Solicitor : Entry requirements

This area of work is open to graduates from all disciplines.

Graduates in England and Wales with a qualifying law degree must take the Legal Practice Course (LPC). The LPC is usually taken full time over one year (although part-time options are possible) and is designed to ensure that graduates have the necessary skills to work as a solicitor. Applications for full-time courses should be made to the Legal Practice Course Central Applications Board . For details of part-time courses, contact individual institutions direct.

On successful completion of the LPC, you must undertake practice-based training, known as a training contract. Training is usually undertaken full time over two years or part time over a longer period. The practice-based training allows you to apply the skills and knowledge you have gained in a real work setting. The Professional Skills Course (PSC) is usually taken during the training contract and must be completed in order to qualify as a solicitor.

Graduates with a degree in a subject other than law must complete a one-year, full-time conversion course, either the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) or the Common Professional Examination (CPE). Part-time courses are also available. You then follow the same training route as law graduates - completing the LPC and practice-based training, which includes the PSC. The GDL/CPE is valid for seven years.

Non-graduates who want to train as solicitors can follow the legal executive route to qualification. Full details are available from The Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) .

See The Law Society of England and Wales for full details on how to qualify as a solicitor. The LawCareers.Net website provides a checklist of what you should be doing and when.

Different training routes apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Contact the Law Society of Scotland and The Law Society of Northern Ireland for more details.

Students should explore funding opportunities for their legal training and apply for training contracts in the second year of their undergraduate degree. Competition for LPC sponsorship and training contracts is fierce and employers expect a 2:1 degree, excellent A-level grades (or equivalent), evidence of commitment to the career and experience of relevant extracurricular activities.

Most employers want to see evidence of relevant work experience. Becoming a solicitor demands a huge personal commitment of time and money and it is difficult to make an informed choice without first having gained experience. Large firms run vacation schemes, which are also used in assessing prospective trainees. They provide an excellent opportunity to establish contacts and network. You can also gain useful experience from participation in student law society activities, client interviewing competitions, mooting and pro bono work and business simulations.

Candidates will need to show evidence of the following skills and aptitudes:

• excellent communication skills, both written and oral;
• dedication and commitment;
• commercial awareness;
• analytical skills;
• accuracy and attention to detail;
• numeracy skills;
• stamina and resilience;
• negotiating skills;
• problem-solving skills;
• the ability to plan work and prioritise tasks;
• time-management skills;
• interpersonal skills - vital when working as part of a team or with other people, organisations and agencies;
• the potential to lead and delegate responsibility;
• flexibility and an openness to new ideas;
• IT skills;
• a professional approach to work, integrity and a respect for confidentiality - vital in forming relationships with clients.

Not all training contracts or vacation placement opportunities are advertised, particularly in the case of smaller firms, so it is advisable to write speculatively to firms. Smaller firms are unlikely to offer sponsorship towards the LPC and many applicants are self-funding. In addition, those interested in working in general practice or so-called ‘high-street firms’ often find themselves undertaking the LPC without the security of having obtained a training contract in advance. This type of firm is likely to advertise trainee vacancies nearer to the time of appointment, and this is also the case with in-house and local government vacancies, whereas central government and City firms commonly advertise two years ahead.

For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.