnership will be the ultimate long-term career goal. The routes to partnership vary according to the corporate structure of a particular law firm. Although, generally, firms present partnership opportunities at around ten year’s PQE. In addition, some law firms also have an intermediary stage, whereby senior associates have the chance to become what is known as ‘salaried partners’, or ‘of counsel’. Salaried partners/of counsel is a hybrid role, taken prior to becoming an equity partner. Salaried partners can therefore expect to earn less compared to those with full equity status.

Where the financial rewards really increase is at equity partner level. All equity partners gain a stake in the business and become part of the LLPs corporate structure. In turn, under the LLP structure, partners will share the LLPs profits and losses, and incur limited liability up to the amount they put into the partnership. On the contrary, a minority of law firms still operate under the old limited partnership (LP) corporate structure. Under these partnership structures, some partners will enjoy limited liability whilst other general partners will have unlimited personal liability.

The income of equity partners averages at around £750,000 a year, although this hefty sum can fluctuate dramatically depending on the firm and seniority of the equity partner. For example, an equity partner at a top US firm can expect to earn northwards of £3 million. You can find a comprehensive comparison of partner remuneration on our Firms Most List.

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From 1 September 2021, the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) became the new, two-part centralised route to qualifying as a solicitor. Whilst SQE1 focuses on examining Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK), SQE2 focuses on the complementary practical skills necessary to practising as a solicitor, and mirrors some of the more practical elements of the traditional Legal Practice Course (LPC). Candidates must have successfully completed SQE1 before progressing onto SQE2.

The introduction of the SQE regime has increased flexibility in the path to qualification, allowing candidates to complete their QWE before, alongside or after the SQE1 and 2. However, those still seeking to qualifying through the training contract route will typically commence their period of QWE after having completed and passed both the SQE1 and 2.

What does SQE2 involve?

SQE2 assess candidates based on six practical skills assessments. These include:

● Client interviewing and attendance note
● Advocacy
● Case and matter analysis
● Legal research and written advice
● Legal drafting
● Legal writing

These six practical skills assessments cover five main practice areas including criminal litigation, dispute resolution, property practice, wills and intestacy probate administration and practice, and business organisations and rules and procedures. Ethics and professional conduct are assessed throughout both SQE1 and SQE2.

Testing format

SQE2 comprises of 16 practical exercises in total. This is made up of four oral assessments and 12 written assessments. These 16 exercises take a total of 14 hours and therefore take place over a series of days. The individual marks from the separate exercises are then combined into one overall mark.

The four oral assessments in SQE2 cover interview and attendance note/legal analysis as well as advocacy.

The written assessments in SQE2 cover case and matter analysis, legal writing, legal research and legal drafting.

For the complete SQE assessment specification, please refer to the guidance laid out by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

How much does SQE2 cost?

The SQE2 exam is £2,766, although it’s worth noting that this does not include fees for the SQE1 assessment (£1,798) and any prep course you may wish to undertake. This exam fee is paid directly to the SRA.

While it is not compulsory to undertake a prep course prior to sitting the SQE, given the format of the SQE and the different style of assessment, most students will find it beneficial to take a prep course. SQE2 prep course fees can vary substantially across providers, with basic online packages starting from around £2,500. It’s worth noting any SQE1 prep course support would be undertaken at additional cost. You can find our more about SQE prep courses — and what they cost — on the The Law Schools Most List.

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Pupillage is the 12-month training period undertaken following the Bar Course, and the final part of the qualification process to practice as a barrister in England and Wales.

The vast majority of pupillages are undertaken at a chambers (aka a ‘set’), where pupils participate in training supervised by qualified barristers. Although there are some alternative options here; for example, completing a pupillage in-house at a law firm or within the government’s legal department.

What does pupillage involve?

As soon as pupils begin their pupillage, they are assigned a ‘pupil supervisor’ who acts as their mentor for the entire period. Pupils work very closely with their supervisor, shadowing all parts of their work, attending court sessions with them, and usually sharing a room within chambers.

Pupillage lasts a total of 12 months, spilt into two distinct six-month training periods — non-practising and practising. During the first six, the majority of the work involves shadowing, alongside assisting with legal research and court documents, while the latter six sees pupils gain more responsibility and often take on their own caseload.

How do I apply for pupillage?

Securing a pupillage is a notoriously competitive process. Chambers typically only offer one to three places a year, and the application processes for those seeking to secure a one are particularly rigorous. It is therefore common for candidates to fail to secure a pupillage during their first round of applications, meaning those applying often face rejection before they are successful.

The Pupillage Gateway

The Bar Standards Board (BSB), which regulates the barristers’ profession, requires chambers to advertise their pupillage opportunities through the Pupillage Gateway. This is a centralised system for all pupillage applications, designed to ensure equal opportunity between candidates.

The Pupillage Gateway opens up during January of each year, with applications open for several weeks before they then close again in February. From here, shortlisting and interviews usually take place up until early May with offers made soon after. You can find out more information on the Pupillage Gateway’s website.

Some chambers require pupillage candidates to apply through their own online applications systems (although these opportunities must still be advertised on the Pupillage Gateway). One of the benefits of applying directly is that candidates can then submit as many applications as they like, whereas through the Pupillage Gateway system candidates are limited to 20 applications.

Which chambers should I apply to?

Before submitting your applications, it is important that you consider what type of chambers would be right for you and your career aspirations. Once you have considered this, then you will be able to shortlist a handful of chambers which you want to apply to.

Some things you may wish to consider include:

● The size and location of the chambers
● The reputation of the barristers at the chambers
● The depth and breadth of the kinds of cases you would like to be involved with
● The area of law which you would like to specialise in (i.e. commercial law, common law, criminal law)
● The culture of the chambers
● Anything you enjoyed during work experience which may inform your choice

At what stage in my studies should I apply?

There’s no right or wrong time to apply for pupillage. Many aspiring barristers test the waters prior to commencing the Bar Course, either during the final year of their law degree or law conversion course. Others, however, choose to wait until they’ve completed their vocational studies before focusing on the hunt for pupillage. It’s worth noting however that chambers usually recruit one to two years in advance.

What do I get paid?

Pupillage pay, more commonly known as an ‘award’, varies drastically and largely depends on a set’s area of specialism. Chambers in London have to pay pupils at least £23,078, while sets outside London must offer a minimum of £21,060. These are set in line annually with the Living Wage Foundation’s hourly rate recommendations, which are announced in November each year.

However, many chambers offer awards well above these bottom lines, particularly those handling work of a commercial nature. For example, Legal Cheek’s Chambers Most List shows a plethora of leading London sets provide awards in excess of £70,000.

