A Career as a Solicitor

A Career as a Solicitor is open to anyone and the Law Society is actively promoting diversity in the profession.  Solicitors are drawn from all walks of life and of the new solicitors who joined the profession last year more than 18% are from minority ethnic groups.  In recent years the number of women qualifying as solicitors has overtaken the number of men.  So if your image of the profession is middle aged men in pin striped suits, then a visit to a modern solicitors office would show you a very different picture.

Qualifying As A Solicitor
Qualifying as a solicitor is not easy. You will need to show you have academic ability and a real dedication to hard work.
 
Law Degrees
Law degrees at university are the most usual route. However, non law graduates will also have to study for the Common Professional Examination/Graduate Diploma in Law. Law is a subject that’s growing in popularity and in 2003 more than one quarter of the students starting their law degrees were from ethnic minority groups.  That figure has been growing over recent years. 

Legal Practice Course
After a degree course you will have to take the Legal Practice Course which ensures you have the skills needed to work in a solicitor’s office. The course is usually one year but it can be studied part time - however student loans are not available to cover the costs of your LPC year.  Before you qualify you will need to do practice-based training – this can either be done full time over two year or part time over a longer period.  The Law Society sets down a basic minimum salary for trainees but many firms pay higher than the basic to attract the best people. 

There is competition all along the line – from getting a place at university to study law to persuading a firm to take you on as a trainee.  But some students do get sponsorship for part of their studies and the great majority of students who pass the Legal Practice Course quality and enjoy successful careers.

Society of Asian Lawyers
Sailesh Mehta from the Society of Asian Lawyers thinks many young people are attracted to the law because it offers the chance to make a difference to society.
 “We are seen to be at the cutting edge of human rights and solicitors can affect changes to the law that are important to people’s lives.  Others are also attracted because it is a well-respected career that can offer good rewards. But whatever your motivation, you will need a strong will to succeed”, he said.

Black Solicitors Network. 
  Yvonne Brown is the chair of the Black Solicitors Network.  The network is keen to see a diversity league table among the big law firms so that young black lawyers will know that there are opportunities open them. The network also holds career workshops and offer mentoring and sponsorship to aspiring would-be solicitors.  You can find details on their website  www.blacksolicitorsnetwork.co.uk

Further Information
So if you think a career in the law might be for you, here’s a few ways to find out more. Visit the Law Society’s website www.lawsociety.org.uk  Details about other career options in law can also be found at the website for the Law Careers Advice network wwwlcan.org.uk

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