How to become a solicitor

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This post is going to give you basic understanding about how you go from School Student to Solicitor. Yes it's a bit text heavy, but it's important stuff alright!? 

There are two ways to choose....here goes..... 

NUMBER 1

I'm going to start with the way that I know best as it's currently the path I am on to becoming a solicitor. Let's keep it nice and simple for now with this diagram:

Starting at the top, you can choose either to study a LLB Law degree (this is what I did) or any degree subject of your choice and then take a 1 year conversion course known as the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL). Basically, to be able to progress to the Legal Practice Course (LPC) the Law Society requires all students to have completed their six key areas (depending on where you study, the names will vary slightly):

• CRIMINAL LAW
• LAND LAW
• TORT LAW
• CONTRACT LAW
• CONSTITUTIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
• THE LAW OF TRUSTS

On the LLB, you will cover these six modules as well as a number of others to complete your degree program. GDL students will purely focus on completing these six modules over the course of 1 year.

The LPC is a 1 year (or more if you choose to do it part-time) course that takes all of your knowledge of legal theory, and teaches you how to put it into practice. Once again there are a number of compulsory modules (Property Law in Practice, Civil Litigation, Criminal Litigation, Business Law in Practice and so on) as well as three modules of your choice. You will also be taught how to interview effectively, research efficiently and accurately, and even manage the accounts of a law firm and businesses. Don't worry though if your math skills aren't up to scratch, calculators are always permitted! 

The 'Training Contract' is your final step to. This is the stage when you finally leave law school behind and head into the actual office (and get paid!). Each firm will handle its training slightly differently, but you will be required to complete two years of training before qualification. The law firm I have a contract with follows the most common pattern of placing its trainees in 4 seats (departments), each 6 months in length. Some however will make their trainees sit in, say, 6 seats of 4 months in length. 

AND FINALLY...*cue drum roll please*

        YOU QUALIFY!                                                

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NUMBER 2

Wow O.K, so that was route 1 of 2. Now, I have to admit, that is the only route I ever considered and therefore is the only route I am actually well genned up on. Therefore, I think it would be sensible for me to simply point you in the right direction rather than attempt to describe the other two routes when I have no first-hand knowledge myself. I'd hate to give you the wrong information!

In which case, I think the following websites will help you get a good understanding:

The non-university route- http://www.cilex.org.uk/

                                          http://www.cilexlawschool.ac.uk/

                                          http://www.lawcareers.net/MoreLaw/WhatIsALegalApprenticeship

                                       

Please note: this information is correct to my best ability, but I recommend checking out the Law Society's Routes to Qualifying page just to be sure ;)

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What GCSE options to choose?

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Choosing your GCSE options can seem to be quite a daunting thing to do, the trick is, make yourself as informed as possible before you make any decision...and that's where hopefully I can be of assistance. 

Now it was about 7 years ago that I was in your position. I remember being completely confused about what to actually choose (although I already knew that science would be a very, very bad idea), but what I did know was that when I'm older I wanted to study a law degree....

Yep, having your heart set on a degree to be studied in 4 years time seems like a great idea at the time, but let me pass on some very wise words that have been spoken to me at various stages of my educational career

                               "Keep as many doors open to you as possible, for as long as possible"

That's right. Sure you may have your heart set on being a lawyer, but just remember, thoughts change, and that's not a bad thing. 

But if you really want to know which subjects to choose that will give you the best foundations to pursue a legal education, these would be my

1) History

          2) Geography

                  3) A foreign language

Why those three? Well, basically they will begin to develop some extremely key skills that you will need. History and Geography are fairly similar with this regard. Both will require you to be able to analyse information and present it in a clear manner. You will be doing a lot of essay writing for the years to come, so it won't hurt to have as much experience now to prepare you.

You may have cringed when you read that I recommend a foreign language GCSE, but there is a very good reason why. Law firms are becoming more and more international. Practically all of the major law firms in the UK have overseas offices and any law firm is going to show more interest in you if you can say you speak (even basic) German, French, Spanish, Mandarin etc etc. I can't recall any application I made that didn't ask me a question about my additional language skills. 

By having a foreign language under your belt (even if it stops at GCSE level), you will be able to demonstrate the ability to learn a new language. There really aren't a lot of people who can say that, and it's always easier to learn something like that at a young age than it is to try pick one up in later life. 

Let me throw a spanner in the works.....

So, please do take on board what I've written above, but bare this in mind. Without good GCSE grades, you may struggle to get to your favourite college to study A-levels/IB. I know that for me to stay on at my school I needed to get Bs in the subjects I wanted to take. Always play to your strengths and avoid your weaknesses. If you know that doing History could be a very bad idea, but instead, say, choosing Electronics would pretty much guarantee you a higher grade, go for Electronics. 

And really, that brings me back to how I started this post. Always choose what YOU want to do. Not what you are made to think you should do, or what your friends are all doing, or what your parents say you should do. The same goes for the guidance I've provided above....it is exactly that....only a guide. 

If you're really stuck and want someone else's opinion, send me your questions and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. No question is a stupid question no matter how much you think it is. You have some very important decisions to make and need to get them right!

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FAQs and HAs (Honest Answers)

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Hi, remember, my blog is new but have faith.

If you've got a question about anything to do with studying law, choosing subjects, university opportunities, career guidance, perhaps you're from another country and want to know about studying law in the UK......ask me a question by sending me a message, and if I'm not sure, I'll try to point you in the right direction.

So you want a career in the law? I have the answers....trust me

Hi!

Thanks for clicking on my blog. Ok so I'll admit now, I'm very very new to this, but bare with me . So long as you're in the law game, the information and links I publish here WILL help you whether doing you're doing GCSEs, A-levels, degrees or LPCs! 

But first.......WHO AM I?

My name is Jon. 6'2, love eating terrible food (my two best friends are Ben and Jerry), have an amazing metabolism (thank god!) and attempt to convince myself I'm healthy by going to the gym three times a week. I am currently studying the LPC and have a training contract with a large regional law firm in England. I come from an average family, studied my law degree at UEA and now balance my LPC studies with a part time job whilst somehow maintaining a decent social life. 

Right there we go, me in a nutshell.

Let's skip to the important bit...

SO what can this blog do for you? No matter where you are in your studies, I can help. My aim is to pass on to you my experience and give you the information that I wish I'd had. Yep, I'm sure you've trawled through Student forums' in a desperate attempt to find the answer to your questions and come across numerous articles from 2007, 2008, 2009- but can you really rely on them today? That's where I come in. I'VE GOT YOUR BACK!

What's in the bag?

Yes this blog is very new, so yes you won't find all of the below....yet (I'm working on it I promise!). But below is a list of the topic areas that you will eventually be able to read about. For ease, I've split the topics into age-specific sections, but don't let it stop you reading ahead or brushing up on the past.

14-16

• Work experience- how to actually get some
• What GCSE options to choose- click here

16-18

• How to become a solicitor- click here
• Personal statement hints and tips
• What uni?

Undergrad

• Day 1 of Uni
• Pro bono- say waaa?
• Mooting
• Negotiations
• Client Interviewing
• First year doesn't count right?......wrong!!!
• Stay alert
• Vacation schemes, or just go on vacation?
• Dealing with lectures
• Time management- yes this sounds like a particularly boring article, but trust me, read it!

Careers

• Applications
• Interviews
• Networking

LPC

• where to go
• what to expect
• LPC diary- (I'll keep updating this as I progress through the course, giving you the most up-to-date information possible)

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? JUST MESSAGE ME AND I WILL ANSWER IT HERE

So whaddaya say? You in?

RULE 1- KEEP THIS IN MIND- Don't ever say you're not in it for the money....I am