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Once you have been called to the bar and completed pupillage, you must apply for a permanent role, known as a ‘tenancy’, within a chambers. This is usually, but not always, at the set where you completed pupillage. Pupils who do not secure tenancy at the set at which they completed pupillage may apply for what is known as a ‘third six’ (essentially a fixed-term period of practise) at another chambers. They can then apply for tenancy at the chambers at which they complete their third six or seek tenancy elsewhere.

Types of barristers

Once qualified, most practising barristers are self-employed, working either through a chambers where they can share resources such office space and administrative support with other barristers, or as a sole practitioner. However, some barristers are employed, working for a firm of solicitors for example, or a government department such as the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Barristers can specialise in one or multiple areas of law, known as practice areas. Some examples are listed below:

Commercial barristers

Commercial barristers litigate the disputes which arise off the back of commercial transactions. In turn, they tend to be instructed by large commercial law firms, which seek their expertise on complex parts transactional law, disputed by both parties involved. The commercial bar is therefore very specialist, attracting those with inquisitive legal minds and clear analytical ability, suited to solving complex technical matters.

Alongside time spent litigating in the civil courts, commercial barristers also spend a substantial amount of time producing written opinions outside of litigation. The different areas of work across the commercial bar vary and include the commercial chancery, wills, equity and trusts, land law and public law.

Criminal barristers

Criminal barristers act as either the defence or the prosecution within criminal trials. They receive instructions from solicitors about a client’s case, and then prepare to represent the client in court. Criminal barristers therefore spend most of their time in court, making it the ideal practice area for those who enjoy courtroom theatrics and advocacy.

Family barristers

Family/matrimonial barristers are involved in all legal matters relating to marriage, divorce, cohabitation, and children, working with parents, children and local authorities. They therefore deal with a wide range of issues such as child custody and care, domestic violence, visitation rights, adoption, surrogacy, and financial disputes around child maintenance. Family barristers also do the majority of their work outside of the courtroom, seeking to resolve these disputes through alternative means such as mediation and arbitration.

Career progression

Upon completion of pupillage, pupils become known as ‘juniors’. At this stage, juniors have little control over their workload and are expected to take on cases assigned to them by the staff in chambers known as clerks.

Barristers will stay as juniors for around six to ten years before progressing to what some refer to as a ‘senior junior’. With more experience under their belts, senior juniors tend to deal with more complex, higher paid work — although this can largely depend on their area of specialism.

Then, at around fifteen to twenty years qualified (or ‘call’ as it’s known), barristers may have the opportunity to become a form of senior counsel, known as King’s Counsel (KC). While KCs tend to charge higher rates to clients, the process to becoming one is not cheap. To be considered for this title, a barrister must submit an application to a special committee at a cost of £2,280. There is a further fee in excess of £3,000 paid by successful applicants. Selection for becoming a KC is judged on merit alone, rather than the years of experience in the profession.

Barristers’ earnings

During pupillage, pupils receive a financial ‘award’ from chambers. This is a fixed amount which is paid to pupils during their first and second six. In the first six, pupils are paid via the pupillage award alone. However, as they move into the second six, they can supplement their award by taking on their own work. You can find out more information about pupillage awards on our Chambers Most List.

Post-pupillage, the income of a barrister can vary substantially depending on specialism, geographical location and level of seniority. For example, whilst commercial barristers can earn six and even seven figure sums, it’s well documented that criminal barristers are notoriously under paid.

Because they are largely self-employed, a barrister’s income is determined based on the amount of work they undertake. The amount of work a barrister takes on is largely under the control of the clerks who work in chambers. They liaise with clients, usually instructing solicitors, and allocate cases to barristers based on availability, area of expertise and experience. This is why, although barristers can choose to be sole practitioners, many choose to be part of a chambers. In order to account for such, a percentage of a barristers’ income (typically 20%) goes to chambers to cover overheads including office space, IT support and clerks’ salaries.

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What is the bar course?

The Bar Course is the vocational course taken following a law degree or law conversion course for those wishing to practice as a barrister in England and Wales.

Until recently, the Bar Course was known as the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC). However, the Bar Standards Board (BSB), the profession’s regulator, approved a series of training rules in 2018 in a bid to make the route to qualification more flexible and affordable.

As a result, since September 2020, all new courses are referred to collectively as qualifying ‘Bar Courses’. The individual names for these courses vary depending on where you study, with course names including the Bar Practice Course (BPC), the Barrister Training Course (BTC) and Bar Vocational Studies (BVC).

It should be noted that the introduction of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) from 1 September 2021 will have no impact on the route to qualifying as a barrister. This will still require a law degree or law conversion course, followed by the Bar Course and pupillage.

Entry requirements

Membership of an Inn

The Inns of Court, also referred to as ‘Inns’, are professional membership associations for all barristers practicing in England and Wales. These are largely non-academic societies which provide support for aspiring and practicing barristers, including libraries, events and dining facilities.

Prior to starting a Bar Course, it is mandatory that you become a student member of one of the four Inns of Court. The four Inns are Lincoln’s Inn, Gray’s Inn, Inner Temple, and Middle Temple, all of which are based in London.

Academic requirements

The minimum academic requirement for the Bar Course is a 2:2 at degree level and to have passed a law conversion course, if applicable — although some providers set their own entry requirements and may require a 2:1 or higher. It is advisable that you check these requirements at the individual institution you are seeking to apply to well in advance.

Course content and structure

One of the most significant changes to many of the new Bar Courses is the option to undertake it in two parts. This option, which was unavailable on the BPTC, is designed to make the course cheaper, more flexible and increase accessibility within the profession. However, it’s worth noting that some law schools have chosen to stick with a one-part structure similar to the BPTC.

As a result, depending on which provider you choose, the route to qualification will either be a three-stage process (law degree/law conversion course, one-part Bar Course and pupillage) or a four-stage process (law degree/law conversion course, two-part Bar Course and pupillage).

Three-stage route example: The University of Law’s Bar Practice Course (BPC)

1) Law degree or law conversion course
2) Bar Course
3) Pupillage

The University of Law’s BPC is taught as a one-part course. The course covers all the required knowledge subjects including criminal and civil litigation, evidence, and sentencing, alongside skills subjects such as advocacy, conference skills, legal research, opinion writing and drafting.

Students also have the option to combine the BPC with an LLM. This is done through supplementing the BPC with one of The University of Law’s three distinct pathways: the pro bono pathway, the dissertation pathway, or the optional modules pathway.

