Solicitors

In 2024, there were 168,046 practising solicitors in England and Wales. The majority (74%) work in private practice firms owned and managed by the partners. The proportion of solicitors working in the largest firms (81+ partners) is almost 30% today; these largest firms employ 34% of all trainees - these types of firs make up the majority of recruiters at the Oxford Law Fair each October .

Firms vary tremendously in size and specialisation; there are 9020 firms in total! The working environment, life-style and work/life balance of solicitors will vary considerably between environments. You will need to complete careful research to decide which is the best environment for you. Here are some of the factors that you may wish to consider when researching firms for yourself:

Types of firm

Broadly, the work that law firms do can be split into two categories;

• Work that serves the needs of commerce, such as company mergers and commercial litigation.
• Work that deals with individual clients with personal legal issues, such as family, crime and personal injury.

Some firms may do a mix of of the two categories while others will specialise in either commercial work or private client work. 

For those interested in being trained in a non-commercial environment, there are opportunities to complete a training contact within the Government Legal Department (who recruit annually) or in local government. Similarly, the Crown Prosecution Service also hire trainee solicitors. To get an insight into the work of the CPS, take a look at the list of micro-internships advertised in the first two weeks of Michaelmas term: the CPS have offered virtual internships for the last two years to Oxford students. 

For some areas of legal practice – for example within the human rights areas or those areas which traditionally have been publicly funded – you may need to consider a more flexible approach to qualification as a solicitor. Firms that work in these areas tend not to take on trainees (or possibly just a very small number) and therefore do not make presentations or attend the Oxford Law Fair. Instead, they may offer paralegal/legal executive opportunities with the possibility of providing some support to move on to the full solicitor training and qualification at a later point.

The SQE route-to-qualification facilitates a more flexible way to qualify as the 'qualifying work experience' element allows you to build experience in up to four different places of work (and either before or after taking the exams) rather than having to find a standard two-year training contract. Even though these kinds of firms do not visit Oxford as often as the larger commercial ones, there are plenty of resources available (listed at the end of this briefing) to find out more about them.

Size of firm

The largest firms have hundreds of partners and solicitors operating from numerous offices around the world and with significant resources to support their work in serving the needs of international business.  Most of these large and medium-sized practices have specialist departments or practice areas as most solicitors now tend to specialise either on qualification or very shortly afterwards.  The largest firms take on 80-100 trainees each year.

The smallest firm would be a sole practitioner working in the local community. Such a set-up is very unlikely to offer trainee positions at all.

Location: London or elsewhere?

Many Oxford students are attracted to the commercial sectors of the law, particularly in London. These opportunities tend to have a higher profile here, with many of the larger firms targeting Oxford. However, you should consider carefully whether this route is right for you. There are opportunities for excellent training and work in other regions of the UK and in different types of practice, e.g. in medium and small ‘niche’ practices which operate both within London and in the UK’s thriving regional city centres.

The firms in regional centres in the UK – e.g. Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Cardiff, Newcastle and Manchester – are major players attracting high quality work from leading businesses, both locally and internationally. Every city or town has firms that service the local business community. General or 'High Street' firms, which provide a mix of personal and business law, are found throughout the country.

At Oxford we are fortunate to have a wide variety of law firms wishing to hire both law and non-law undergraduates and postgraduates, either to train as solicitors within the UK (England & Wales), or to return to home jurisdictions to start or complete their training.

Whether you are an undergraduate or postgraduate we would suggest that you do your research thoroughly, and early, while at Oxford to avoid any confusion or disappointment.

Private practice or 'in-house'?

The Law Society describes solicitors working in-house as those who work 'in a variety of different organisations, including working as in-house counsel for commercial organisations, working for a law centre, Citizen’s Advice or other non-commercial organisation'.

Although the majority of solicitors work in private practice, there has been an increase in the number of solicitors working outside this environment. Approximately 34,000 solicitors now work in-house in 6,000 organisations. Many of the solicitors working in-house have often qualified in private practice first, built up some experience and then moved across into an in-house role. There are some opportunities to complete a training contract in-house; available roles are usually listed on lawcareers.net

Many solicitors use their qualification to move away from legal practice into other areas of work in business, administration, training, teaching or consultative roles.

Retention of qualified solicitors 

On qualification, firms try to match the trainees with the needs of the organisation and that of the individual. Inevitably, some trainees decide that they wish to pursue their legal careers elsewhere and resign from the firm they qualified with. Or a firm may decide that they are not able to accommodate every single trainee as a permanent employee. In the last couple of years firms have managed to improve their retention rates (i.e. the number of trainees they retain on qualification) but they can still vary tremendously from firm to firm. Again, it's important for you to research retention rates as part of your overall research. 

