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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/
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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