Four-stage route example: The Inns of Court College of Advocacy’s ICCA Bar Course

1) Academic stage
2) Bar Course –part one
3) Bar Course — part two
4) Pupillage

The ICCA Bar Course is spilt into part one and part two. Part one is delivered through online learning and self-study, covering knowledge subjects including criminal and civil litigation, evidence, and sentencing. Part one of the course takes roughly 12-16 weeks, although there is inbuilt flexibility around these timings. Part two focuses on practical skills such as advocacy, conference skills, legal research, opinion writing and drafting.

One of the main benefits of the two-part approach is that students pay the fees for each part of the course separately. Students are not required to pay part two fees until they have successfully passed part one of the course. This seeks to reduce the level of financial risk associated with the old BPTC route, where students were responsible for the full course fee prior to starting the programme.

Qualifying sessions

During the Bar Course, students are also required to attend qualifying sessions with their respective Inns of Court, which they join prior to commencing the course. These sessions are designed to build on academic and vocational study and include professional development and educational events such as lectures, advocacy courses, moots, dinners and residential weekends.

The number of qualifying sessions required as a student member of an Inn is prescribed by the BSB and is currently set at 10. You can find out more about qualifying sessions here.

How long does it take?

Full-time Bar Course (one year): The most common Bar Course is the full-time course starting in September each year. Although, some institutions also offer start dates in January and July.

Part-time Bar Course (two years): This covers exactly the same content as the full-time course, but the learning is spread over the course of two years, with teaching only taking place one day a week.

Bar Course with integrated LLM (one year): Studying the Bar Course with an LLM is a popular route for students which have not secured funding prior to starting the course, as these combined options are usually eligible for postgraduate loans.

Where can I study?

Across the UK, nine law schools offer a mixture of one-part and two-part Bar Courses. You can view a full list of approved Bar Course providers here.

How much does it cost?

One of the main benefits of the new Bar Courses has been reduced costs and greater flexibility. While the BPTC cost between £15,000 to £19,000, fees for the one-part Bar Course start at £11,900.

Moreover, the two-part course offers far greater flexibility in its pricing because students are not required to pay for the more expensive part two of the course until they have completed part one. Part one costs anywhere between £3,000 to £3,934, while part two can set students back between £9,225 and £11,801. Students who fail part one are therefore not tied into paying the fees for part two. It also provides candidates with an opportunity to secure and complete relevant work experience between stages one and two.

Bar Course fees vary quite significantly, depending on the institution chosen, course location, and whether it is split up into two parts. For a complete comparison of Bar Course providers, including what they charge, see Legal Cheek’s Law Schools Most List.

Funding the Bar Course

The most common funding route for the Bar Course is through Inns of Court scholarships. In total, there are four different Inns of Courts, and each has its own set of criteria for course funding. For example, Lincoln’s and Gray’s Inn offer their Bar Course scholarships on merit alone, whereas Middle Temple and Inner Temple take a greater range of factors into consideration. You can find out more about scholarship opportunities on the Bar Council’s funding and scholarships page.

If you secure a pupillage prior to starting the Bar Course, some chambers will allow you to use a portion of your pupillage award (essentially your trainee salary) to help cover the costs of the course. This is known as a ‘draw down’. However, as this reduces the money available to cover your living costs during your 12-month pupillage, this funding option is only feasible for students who secure a pupillage with a sizeable award.

Next steps to qualification

Upon completion of the Bar Course, you will be ‘called to the Bar’ by your Inn. This is a mandatory ceremony, and the Inns of Court are the only UK institutions with the formal powers to do this. Pupillage is the final part of the qualification process to becoming a qualified barrister in England and Wales.

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Under the traditional Legal Practice Course (LPC) route to practice, a training contract is the final hurdle to qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales. However, as of 1 September 2021, under the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) route to practice, this was officially replaced by ‘qualifying work experience’ (QWE). More information on this change can be found further on in this article.

Trainees usually start their training contract at law firms during August/September of each year, although many of the larger City firms also have spring start dates, spreading their intakes across the year. The size of trainee intakes at law firms varies dramatically — whilst some small firms take on only a handful of trainees, some Magic Circle firms take on as many as 100.

Different sized intakes also offer a very different training experience. This is seen most notably in the level of supervision, the quality of work given, and the structure of the training programme itself. To directly compare the different trainee intake sizes at law firms, see Legal Cheek’s Firms Most List.

Training contract: what does it involve?

Typically, trainees undertake four six-month ‘seats’ (two years in total), rotating across different practice areas at the firm. However, not all law firms structure this in the same way. Some firms offer more than four seat options, while some adopt non-rotational approaches to seat allocation. Equally, others require trainees to undertake seats within certain practice areas, whilst other firms have greater flexibility here.

During a training contract, trainees work across various areas of law and are required to undertake seats in both contentious and non-contentious areas. This is a compulsory requirement to ensure the training contract meets the standards set by Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). You can find out more on this here.

When the training contract/qualifying work experience period comes to an end, the firm will make the decision as to whether to retain a trainee as a newly qualified solicitor (NQ). For a comparison of retention rates, see our Firms Most List and select the ‘most retained trainees’ criteria.

The Professional Skills Course

Alongside the work experience you gain during a training contract, trainees also have to pass the Professional Skills Course (PSC). The PSC ensures that trainees have developed the necessary skills during the SQE and training contract to carry them through into practice. Many of the larger firms run the PSC in-house, embedded within their training contract structures.

The three core modules on the PSC are:

● Financial and business skills
● Advocacy and communication skills; and
● Client care and professional standards

The Solicitors Qualifying Exam

From 1 September 2021, the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) replaced the current system for qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales, at which point the ‘period of recognised training’ or training contract became known as ‘qualifying work experience.’ QWE is designed to be more flexible than a training contract, in that trainees can complete their on-the-job training at up to four law firms/organisations as opposed to just one.

The new system has been devised to encourage an integrated approach to training, in which SQE1 exams will be sat at the start of the qualifying work experience period and SQE2 exams will be sat at the end, marking a transition to more vocational learning. The most significant change the SQE will bring is greater flexibility, allowing trainees to combine both practical and vocational study.

Salary

Trainee salaries differ between law firms substantially, with those specialising in criminal law usually paying the least and those undertaking corporate work paying the most. Among the corporate firms, US outfits top the pay table, dishing out hefty six-figure salaries and bonuses to trainees upon qualification. However, it’s worth noting that with these hefty salaries often come long working hours.

You can compare trainee and newly qualified salaries, alongside average leave times, on our Firms Most List. As things stand, the law firms with the highest second year trainee salary are Davis Polk & Wardwell, Kirkland & Ellis, Ropes & Gray, Morrison Foerster, Sullivan & Cromwell, Vinson & Elkins and Weil Gotshal & Manges, all offering £65,000. The highest newly qualified salary is offered by Akin Milbank and Fried Frank, at £177,500.

The Law Society of England and Wales currently recommends trainees are paid at least £26,068 in London and £23,122 elsewhere.

Equivalent means/the ‘paralegal shortcut’

The equivalent means route, sometimes referred to as the ‘paralegal shortcut’, allows those seeking to qualify as a solicitor to do so through recognised learning or work-experience, as opposed to the traditional requirements such as the LPC and a training contract.

For example, someone working as a paralegal may be able to work across departments, recording their work, and use this as evidence that the work they have completed is equivalent to that undertaken by a trainee during their training contract.

The SRA is able to consider whether an individuals’ experience is enough to warrant exemption under its regulations. You can find more guidance here. Please note that these are currently in the process of being phased out as the new SQE becomes the mainstream route to qualification.

Secondments

Many of the large corporate law firms give their trainees the opportunity to undertake client secondments, enabling them to spend time within the legal department of one of the firm’s clients. This is a great opportunity to gain confidence and skills, network with clients, and gain a deeper understanding of their needs.

Some of the large international law firms also offer trainees the chance to undertake an international secondment at one of their offices overseas. This is an excellent chance to work in a different jurisdiction and develop transferable skills. However, the internal competition for these secondments amongst trainees can be fierce. If undertaking an international secondment is one of your priorities when seeking a training contract, it is advisable to research the opportunities available at each firm prior to making your applications. Again, check out our Firms Most List to see which firms have the most international offices, and which offer the highest chance of an international secondment as a trainee.

Applying for training contracts/QWE

Most law firms recruit future trainees at least two years in advance of joining the firm. With that in mind, law students who hope to commence the LPC and start their training contract straight after the completion of their vocational studies, should look to apply for these positions in the second year of a three-year course, or their penultimate year of study if on an integrated four-year course.

Most training contract deadlines at City firms are either on or before the 31 July each year. However, this can vary from firm to firm, so it is always advisable to check Legal Cheek’s Key Deadlines Calendar or individual law firm websites. Moreover, it is important to note that some firms recruit on a rolling basis, meaning that they start processing offers as soon as they are received, rather than waiting for the formal deadline, making it advisable to apply as early as possible.

Applications for training contracts can be made directly through the recruiters’ online portal. The firm’s recruitment portal can also include useful information to inform your application, so it is a good idea to spend some time going through this area of the firm’s website.

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The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE1) — law graduates

The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) is the two-part centralised route to qualifying as a solicitor for everyone who started a law or non-law degree from 1 September 2021. This section will cover part one of the assessment known as SQE1.

For graduates with a qualifying law degree who choose to embark on the SQE route from September 2021, most will take a short SQE prep course in advance of the centralised SQE1 exam. While these prep courses are not compulsory in order to sit SQE1, they are advised as a quick refresher for law grads seeking to top-up their degree knowledge. Equally, the prep courses also teach students how to succeed at this new multiple-choice exam format, which is very different from the typical format of assessment (essay-based and problem questions) used during an undergraduate law degree.

What am I examined on?

The two Function Legal Knowledge (FLK) assessments cover the following subject areas:

1) Business law and practice; dispute resolution; contract; tort; legal system of England and Wales; constitutional and administrative law and EU law and legal services.

2) Property practice; wills and the administration of estates; solicitors accounts; land law; trusts; criminal law and practice.

Ethics and professional conduct are assessed pervasively across both SQE1 and SQE2. Find out more about the SQE1 assessment specification.

How much does SQE1 cost?

The SQE1 exam is £1,798, although it’s worth noting that this does not include fees for the SQE2 assessment (£2,766) and any prep course you may wish to undertake. This exam fee is paid directly to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

While it is not compulsory to undertake a prep course prior to sitting the SQE, given the format of the SQE and the different style of assessment, most students will find it beneficial to take a prep course. SQE1 prep course fees can vary substantially across providers, with basic online packages starting from around £1,500, and any SQE2 prep course support would be undertaken at additional cost.

Where can I take the SQE1?

If you have already gained a training contract, then it is likely that your firm will specify the SQE provider and location. However, if you have not yet secured a training contract, there are a range of law school and institutions across the UK which offer various levels of SQE prep. You can find a list of SQE providers here.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for an SQE1 prep course can vary from provider to provider, although law schools typically advise candidates to complete a law degree or conversion course prior to starting.

What is an LLM and can this be combined with SQE prep?

An LLM degree is a Master of Laws, which is a postgraduate qualification and typically takes one year to complete full-time or two years part-time, depending on the options offered by different universities. These degrees can either be focused on a specific area of law that is of interest to the student, or a more general qualification that allows for further study of multiple areas of law, with some law schools now running an LLM with built-in preparation for SQE1&2 exams. Studying an LLM alongside SQE preparation is another route to qualification under the new regime, and means that students could be eligible for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan. Please note that law schools will set their own entry requirements for being accepted onto these courses, so please check their websites for further details.

Funding the SQE

Many firms will pay for your SQE prep, alongside giving you a maintenance grant. However, if your fees are not being paid by a law firm, your options for funding your SQE include:

● Self-funding through savings
● Self-funding through part-time work, alongside the part-time SQE prep
● The Law Society Diversity Access Scheme
● SQE scholarships (found on the scholarship section of SQE providers’ websites)
● Flexible law school payment structures
● A government-backed masters loan if you complete SQE prep with an integrated masters

What is the LPC?

The Legal Practice Course (LPC), also known as the Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, is a vocational course taken following an undergraduate law degree or a law conversion, as part of the route to qualifying as a solicitor.

The LPC itself is designed to bridge the gap between an academic understanding of law, and the knowledge and skills required to practise it. The content therefore seeks to simulate the type of work trainee solicitors encounter at a firm, preparing students for a training contract or qualifying work experience (QWE).

How has the introduction of SQE affected it?

For all those who started a law or non-law degree from 1 September 2021, the two-part Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) is the main centralised route to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. As part of this transition, the LPC has been undergoing a gradual phasing out period since 2021, lasting up until 2032.

This means the LPC is still be available to take as part of the qualification route for students who completed, started, accepted an offer, or paid a non-refundable deposit for one of the following by 31 August 2021:

• a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) / the Common Professional Examination
• an MA Law
• the LPC
• a period of recognised training (also known as a training contract)

For a qualifying law degree (QLD) and exempting law degree (ELD), you must have completed, started, accepted an offer or paid a non-refundable deposit by 21 September 2021.

In turn, if you have started any of the aforementioned courses prior to 1 September 2021, you will still be able to embark on the traditional route to qualifying as a solicitor up until 31 December 2032 — although it’s worth noting that the vast majority of law firms will now expect their future trainees to qualify through the SQE. Non-law graduates, please see Law Conversion/SQE1.

Content and structure of the LPC

The LPC comprises of two main stages:

Stage One (core practice areas and skills). Stage one requires students to complete compulsory modules to gain a foundational understanding of certain areas of legal practice. There are criminal litigation, business law and practice, property law and practice, and civil litigation.

Stage Two (vocational electives). Stage two enables students to make a selection from a variety of electives based on their own interests/the kind of firm they seek to work at. These can include employment law and housing and real estate law.

Entry requirements

Most LPC providers require a UK degree with at least a 2:2 classification and if applicable, students must have also passed a law conversion course.

Where can I take the LPC?

If you have already gained a training contract, then it is likely that your firm will specify the LPC provider and location. However, if you have not yet secured a training contract, there are a range of 34 institutions across the UK which offer LPC courses. You can find a full list of LPC providers here.

How much does the LPC cost?

The LPC costs vary significantly by institution and location, ranging from £9,000 to £17,500, with the London campuses being the most expensive.

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What is a law conversion course?

As part of the traditional route to practice, a law conversion course is a compulsory part of the qualification route for aspiring solicitors or barristers who have completed either a non-law degree or a non-qualifying law degree. The law conversion course is taken prior to either the Legal Practice Course (LPC) or the Bar Course, which are compulsory vocational courses undertaken prior to the on-the-job training as either a solicitor or barrister.

How will the SQE affect it?

For all those who started a law or non-law degree from 1 September 2021, the two-part Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) is the new centralised route to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. As part of this transition however, students who began their law degree, Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), Master of Arts in Law (MA Law), LPC, or period of recognised training prior to 1 September 2021 will still be able to embark on the traditional LPC route to qualifying as a solicitor up until 31 December 2032.

Information on part one of the SQE and how it impacts non-law graduates can be found further on in this section. Law graduates please see SQE1 (law)/LPC.

As part of the new SQE route to qualify as a solicitor, a law conversion course is no longer a requirement for non-law graduates. However, many providers are still offering law conversion courses, such as the Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) or masters in law conversion course, to prepare students with a thorough understanding of the law in England and Wales before they embark on the SQE. Modules include:

• Contract law
• Criminal law
• Tort law
• Public law
• Land law
• Equity and trusts

It’s worth noting that compulsory modules may differ between providers.

For those seeking to qualify as a barrister however, the route will remain unchanged. All non-law graduates will still have to complete a law conversion course prior to commencing the Bar Course.

Pre-course study

Prior to starting the law conversion course, some law schools require students to complete an online pre-course study programme on legal method. This takes approximately 40-50 hours to complete and is designed to prepare students, so they have a foundational understanding of the law prior to commencing the course.

Assessment

The law conversion course is assessed through a mixture of multiple choice, open and closed book exams, alongside written coursework and oral presentations. However, this varies according to each provider, so it is advisable to research the course structure and assessment style in advance.

Where can I study the law conversion course?

If you have secured a training contract or pupillage prior to undertaking the conversion course, then the terms of your offer of employment may specify which provider and location you are required to study at. However, if you are still to secure a training contract or pupillage, there are 31 institutions across the UK which offer the law conversion course which you can choose from. You can find a full list of Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) approved providers here.

How long does the law conversion course take?

The time it takes to complete the law conversion course varies but typically takes from one to two years, depending on the type of course taken. Full-time courses take eight months to complete, whereas part-time courses take 20 months to complete.

Entry requirements

On the whole, gaining a place on a law conversion course is not a competitive process. Applicants are required to have an undergraduate degree or equivalent, but there are no specifications on what subject you studied. Most course providers require a UK degree with at least a 2:2 classification, although some providers require a minimum of a 2:1 at degree level.

As part of the application process, students are required to submit a personal statement, alongside references. Some providers will give priority to those applicants who select their institution as a first choice within the application process, so this is worth considering when making your selection.

How much does the law conversion course cost?

The cost of the law conversion course varies significantly by institution and location; it costs around £12,000 in London and £9,000 elsewhere.

Funding the law conversion course

As part of their training contract offers, most law firms pay future trainees’ professional training fees, alongside offering a substantial maintenance grant. However, this is conditional on the applicant not having started any of these courses prior to being offered the training contract with the firm. Hence if you commence the law conversion or the LPC prior to securing a training contract, it is unlikely (but not impossible) that you will be able to recover these costs at a later date.

It is therefore advisable that non-law students apply for training contracts during their final year of study at university in a bid to secure law firm funding prior to commencing the conversion course.

If your fees are not being paid directly by a law firm, your funding options include:

● Self-funding through savings
● Self-funding through part-time work, alongside the part-time law conversion course
● The Law Society Diversity Access Scheme
● Scholarships (available from training providers)
● Inns of Court scholarships
● Flexible law school payment structures
● Complete a postgraduate degree with an integrated conversion course*

*This is a relatively new route of funding available at law schools including The University of Law. The integrated nature of these courses — an MA conversion, for example — means that you can qualify for a government postgraduate student loan to cover the costs of the course, provided you also meet all of the standard eligibility criteria.

What happens after the law conversion course?

After you have completed the law conversion course, you will then need to undertake an additional vocational course before commencing professional training. Aspiring barristers undertake the Bar Course and aspiring solicitors complete the LPC or the SQE.

The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE1) — non-law graduates

The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) is the new, two-part centralised route to qualifying as a solicitor for everyone who starts a law or non-law degree after 1 September 2021. This section will cover part one of the assessment known as SQE1 and how it affects non-law graduates.

Non-law graduates will likely need to complete a longer, more rigorous SQE1 prep course compared to their law graduate peers. This is to ensure they have the requisite legal knowledge to pass SQE1.

The structure of these SQE1 non-law preparation courses varies substantially across the different legal education providers. For example, some have designed shorter, condensed prep courses specifically for non-law graduates, while others are introducing longer programmes lasting between 12 to 18 months, combining core content from the law conversion course with an integrated LLM.

What will I be examined on?

SQE1 tests ‘Functioning Legal Knowledge’ (FLK) in two multiple-choice tests of 180 questions each.

The two FLK assessments cover the following subject areas:

1) Business law and practice; dispute resolution; contract; tort; legal system of England and Wales; constitutional and administrative law and EU law and legal services.
2) Property practice; wills and the administration of estates; solicitors accounts; land law; trusts; criminal law and practice.

Ethics and professional conduct are assessed pervasively across both SQE1 and SQE2. Find out more about the SQE1 assessment specification.