Salaries vary

The range of remuneration varies considerably. The SRA no longer sets a minimum wage level for trainee positions but recommends salaries of £27,418/£24,320 (London/regional). Commercial firms will often pay more than this to their trainees (£50,000+) and US law firms more again (£60,000+). Legal Cheek regularly surveys trainees and can give you up to date salary figures. 

On qualification rates will also vary. Recently some top London firms have raised their NQ (newly qualified) salaries to £150,000+ (often with added bonuses for top performers) to keep pace with their US rivals who often offer this level and more. Top of the market was reported as being £180,000  but a more typical level for London would be £100-110,000+. Please be aware that very high salaries usually mean very high demands and expectations (e.g. long and unpredictable hours, high pressure, high stakes).

Be honest with yourself about how you will enjoy/cope with this sort of working life before you sign up to it.  Some people thrive on it; others don't. There are so many places you can work as a solicitor so be sure to thoroughly research what is right for you. In other sectors and in the regions firms would pay considerably less. The earnings of qualified solicitors and partners will vary enormously, according to sector and specialisation.

Skills needed

Recruiters are pretty unanimous in what they look for. Leading commercial firms will expect applicants to have a consistent academic record, i.e. 2:1, predicted or attained, and AAB/ABB grades at A-Level. Many firms are now using contextual recruitment tools as a way to better understand each candidate's achievements in context.  As firms have increasingly used vacation placements as a means to hiring trainees, they are paying greater attention to grades achieved in first or second year exams.  Other firms outside of the leading commercial group may have slightly lower academic requirements, but all are agreed on the need for applicants to show:

• Appropriate knowledge and motivation.
• High ethical standards.
• Evidence of good people skills.
• Evidence of use of initiative, taking responsibility and resilience.
• Evidence of commercial awareness (all law firms are businesses).
• Knowledge of the firm and justification of your suitability for it.
• Technical – increasingly lawyers will be using technology in many facets of their job, including AI and will need to be comfortable at using whatever systems or software are developed in their environment to bring about efficiencies, increased accuracy and cost savings.  For now, make sure that you are the the best you can be at any technology you are currently using for e.g. online research tools, learning platforms, cloud facilities and basic packages such as Word. 
• Language skills and cultural awareness are a plus. 

Getting experience

How do you decide whether you want to be a solicitor, and, if you do, what kind? Much is written on the subject and a list of useful publications and online resources can be found at the end of this briefing in the resources sections. Employers will expect you to have fully researched this career option and for you to be sure of your motivations. Perhaps the most important way to find out what a solicitor does and whether it suits your skills, interests and motivations is to arrange some kind of practical activity where you can talk to solicitors and see them at work. Here are some ideas, any of which can be used in your applications:

1. Formal vacation schemes

Sometimes known as vacation placements or work experience schemes, vacation schemes are becoming an increasingly important part of the process to securing a training contract/trainee position.

Schemes are often available during all three term breaks and traditionally have often been targeted at specific student groups. This is changing, and we are seeing many firms becoming much more flexible about the makeup of their vac scheme cohorts. In previous years the Christmas ones have tended to be targeted at non-law students in their final year, but now some firms open these freely to penultimate year non-lawyers or indeed to all students (law and non-law). 

Vacation scheme applications will require similar effort to complete as the official training contract applications; this is because firms are using these schemes to hire some or all of their future trainees. Some firms may allow you to complete one form for both a vacation scheme and a training contract or will make it clear that if you are successful while on a vacation scheme you will automatically be offered a training contract interview at the end of the scheme. Others will only allow you to apply for either a vacation scheme or a training contract/trainee position. You need to be convincing in your prior research and motivation, e.g. why you are interested in being a solicitor, why you are exploring this type of practice and why this firm. It is important to get this right, as these applications are often your first formal contact with a firm.

Most firms test, interview and/or run assessment days for their schemes, sometimes upon receipt of application before the official closing date. The most common test is the Watson Glaser critical thinking test or a situational judgement type test. 

Vacation schemes can lead directly to a training contract with that firm 

If you get onto a vacation scheme, assume that you are being scrutinised for your suitability for a permanent position as a trainee. Some firms will recruit 40-50+ per cent of their trainees from their vacation placement cohorts, so securing a placement does put you in a strong position to be offered a training contract interview (and then hopefully a training contract) at the end of the placement. In some firms, a much higher proportion (up to 100%) of trainees may be recruited from the vacation scheme. It is therefore wise to try and work out, through speaking with the recruiters, how important the vacation scheme is for them as a route to entry as a trainee in their firm.

