Annual Salary
£25,000 to £100,000
Average UK salary in 2022 was £33,200
(source Office for National Statistics)
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Solicitors advise clients about the law and act on their behalf in legal matters.
Average UK salary in 2022 was £33,200
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: on call; at short notice
There will be
2.4% more Solicitor jobs in 2027.
In this role you could:
You could work in an office, in a court, in a prison or at a police station.
You can get into this job through:
In order to qualify, you must:
Though your degree does not have to be in Law, you will need some legal knowledge to pass the SQE.
To study Law at some universities you'll need to pass the Law National Aptitude Test (LNAT).
You'll usually need:
You could do a solicitor degree apprenticeship to qualify as a solicitor.
This route usually takes around 5 to 6 years and you'll need your employer's support to do it.
You'll also need to take the SQE, demonstrate relevant work experience and meet character and suitability to practice requirements.
You could start with a legal firm and do on-the-job training like the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) Level 6 Professional Diploma in Higher Law and Practice
You would then need to:
pass part 1 and 2 of theSolicitors Qualifying Exam(SQE)
show you have 2 years (or equivalent if part-time) qualifying work experience
meet the character and suitability requirements of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
If you started a qualifying law degree, Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) or Legal Practice Course (LPC) before 2021, you will be able to continue to qualify as a solicitor by the traditional route until 2032.
You'll need to:
Competition for solicitor roles is tough so you need to show that you have consistently good grades as you progress through your education.
Getting work experience in different types of legal settings can help you to stand out and show your commitment. There are diversity work experience schemes to encourage under represented groups into the legal profession.
You could join The Law Society for professional development, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.
You can find out more about the routes to become a solicitor through:LawCAB; The Law Society; Law Careers.Net; All About Law
With experience, you could become a partner in a private practice firm of solicitors. As a commercial solicitor, you could manage an in-house legal department.
You could use your legal training in the armed forces. You can find out more information at:Army; Royal Air Force
How to become a solicitor from the Good University Guide
The Beginner’s Guide to a Career in Law looks at how lawyers recruit, what they look for in candidates, what candidates need to do when, and how they can maximise their chances, both immediately and as time goes by.
The Law Apprenticeships Guide focuses on the different types of law apprenticeship available, the key skills required, and the pros and cons of undertaking an apprenticeship or going to university, with case studies from those who have done it.
Solicitors specialising in Environmental Law are needed in the West of England to advise on areas such as environmental pollution and renewable energy generation.
There are several different routes you can take to get into working in this job which you can explore further in the 'Routes into this job' section above.
Click here for an explanation of the different course and apprenticeship levels.
Click here to find a local provider
Click here to search for a local apprenticeship
Click here to search for other university courses
For more local employment opportunities see the 'Live job vacancies by region' section above.
You'll need: