How to Qualify as a Solicitor in England
Qualifying as a solicitor in England takes a combination of talent, and a lot of hard work and perseverance. The process ishighly competitive, with several steps that are designed to sort the wheat from the chaff. The following describes the traditional route to qualification, and does not deal with lawyers qualified in other jurisdictions wishing to practice in England.
University
Unlike the American general education system, where students apply to a university and then select a specialist major in their third year, in England, a student will apply to a specific faculty within a university and then study law for the whole three (sometimes four) year degree. The requirement for high academic performance is a given, so students differentiate themselves by participating in additional activities such as moot courts, work placements in a legal environment and other extra-curricular activities.
In some universities, grades earned in the first year do not count toward the overall degree result. However, they are one of the criteria used by law firms to select candidates for summer “vacation placements” (or internships) - which promising students are expected to undertake at the end of their second year. These placements are almost as competitive as later applications for training contracts, so unsuccessful applicants should look to other valid alternatives such as work-shadowing or volunteer work to fill the gap.
The minimum acceptable grade for those aiming for a training contract with a top 100 law firm is a Second Class Honours (Upper Division) degree (known as a 2:1) from ahighly regarded academic programme. Those who graduate with a degree other than law need to take a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) or Common Professional Exam (CPE) – both of which are year–long courses intended to bring the non-law graduate up to speed.
Law School
The next step for the law graduate is to undertake the one year Legal Practice Course (LPC), which provides specialisedvocational trainingand prepares the student for the more practical aspects of practising law. Compulsory courses will include advocacy, accounts and regulatory matters, interviewing skills, writing and drafting and problem solving. A number of elective courses can be taken – such as commercial law, family law, employment and personal injury - and these are usually chosen in conjunction with the sponsor law firm if a student is funded.
LPC fees are normally paid by larger firms in full if the student has obtained a training contract. The LPC is run by a number of providers accredited by the Law Society around the country, with fees anywhere up to £13,000 forLondon-based courses. Without a training contract in place, there is no guarantee that a student will be able to qualify, and as such, the fees can be a significant undertaking as well as a significant gamble. Some providers offer extended 16 month to two year part-time courses to help students who are self-funding. Assuming the LPC is passed, the next step is a training contract.
Training Contract
At the end of the second year of study, students will apply to accredited law firms for a training contract (formerly known as “Articles”). The application process is fiercely competitive, and usually consists of a written application, which, if successful, is followed by a number of interviews. Each law firm runs the process differently. Successful applicants will train with the law firm for two years, typically undertaking four “seats” in various departments within the firm. This gives them a broad overview of the firm’s practice so that they can take an educated decision on which area of law they wish to practice. Typical seats include Litigation, Property, Company Commercial, Family or any other number of specialities depending on the firm’s portfolio.
Valued trainees will be offered a job when they finish their training contract. Those not selected are free to join the job market and find a role as an assistant with another firm, move in-house, or pursue another career altogether. The only restriction is that newly-qualified lawyers are not allowed to start their own practice until they have at leastthree yearsof post-qualification experience.
Post-Qualification
Once a solicitor has qualified, the are entered on the Law Society’sRoll of Solicitors, and must apply for and maintain aPractising Certificate. The certificate has a annual fee that increases with each year of qualification. In addition, all lawyers are subject to minimum continuing professional development (CPD) requirement of sixteen hours a year. The Law Society entrusts compliance with this scheme to the individual lawyer, but retains a right of audit.