Importantly though, these schemes provide you with a golden opportunity to get to know the practice, its people and work, so that you are well-informed. These schemes are usually between one and three weeks in duration and are paid – around £500 per week in international London firms (£750 in US firms).  If you are unsure about the sort of firm you would like to work for, then you might consider applying for a variety of different types of vacation scheme to help you decide. Entry for these schemes is very competitive, so follow the usual guidance for making a top quality application.

2. First-year or 'insight' schemes

Many large London firms are offering mini vacation schemes (often described as 'insight schemes') to first-year law students for the Easter vacation. Please do not feel that you are 'missing out' if you are not ready or just not wishing to apply for a first-year scheme. There are ample opportunities to apply for schemes in your second year and beyond. Vacation scheme opportunities and deadlines can be found on websites such as lawcareers.net but  please still do check final dates and deadlines with firms as changes can occur.

3. Diversity access schemes 

The legal profession wants to diversify its workforce and has set up schemes to make sure students from disadvantaged or non-traditional backgrounds apply. There are also a number of organisations and schemes for students with a  minority or disadvantaged background and those with a disability, e.g. Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) London and Employ-Ability. Many Oxford students have started their legal career path through these excellent schemes. One of the most comprehensive lists of diversity access schemes we have found is this one, on LawCareersNet. 

4. Arrange your own informal work shadowing/work experience

Why not try and approach your local firm, a law centre, an in-house legal team (of a company or local council) or visit your local courts (or listen to their live stream)? Any of these are possible alternative means of building your knowledge of the legal sector and life as a solicitor. When approaching contacts, start out by asking for something small; perhaps a visit to the office or an hour to chat to a solicitor about their work.  After being able to meet face to face you might find that you hear about other opportunities but even if not, you will have learnt more about the profession.

If you do not secure a vacation scheme or informal work experience, do not despair! Vacation scheme applications are more competitive than training contracts (aspiring solicitors can do many vac schemes but they will only do one training contract). If this happens (which it does, even to Oxford students), focus your energies on finding out about the profession in the ways mentioned below. Come and talk to a careers adviser about your tactics and your applications and we will be happy to help. Please do not assume that this means that you cannot get a training contract and become a solicitor. In the vast majority of firms you can still apply for a training contract  with a firm even if you did not do a vacation scheme with them – but you will need to show strong motivation and evidence for wanting to be a solicitor.

5. Virtual internships 

Since 2020 we have also seen a huge expansion in firms offering virtual schemes. Usually these are open to all and are free. Many are hosted by the platform Forage and they can be an excellent way to understand a firm, its practice areas and to explore the life of a solicitor by completing a series of exercises over 5 or 6 hours. They are not as convincing as vacation schemes on a training contract application form but they do show that you are doing your research and evidence commitment to the profession.   

6. Open days and workshops

Many firms provide opportunities to visit them on one of their open days or workshops; you will find all their opportunities listed on their websites. Expect to see a mixture of in-person and online events. Sometimes these are targeted at certain student groups – for example, first years – while others are open to all. Firms also often invite students who narrowly missed out on a vacation scheme place to these other events. These are excellent ways to investigate firms, talk to practising lawyers and to get useful tips and hints on applications, commercial awareness and other areas.

7. 'Meet' the firms in Oxford or at their online events

There is always plenty of opportunity to meet law firms, trainees, associates and partners.  Take a look at our online calendar and then sign up for events on CareerConnect. Included in our programme is our Law Fair – which is in person on  every October at  Exam Schools. You can also join the University’s Law Society or your College’s Law Society as they will provide further opportunities for you to talk with solicitors, to find out how firms differ and to acquire hints and tips for applications.

 8. Utilise the Oxford Network

We estimate that approximately 10% of Oxford students pursue a career in the law each year. This means that there are plenty of alumni in relevant jobs to help and guide you too. One of our most regularly recommended articles on careers.ox.ac.uk is our guidance on networking, using LinkedIn.

The Law Faculty operates a Law LinkedIn Group – both law and non law students can ask to join this. Many colleges run their own contact databases from their alumni offices. If you are considering working abroad you can consider using the Oxford alumni contacts that exist round the world. Use the Oxford University website and the alumni portal to find relevant groups or make enquiries at the Law Faculty Development Office.

The Law Faculty runs talks and lectures, many of which are open to all students and often led by Alumni. It is well worth exploring these avenues so that you can talk to solicitors who were once in the same situation as you. 

9. Get related work experience at a law firm's 'client' 

For today’s solicitors, it is vital that they know and understand their clients and the environments in which the clients operate. Depending on the type of firm or organisation in which you would like to practise, securing some related work or volunteer experience would also be valuable. For example, if you are considering corporate law, then some experience working in another business (a retailer, bank, or sales and marketing company) would be useful. Equally, if you are thinking of heading towards private client or community-based law, then volunteering in an advice centre (e.g. Citizens Advice, or a local charity helping and advocating for individuals in distress) would be sensible.

This experience doesn’t have to be via a formal, paid placement in a large organisation and it doesn't need to be within legal services. Employers can be just as impressed by students who have initiated their own work or volunteer work either in and around their community or by taking part in university/college activities.

Remember also that even in these recent times where it was more difficult to secure traditional experiences law firms are also interested in experiences such as volunteering, doing an online job, temporary work in a retailer or anything similar. These are all ways to show your initiative and your resilience. Believe us when we say that law firms want to hear about your Saturday job in Tescos or your local bookshop: law is a customer-focussed industry and evidence of people skills is essential. Don't forget that the Careers Service also has a full programme of  Summer and Micro work experiences and other programmes to help you develop appropriate skills.

You might like to apply to the one of the Bonavero Institute's Student Fellowships - these are open to final year undergraduates, law alumni (within 12 months of leaving), graduate law students or graduate students of other disciplines who hold undergraduate law degrees.

10. Extend your network

Utilise The Law Society of England and Wales and other Legal Associations to extend your network. The Law Society has a Junior Lawyers Division that looks after the interests of students, trainees and young lawyers. They run events and conferences which may be open to students and which provide good networking opportunities. The Law Society has a wide range of specialist groups, which provide opportunities for further research/exploration of the work that might interest you and also networking opportunities.

Other very useful groups are the Young Legal Aid Lawyers, the UK Law Student Association, the European Law Students’ Association and the University and College Law Societies that exist within Oxford.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is responsible to laying down training rules and any changes to the qualification process for the solicitors’ profession. 

Qualifying as a solicitor via the SQE  

The qualification process was overhauled by the SRA in September 2021 with the aim of ensuring consistent, high standards for all solicitors with increased flexibility of training. To qualify as a solicitor you now need: 

1. A degree (or equivalent) in any subject (need not be law)  

2. To pass two centrally-set exams:  SQE 1 and SQE 2 

3. To complete 24 months of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) 

4. To be of satisfactory suitability and character. Please note: if you think you have any character and suitability issues that may affect your ability to qualify as a solicitor then we strongly advise that you contact the SRA for advice as soon as possible. https://www.sra.org.uk/become-solicitor/character-and-suitability/ 

Notice in these requirements that there is no longer any mention of the courses you need to study to qualify as a solicitor – other than having an undergraduate degree. The requirements are now about the exams not the courses.  

Full details are on the SRA website 

SQE 1 and 2: what, when and how? 

These two sets of centrally-set exams were introduced in 2021 with the aim of guaranteeing consistently high standards across the solicitors’ profession in England and Wales. For context, pre-2021, aspiring solicitors used to sit exams set by the individual course providers, allowing for inconsistency to creep in.   

SQE 1 tests your functioning legal knowledge (FLK) and the format is 360 multiple-choice single-best-answer questions under timed conditions. It costs just under £2000 and can be taken at Pearson VUE test centres across the UK and internationally. 

SQE 2 tests 16 practical legal skills (4 oral; 12 written) such as: client interviewing; legal analysis; advocacy; negotiating; legal research; writing and drafting. Professionalism and ethics are covered throughout. The cost is higher than SQE 1at c. £3000.  

Kaplan runs the assessments. You must pass SQE 1 before attempting SQE 2. Resits are extra and you can only resit twice. Use the SRA website for booking details 

Preparing for your SQE exams 

There is no longer a mandatory or regulated legal course requirement to qualify as a solicitor. Gone is the concept of a ‘qualifying law degree’ or GDL with its compulsory postgraduate course (LPC). In place of these mandatory courses is a plethora of different types of SQE exam preparatory courses – many with different titles, duration, formats and costs and are offered by a range of providers. The choice and range can feel confusing: do book an appointment with a careers adviser if you would like to discuss your options, preferably with one who has a special interest in law (Julia, Niamh or Callum). You can view careers advisers profiles here. 

