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Becoming a Lawyer

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Becoming a Lawyer Becoming a lawyer The legal profession is divided into two main areas: solicitors and barristers. Solicitors Most solicitors work in private law firms undertaking work for clients ranging from corporate companies to the man off the street who wants to write his will. It is also possible to work as a solicitor in an in house legal team, in local authorities and advice centres, in Government Legal Services and regulatory bodies as well as in other more specialised areas. The routes to qualification for solicitors are currently under review but at present you will need to do the following: Non law Graduate diploma in degree law – 1 year f/t or 2 years p/t Qualifying Legal Practice 2 year Law Degree Course – 1 year f/t training Qualify as or 2 years p/t contract a solicitor Some large corporate firms will pay for the GDL and LPC. These firms normally recruit two years ahead of when they want you to start the training contract. They also offer vacation placements so you need to plan ahead. If you don’t get a vacation placement do not despair as work experience in a smaller firm or commercial setting is also valuable. Some legal aid firms also sponsor the LPC and their vacancies can be found at www.lapg.co.uk If you don’t obtain sponsorship for the course(s) you could consider a career development loan or you can study the course(s) part time which enables you to work and study at the same time. Useful resources: www.lawcareers.net – website dedicated to qualifying as a lawyer – contains all the relevant deadlines. www.sra.org.uk –Solicitors Regulation Authority website setting out requirements for qualification. www.lawcabs.ac.uk – website for making LPC applications. www.solicitors-online.com – online directory of all firms in England and Wales – good for speculative applications Available in the Careers Hub: Legal Directories including Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners Legal Journals including The Lawyer and The Gazette Legal publications such as Target Law and Prospects Law Employer files The Gherkin Guide to Obtaining a Training Contract Skill booklet on positive experiences of disabled students in Law Solicitor Timetable 1st year law degree and 2nd year non law degree students Christmas vacation and Research this career option and try to obtain work Spring term experience. Get involved in activities which will boost your c.v. Make sure you obtain good grades! 2nd year law degree and 3rd year non law degree students Autumn and Spring term Attend Law Fairs and presentations Apply for vacation placement schemes and less formal work experience opportunities Look into funding possibilities Non law students need to apply for the GDL Check the deadlines for applying for training contracts – many will be in July. Summer vacation Attend vacation placements Undertake relevant work experience Check deadlines for LPC applications Final year law degree and GDL students Autumn term Attend interviews for training contracts. Apply for LPC Spring term Enrol at the SRA Summer term Accept LPC place Continue applying for training contracts if not yet successful Barristers Most barristers are self employed working in sets of Chambers although some are employed by employers such as Government Legal Services, the CPS, commerce and industry. Their clients are usually solicitors seeking either representation for their clients in court or an opinion on a complex legal issue. From 2010 the BVC will be replaced by the Bar Professional Training Course. Non law Graduate diploma in degree law – 1 year f/t or 2 years p/t Qualifying Bar Professional Training 2 six month Called to law degree Course - 1 year f/t or 2 pupillages the Bar years p/t Chambers have to pay you during your pupillages but students usually fund the BPTC themselves. Scholarships are available from the four Inns of Court, one of which you must join before starting the BPTC. For the best chance of obtaining pupillage you should undertake as many mini pupillages (short work experience opportunities) as possible. Useful resources: www.barcouncil.org.uk – the Bar Council regulates barristers www.lawcareers.net - – website dedicated to qualifying as a lawyer www.pupillages.com – where chambers advertise pupillages Available in the Careers Hub: Legal Directories including Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners Legal Journals including The Lawyer and The Gazette Legal publications such as Target Law, Prospects Law and the Pupillages handbook Employer files Bewigged and Bewildered? – excellent book covering all aspects of becoming a barrister. Skill booklet on Positive Experiences of disabled students in Law Barrister Timetable 1st year law degree and 2nd year non law degree students Christmas vacation and Spring term Research the profession and consider activities to boost your c.v. Apply for mini pupillages 2nd year law and final year non law degree students Autumn term Attend law fairs and presentations Look into funding possibilities Spring term Continue applying for mini pupillages Attend pupillage fairs Non law students need to apply for the GDL Summer vacation Gain further work experience. Investigate BVC providers Final year law and GDL students Autumn term Start applying for pupillages Apply to Inns of Court for scholarships. Apply for the BVC Spring term Attend pupillage fairs Apply for pupillage .
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