How much does SQE1 cost?

The SQE1 exam is £1,622, although it’s worth noting that this does not include fees for the SQE2 assessment (£2,493) and any prep course you may wish to undertake. This exam fee is paid directly to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

While it is not compulsory to undertake a prep course prior to sitting the SQE, given the format of the SQE and the different style of assessment, most students will find it beneficial to take a prep course. SQE1 prep course fees can vary substantially across providers, with basic online packages starting from around £1,500, and any SQE2 prep course support would be undertaken at additional cost.

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Why study a non-law degree?

Studying a non-law degree at university is a common route for many aspiring lawyers, allowing undergraduates to gain a unique skill set and develop subject specific knowledge.

Previously, the main difference to the qualification route for non-law graduates was the requirement to study the law conversion course, known as the Graduate Diploma in Law (the GDL, for short). However, under the new Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE), a law conversion course is no longer a compulsory part of the qualification route.

Law conversion courses are designed to encompass all of the seven compulsory modules within a qualifying LLB degree, to ensure that non-law graduates gain an equal understanding of foundational legal topics. Find more information on the Law Conversion/SQE1 (non-law graduates) page.

Studying a non-law degree can therefore be a good option for someone who is considering a legal career but is interested in pursuing a different subject academically at degree level.

Importantly, non-law students are at no disadvantage when it comes to pursuing a legal career at graduate level. Recruiters value a diverse intake of trainees from different degree backgrounds, typically hiring a 50:50 spilt of law and non-law graduates. This is especially true of the large City law firms, which have upped their efforts in recent years to recruit graduates with science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) backgrounds.

Degrees with high law conversion rates include:

● History
● Geography
● Politics, philosophy and economics (PPE)
● Languages
● Sciences
● Business

Building a legal network

Those studying a non-law degree still have the same opportunities to gain legal experience as law students, although finding out about these opportunities may require slightly more independent research.

Undoubtedly the best place to start is university law societies. This is because society members become part of a network of aspiring lawyers, receiving careers insights and email updates on all law-related events held on campus. Some universities also have a law society designed specifically for non-law students who are seeking to convert to law once they graduate.

Most universities also hold a yearly law fair, giving students the chance to speak directly to recruiters in the industry. The Legal Cheek events page also details a range of virtual fairs which are open to both law and non-law students.

Gaining legal experience

Legal work experience opportunities at undergraduate level are open to both law and non-law students. Gaining legal experience through either a vacation scheme at a law firm or a mini-pupillage with a chambers is therefore a great way to enhance your CV, and inform your decision as to whether you would like to practise as a solicitor or a barrister.

However, the time at which students are eligible to apply for these schemes is generally later for non-law students. Non-law students are largely only able to apply to these schemes in their third and final year of university — although law firms/chambers do have some flexibility here, so it is worth checking the guidance given on their individual careers pages.

You can find a full list of vacation scheme and training contract deadlines over on our Key Deadlines Calendar.

High profile legal figures who didn’t study law as an undergraduate

Helena Normanton

The first woman to practise as a barrister in England and Wales read modern history at the University of London, where she obtained a first class honours before pursuing a career at the bar.

Lord Neuberger

The former president of the Supreme Court graduated with a chemistry degree from Oxford University, and later made the switch to law via the conversion course. Find out more here.

Lord Sumption

The ex-Supreme Court justice obtained a first-class degree in history from Oxford, and then went on to study the law conversion course. Find out more here.

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Do I need to study law to be a lawyer?

Studying a law degree (or LLB) at university typically takes three years to complete, however some law schools offer accelerated LLBs, which only take two years.

However, it is by no means a requirement that you study law at undergraduate level in order to become a lawyer. In fact, around half of all newly qualified lawyers hold a non-law degree. Because studying law academically is very different from actually practising law, additional research into the legal profession is required regardless of whether you study law or a different subject at university.

From September 2021, the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) became the centralised assessment for anyone who wants to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. As part of this new route to qualify as a solicitor, a qualifying law degree or law conversion course for non-law graduates is no longer a formal requirement. Instead, you must have:

• A degree (or equivalent) in any subject
• Passed the SQE1 and SQE2 assessments
• A minimum of two years Qualifying Work Experience (QWE)
• Show you are of satisfactory character and suitability

What is an LLB?

The traditional route to qualifying as a lawyer in England and Wales involves three main stages: academic study, vocational study and professional training. The first stage usually takes the form of a qualifying law degree (QLD) — a law degree which includes the seven ‘foundation subjects’ of legal knowledge and has received approval from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and Bar Standards Board (BSB). It’s worth noting that not all law degrees have this status, so if you’re planning on becoming either a solicitor or a barrister, it’s worth checking first.

The seven ‘foundation subjects’ are:

● Public law
● Law of the European Union
● Criminal law
● Land law
● Obligations (including contract, restitution and tort)
● Equity and the law of trusts
● Legal research

View a full list of qualifying law degree providers here.

Alongside these seven compulsory subjects, LLB students are also required to select additional law-focused electives. Law schools vary in how they structure their programmes and at what stage students are required to undertake the seven compulsory modules. Some law schools prefer to cover all of the compulsory subjects in first and second year, whereas others allow students to do a combination of compulsory and optional modules spread across the three years. Therefore, it is always best to check the course structure on the universities’ module information page.

Qualifying LLB vs Non-qualifying law Bachelor of Arts (BAs)

If you want to qualify as a solicitor or barrister as quickly as possible, then you should take an LLB with QLD status.

However, many universities also offer a variety of Bachelor of Arts (BA) law degree courses in which law is combined with other subjects such as history, criminology, politics or languages. BAs can be beneficial if you are unsure of law and therefore want to combine it with another subject in order to do a combination of law related and non-law related modules. If, after studying a non-QLD BA, you decide that you would like to be a lawyer, you would first have to complete a law conversion course.

However, it should be noted that there are some law BAs which do have QLD status. For example, Oxford and Cambridge offer law BAs which are qualifying. Equally, some law schools offer the choice of switching from a BA to an LLB in your first or second year. Again, it is best to check the exact details of a course and whether it is qualifying via the university or UCAS website.

What should I know before choosing to study a law degree?

A law degree is a rewarding and intellectually challenging degree, whilst also being well respected among graduate employers.

Some of the main things you should consider when weighing up whether to undertake a law degree include:

Academic interest in law: Practising law and reading it as a subject are quite different. Therefore, if you are thinking of undertaking a law degree at university, you should have an interest in law as a field of study and be aware that the content is academic, rather than practical in application.

Time commitments/study hours: Law students typically spend long hours studying, and the course often involves lengthy reading lists.

