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Solicitor

Alternative titles for this job include Lawyer

Solicitors advise clients about the law and act on their behalf in legal matters.

Average salary (a year)

£30,000 Starter

to

£80,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

37 to 50 a week

You could work

on call at short notice

Meet Chloe

Chloe has worked in a criminal team and a clinical negligence team as a graduate solicitor apprentice.

1 minute 55 second watch

View transcript

Hello, my name is Chloe and I’m a graduate solicitor apprentice at JMW Solicitors.

So on the apprenticeship, I have one day a week allocated as a study day. I get paid for that day. And then I have 4 days a week in the office supporting the team that I work with alongside that.

So since starting the apprenticeship, I've been with a few different teams. So I started off with a clinical negligence team. More recently, I've been with a criminal team. It's been a lot of drafting experience, meeting clients face to face to understand their account and instructions. Listening in to the advice that solicitors give and being a part of that conversation.

I think the main skills that are important on the solicitor route are research, drafting, being organised in and of itself. Client contact itself, just knowing how to manage clients who may be quite traumatised.

And I get to do presenting through, the corporate and social responsibility committee. Managing relationships with charities, coordinating days of volunteering for our staff to go on. Communicating what it is that we're doing and what opportunities are coming up and then presenting on the impact and all of our updates to the wider office.

One of the best things about doing it through the apprenticeship route is the fact that at the end of it, I'm not going to have any more student debt. I get paid a salary. So I can actually maintain myself while I'm doing the study.

I think my advice for anyone wanting to do the route that I've done, would be to cast quite a wide net in terms of the law firms that you're looking at. Consider really hard what practice area you might be interested in, and then maybe tailor your search towards that.

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • the traditional solicitor qualifying route until 2032

University

To qualify as a solicitor, 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).

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 3 A levels or equivalent

More Information

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do a Solicitor Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship to start on the path to qualifying as a solicitor.

This route includes the completion of a law degree and usually takes around 5 to 6 years. You'll need your employer's support to join it.

You'll also need to pass the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE), which has 2 parts, and do 2 years' qualifying work experience.

The apprenticeship will prepare you for the SQE exams.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths
  • 3 A levels or equivalent

More Information

Work

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:

Another option is to complete a Paralegal Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship then move on to the solicitor degree apprenticeship route.

Other Routes

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.

More Information

Career tips

Competition for solicitor roles is strong 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.

Professional and industry bodies

You could join The Law Society for professional development, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.

Further information

You can find out more about the training routes to become a solicitor through:

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • active listening skills
  • the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
  • knowledge of English language
  • excellent written communication skills
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

As a solicitor, you would:

  • advise clients on legal matters and courses of action
  • instruct barristers or advocates to act for clients
  • draft confidential letters, contracts and legal documents
  • research legal records and case law
  • attend meetings, tribunals and negotiations to resolve legal issues
  • manage finances and prepare papers for court
  • keep up to date with changes in the law

Working environment

You could work in an office, in a court, in a prison or at a police station.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

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 might also wish to specialise in a particular area of law.

Examples include:

  • employment
  • criminal justice
  • corporate
  • family

You could use your legal training to work as a legal officer in the armed forces. You can find more information at:

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Apprentice Solicitor

  • Wage: £14,567 a year Annually
  • Location: Market Road, Chelmsford, Essex
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

Are you interested in becoming a solicitor?

Search for training courses near you.

Jobs In the United Kingdom

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