How to become a solicitor - Pre-SQE
How can I become a solicitor?
Understandably this is most people’s first question when I am at events discussing the profession.
The other frequently asked question is:
What is the difference between a solicitor and a barrister?
However, that is a topic for another day and involves a lot of historical context and tradition that I don’t propose to go into here. I expect I will tackle the topic at some point though.
So how does one go about becoming a solicitor? Many are surprised to hear that there are actually a few different routes, including non-degree routes.
The situation is currently complicated with new proposals from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA - the regulatory body for Solicitors) for a new Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE).
The SQE has been the subject of much criticism and I shall therefore only consider the current qualification path here. There is much to discuss about the SQE in a subsequent post.
A, hopefully helpful, overview of the qualification options.
The Current Qualification Paths
The current paths can be broadly broken down into degree paths and non-degree paths.
I am more familiar with the degree paths so will cover this first.
Degree Paths
The first step is to obtain good GCSE’s and A Levels to enable you to study a degree at your chosen university.
There are two options available to a budding solicitor; to study law or to study another topic and undertake an extra years study.
The Law Degree Path
The top ranked universities usually require top grades in order to study Law but all is not lost if you don’t get into a top university. In my experience all LL.B degrees (Legum Baccalaureus or Bachelor of Laws) are Qualifying Law Degrees. This means that they have prescribed content that must be studied in certain ways in order to meet the SRA requirement to become a solicitor.
I did not attend a top university for my LL.B and yet covered the same topics as all other LL.B students so do not lose hope if your A Levels are not quite what you expected.
The Non-Law Degree Path
If you do not want to study law at university you have the option of studying any course you wish and then studying a one year conversation course called the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL).
The GDL covers all the qualifying law subjects in one year and results in you having the equivalent of a Qualifying Law Degree, allowing you to attend a law school
I have no personal knowledge of the GDL but have many friends who have taken this route. My impression of the course is that it is intensive and hard work but many enjoy the option of having studied something other than law for their initial three year degree.
The Legal Practice Course (‘Law School’)
The Legal Practice Course (LPC, and often referred to as Law School) is the professional course to become a solicitor.
Unlike the undergrad degree, the focus is not on the substantive, black letter law and you will rarely encounter cases or complex legal arguments. It is presumed that all of this was covered in your degree and you are expected to know the basics of the main areas of law.
The LPC instead focuses on the professional skills that are required to become a solicitor. This is broadly broken down as follows:
Ethics
Negotiation and Interviewing skills
Advocacy skills
Land Law
Company Law
Civil Litigation
Criminal Litigation
Accounts rules
On top of these courses you will also study several elective units where you can choose advanced skills in practice areas that interest you.
The Training Contract
The Training Contract (or ‘period of recognised training’) is where a Trainee Solicitor will work within a law firm and usually lasts for two years, although this can be reduced by up to six months at the discretion of the firm to recognise previous experience.
During this period a trainee solicitor will also have to attend Professional Skills Courses. These are a refresher of aspects of the LPC and notably cover ethics, financial regulation and advocacy, together with chosen elective courses.
It is important that a trainee keeps a log of their training to show their training supervisor and the SRA (if required).
Upon completion of the Training Contract, the trainee will be admitted to the Roll of Solicitors and be fully qualified as a Solicitor in England and Wales.
Non-Degree Paths
It is possible to become a solicitor without a degree at all.
This involves working in a law firm and joining the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx). You must have at least 4 GCSEs to join.
Your studies will then take place alongside your working life and there are exams to become a Member and, subsequently, a Fellow of CILEx.
It is then possible to later become a solicitor.
I am not very familiar with this process so shall defer to the CILEx website for more detail on this path (https://www.cilex.org.uk/).