The jump from A-Levels to law school: There is a significant jump between essay writing at A-Level and essay writing at degree level. While this is true of all subjects, law schools tend to place particular emphasis on good academic conduct, and often require that students pay close attention to referencing and style guides.

Organisation and planning: Law students typically have a significant number of different deadlines to juggle at any one time and therefore careful organisation and planning skills are essential to ensure a good balance of study and social time.

Preparation for tutorials and seminars: Tutorials/seminars at law school generally require a significant amount of preparation. Often law schools will expect students to spend upwards of eight hours preparing and reading for a single seminar/tutorial.

Competitive nature: Law schools are undoubtedly competitive, and this can be unsuited to some personality types.

The benefits of studying an LLB

Career options: Law is a well-respected degree and opens doors to other careers. For example, many law graduates will go on to pursue careers in general management, human resources, politics etc.

Knowledge base: Undertaking law as an undergraduate may allow you to take modules which cross over with those you could later qualify into in practice. For example, lots of law schools offer electives in employment law, family law, competition law, commercial law etc.

Transferable skills: Law degrees develop highly transferable skills which can make law students ideal candidates for other jobs.

Shared career ambitions: As a law student, you automatically have a close network of individuals who share an interest in pursuing the same career path as you. In turn, there are opportunities here which may be harder to access as a non-law student such as mooting and client interview competitions which are widely available to students studying at the law school.

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What is the LNAT?

The LNAT is an online exam which forms a compulsory part of the application process for some university law courses. It was developed by a group of universities to assess a candidate’s ability to demonstrate the skills needed as a law student, regardless of educational background. The exam is therefore not a test of legal knowledge, and instead tests a student’s general comprehension and reasoning skills.

The results of the LNAT are used as part of the university shortlisting process, alongside standard methods of selection such as A-Level predictions, applications and interviews.

Which universities require the LNAT?

As it stands for 2024 entry, 11 universities use the LNAT as a compulsory part of their application process. See the table below for a breakdown of which universities these are, and which courses require it.

UK universities:

International universities:

The exam

The LNAT online exam is a two-part test lasting 2 hours 15 minutes.

Section A: 42 multiple-choice style questions (95 minutes)

Section A of the LNAT exam is multiple-choice and consists of argumentative passages, followed by three or four questions. The subjects covered in these passages are general, and no prior legal knowledge is required. The candidate results from this are electronically processed and passed on to the universities.

Section B: Essay-type question (40 minutes)

Section B of the LNAT exam involves three essay questions, for which the student is required to answer one. The topic of the essay questions will be general, usually informed by current affairs. This is a chance for the candidate to demonstrate their ability to present a logical written argument in a clear and concise manner. The essay must not exceed 750 words. Between 500-600 words is advised.

Note: LNAT scores are not evaluated by the LNAT service provider (Pearson VUE). They are instead sent directly to the law school/university which assesses LNAT scores based on their own individual selection and scoring criteria.

How can I prepare?

There is limited revision which you can do prior to the LNAT exam. However, those taking it are advised to undertake practice LNAT papers in order to familiarise themselves with the format of the test.

Practice tests and sample essay questions are provided by the LNAT service provider themselves, alongside suggested reading material. Applicants are encouraged to visit the official LNAT website to access these sources.

Applying to take the LNAT

Information on how to register, pay and take the test is available on the LNAT website.

Key deadlines for 2024 entry:

LNAT registration opens — 1 August
LNAT testing starts — 1 September
Oxford deadline for having completed the LNAT — 15 October
LNAT registration closes — 20 January
Please not some UK universities (Cambridge, Oxford, LSE, UCL and KCL) have their own registration deadlines.

Costs

The cost of the LNAT exam is £75 for UK/EU test centres and £120 for test centres outside of the EU. There is also an LNAT bursary available for students.

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What are solicitor apprenticeships and who are they aimed at?

Solicitor apprenticeships are a great option for school age leavers who want to pursue a legal career, but don’t wish to undertake the conventional university route to qualification. Apprentices who take this route therefore qualify as solicitors within the same time period, earn while they learn, and progress in their career without university debt.

The current UK solicitor apprenticeship scheme has been available to school leavers since 2015 as part of the government’s ‘trailblazer’ programme. The number of legal apprenticeships has been steadily on the increase since April 2017 when the government introduced the apprenticeship levy, requiring all businesses with a turnover of more than £3 million a year to spend a percentage of their profits on training apprentices.

What do solicitor apprenticeships involve?

A solicitor apprenticeship is a Level 7 apprenticeship programme which typically takes six years to complete.

The structure of the programme is split between undertaking paid work experience at a law firm, alongside studying part-time to complete the professional qualifications required to become a solicitor. Therefore, by the end of the six-year period, apprentices will have completed their period of recognised training, attained a law degree, and passed all of their professional qualifications. In turn, they will qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales and be admitted by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

This route allows apprentices to gain hands-on experience, improve their commercial awareness and gain confidence in an office environment. Typically, apprentices work around 30 hours per week, under the supervision of a mentor. Solicitor apprentices can therefore expect to spend 20% of their time (one day a week) studying towards their law degree and the other 80% of their time undertaking practical work experience at the firm.

What do solicitor apprenticeships pay?

All apprentices are entitled to the National Minimum Wage (NMW), which from April 2024, stands at £6.40 per hour for apprentices under 19 and those over 19 in their first year. However, many law firms choose to pay more than this on their individual apprenticeship programmes.

The route to qualification

As determined by the SRA, in order to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales, a candidate must:

1) Have a law degree or equivalent
2) Pass the Law Conversion Course and/or Legal Practice Course, or both stages of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam
3) Completed two years qualifying work experience

The full qualification route to becoming a Level 7 solicitor apprentice takes a total of six years, during which apprentices will complete all three of the above regulatory requirements.

However, after two or three years, apprentices qualify as Level 3 paralegal apprentices. From here, apprentices may choose to remain as paralegal apprentices, or continue with their training for another three or four years to become qualified solicitor apprentices.

Assessments

Each apprenticeship has its own standard for assessing the skill, knowledge and behaviour required to qualify as a solicitor. An assessment plan sets out how the apprentice will be assessed during and at the end of the apprenticeship.

The solicitor apprenticeship standard is based on the statement of solicitor competence. In order to complete a solicitor apprenticeship, apprentices must pass a two-stage examination, the SQE, the second part of which must be completed in the last six months of the apprenticeship.

You can find further information about solicitor apprenticeships on the SRA’s website.

How do I get a solicitor apprenticeship?

Entry requirements

Individual law firms tend to set their own entry requirements; however, the government’s recommended minimum requirements are generally:

1) At least five GCSEs, including mathematics and English at grade A* to C. Note some law firms expect seven GCSEs at grade B or above.

2) Three A-Levels (or equivalent) at grade C minimum. Note some firms now require a minimum of AAB at A-Level, although this is still lower than the typical entry requirements for LLB law degrees which is AAA.

Want to know more about life as a solicitor apprentice and the types of law firms that provide these opportunities? Check out The Legal Cheek Solicitor Apprenticeships Most List.

Other apprenticeships

Chartered legal executive apprenticeships

Solicitor apprenticeships are not to be confused with chartered legal executive apprenticeships. Chartered legal executive apprenticeships were first introduced as a non-conventional route to qualification for legal secretaries who sought to qualify as solicitors within a certain specialism. Apprentices completing the chartered legal executive apprenticeship are required to complete the Level 3 and Level 6 CILEX professional qualifications as part of the apprenticeship.

Graduate solicitors apprenticeships

Solicitors apprenticeships should also be distinguished from graduate solicitor apprenticeships. The latter are aimed at graduates from law or non-law backgrounds who are seeking to undertake their vocational training on a part time basis whilst also working at the firm via the SQE route.

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Is law for me?

The various routes to becoming a lawyer are diverse and take many different forms, depending on whether you go to university, your choice of profession, and the path you decide to take to qualification. In any event, forward planning is always advantageous when it comes to embarking on a legal career, meaning it is never too early to start thinking about which of these routes may be right for you.

Generally, when considering any career, it is often a good idea to work backwards, thinking about your own skills and attributes and how these might in turn be suitable to the skills required for the career at hand.

For example, when weighing up whether a career in law would be right for you, you might want to consider:

● What are your strengths and skills?
● What kind of team would you like to work in?
● What kind of working lifestyle do you want?

Alternatively, if you are just starting to consider whether law is for you, there are a host of introductory resources out there. Here are a few to get you started.

General/careers focused

Is law for you? Deciding if you want to study law — by Christopher Stoakes. Having had a wide-ranging City career, including being a partner at a City law firm, Christopher Stoakes explains what a career in law is really like, and what you need to know before studying it at degree level.

Justice — What’s the right thing to do? — by Michael J. Sandel. Harvard University law professor, Michael J. Sandel, embarks on a journey of moral reflection designed to invite readers to think about the key debates within law and justice.

The rule of law — by Tom Bingham. Former Master of the Rolls, Lord Chief Justice, and Senior Law Lord, Tom Bingham, seeks to dissect the true meaning of the rule of law and its place within modern society.

Insights into the bar

In your defence — by Sarah Langford. This takes readers through eleven cases that took place in the criminal and family courts, illuminating a justice system in crisis as a result of overburdened courts and constant funding cuts.

Stories of the law and how it’s broken — by The Secret Barrister. The Secret Barrister aims to expose what it is really like to work within the English justice system. It offers a candid and accessible account of the day-to-day life of a barrister, revealing all of the hidden cracks in the justice system at the same time.

Which A-Levels should I choose?

There are very few formal requirements regarding which A-Levels you need to select if you seek to pursue a career in law. However, some universities prefer that you undertake at least one, if not two, facilitating subjects. Facilitating subjects are the A-Level subjects that some universities have a preference for when giving applicants offers to study on their degree courses.

These subjects include English literature, history, modern languages, classical languages, maths and further maths, physics, biology, chemistry, and geography. Therefore, it is always advisable to check if your chosen universities prefer applicants to take one/two facilitating subjects in advance. This can be done via the module information pages of university websites or through the UCAS website.

Beyond these requirements however, no A-Level choice is a ‘wrong’ choice for a career in law. Almost any combination of subjects is acceptable, so long as you are able to meet the grade requirements for your chosen university. That said, there are A-Level subjects which are often regarded as useful to take if you are wishing to pursue a career in law because they enable you to develop transferable skills which may be relevant to a law degree/an apprenticeship programme here.

A-Level subjects which may complement a legal career include:

English: Both English language and literature A-Level are often thought to complement a career in law because they allow you develop key writing, interpretation and reasoning skills which are essential to argument-style essays as a law student.

History: History is recommended for those seeking to go into law because it teaches students to critically analyse different sources and information — a skill which law students are constantly required to demonstrate.

Politics: Despite not being a facilitating subject, politics can be a useful A-Level to study in advance of a career in law in order to understand the basic underpinnings of the UK legal system. In turn, it often overlaps with constitutional/public law modules on law degrees.

Maths: Whilst a less typical choice, maths is a well-respected A-Level which allows students to develop methodical skillsets. These skills are likely to be beneficial as a law student when seeking to take logical, step-by-step approaches to analysing lines of case law/statutes.

Languages: Language skills are an asset to any career path, and the same is true of a career in law. Language skills are especially sought after within private legal practice, as large international law firms do substantial amounts of cross jurisdictional work.

Law: The usefulness of undertaking law A-Level usually gets a mixed response. While typically a ‘soft subject’, it provides a good outline of the legal system of England and Wales, and often overlaps with some of the initial content on the LLB, especially within criminal law modules. For further discussion on whether to take law at A-Level see our article — Should I study A-Level law if I want to do a law degree?

What can I do alongside my studies?

There are various things which you can be doing alongside your studies on a part-time basis in order to further your understanding of a legal career while gaining valuable experience for your CV.

Work experience organised through your school

Typically, schools offer a two-week work experience placement for students in either year 10 or year 11, although the summer term of year 10 is the most common time for students to undertake this. Depending on the individual school or college, students may then also get the opportunity to undertake further work experience in year 12. This is a great opportunity to highlight your interest in law to your school careers adviser/work experience organiser in order to look into shadowing opportunities at local high street/regional solicitors or barristers’ chambers. Although, bear in mind that some firms/chambers are unable to provide work experience to students under the age of 18.

Work experience organised independently

Increasingly, law firms and chambers are seeking to offer work experience placements for students aged 16-18. For example, firms such as Pinsent Masons, Burges Salmon and Stephenson Harwood offer work experience schemes for school students. Some sets also provide similar work experience opportunities for aspiring barristers.

Moreover, firms such as Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner and Eversheds run their own unique diversity work experience schemes for school students, designed to promote access and inclusivity within the legal profession. There are now also a range of virtual work experience programmes offered by a number of firms.

Volunteer work

Volunteer work can also be invaluable to undertake alongside your studies. Legal-specific volunteer work can be difficult to come by but reaching out to the local Legal Advice Clinic or Citizens Advice Bureau to see if they have any opportunities is always a good first step.

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