Although it is not compulsory to study a preparation course, most people do in order to support themselves in passing the exams, as the best fit multiple-choice style of questions makes them difficult to pass. Since it was introduced in 2021, the pass rate for SQE 1 has ranged between 44% and 55% (and between 70% and 80% for SQE 2).) On top of that, the resits are expensive and you can only attempt each part of the assessment three times. Studying a preparation course will give you the best chance of passing, and many law firms require you to do so if you want to work for them.  

Choosing an SQE preparation course  

A range of postgraduate SQE1 and SQE2 preparation courses have been developed by providers such as BPP, The University of Law, BARBRI, QLTS School, Nottingham Law School and the College of Legal Practice. There are full-time and part-time study options available to suit your circumstances. If you’re a non-law student, there are specific SQE preparation courses available that incorporate the PGDL (as the GDL is now known), or aspects of it. See the special guidance below for non-law students.  

Deciding on which course is best for you is likely to depend on your own particular circumstances: the type and amount of law you have already studied; the types of exam technique that you are used to; and how you like to learn. Options may vary from a very short revision course together with exam practice (costing c £3,000 – £6,000) through to more in-depth law master’s courses which cover all the preparation required for both SQE 1 and 2, costing £11,000 – £16,000. Studying a master’s level course may also mean that you can apply for a government student loan. The course providers offer online workshops and information sessions to help you choose the right courses for you – see their websites for details. A careers adviser can help you work through your options.    

We advise you to research the institutions carefully, to visit open days if possible and, when ready, to make your application in good time. Institutions select on the basis of academic achievement and motivation as shown in the personal statement and references. Most successful applicants will have at least a 2:1 and evidence of suitability for their intended career. Some institutions will give preference to those who can demonstrate good reason for their need to study at that particular institution, e.g. studying near home. 

You may wish to consider some of the following factors in your decision making: 

• Academic rigour – talk to tutors and students, check out destinations, read reviews. 

• Teaching and assessment methods used. 

• Geographical location. 

• Cost of course and opportunities for funding or financing from the provider, such as scholarships and bursaries. 

• Study options – many providers offer part-time and options such as distance learning. 

• Reputation of the course and destination data of its students. 

• Access to the profession, careers fairs and events, general careers support and work experience/work. 

• Preference of law firms that you may be seeking to apply to for a training contract. If you secure your QWE or training contract in advance and are being sponsored by a law firm, they may tell you where they want you to do the preparation course. If you have started your preparation course and then secure a training contract during the course, your future employer may decide to switch you into their preferred institution or to let you remain, often depending on how far into the course you have progressed. You are perfectly free to apply to any firm for a training contract, even if you have already started your LPC in their non preferred institution. 

• Some employers may insist that their trainees select the optional courses (electives) that are appropriate for their practice. It is always worth checking the views of employers on this issue. 

Applications for SQE prep courses are made through the Central Applications Board.  Details of all institutions offering may be found on the SRA website and on the Central Application Board’s (CAB) website. Note that applications for all these courses are normally assessed without interview. 

Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) 

This is covered in more detail in the Getting a Job section below. In summary, you are required to have 24 months of work experience, allowing you to develop the solicitor competencies, in order to qualify as a solicitor. QWE can be completed before, alongside or after SQE1 and SQE2. In practice, this could be through one of these:  

• a paid training contract or trainee position in one law firm typically rotating around four or more practice areas 

• experience gathered in up to four settings through a mix of student law clinics, placements, legal work in a charitable organisation and paralegal work. This experience could be paid or voluntary  

• a solicitor apprenticeship (aimed at school leavers) or a graduate solicitor apprenticeship (designed for degree holders). The flexibility of the SRA route has opened up the possibility of apprenticeships in the profession. More guidance on apprenticeships in the Getting A Job section and in this link

There is no longer a requirement for trainee solicitors to work in a specific number of different areas of law, or experience both contentious and non-contentious practice areas. For through information on the details of the qualification process, see the SRA website. 

All QWE must be signed off by an SRA-regulated solicitor or compliance officer for legal practice (COLP). It is up to the confirming solicitor to decide whether the QWE meets the SRA’s requirements not the SRA itself. Experience can take place in the UK or elsewhere.  

See the ‘Getting a Job’ section of this briefing for more in-depth information.  

Qualifying as a solicitor via the LPC 

As you have read, the SQE route is the new centralised assessment that solicitors must pass to qualify as a solicitor, which replaces the old LPC route. There are transitional arrangements in place between now and 2032 while the old route is phased out and the new route is embedded. This LPC route is now open to very few people: only those who already started their legal training (an undergraduate law degree, GDL, LPC or training contract) before 1 September 2021. The route involves:  

1. The academic stage 

A qualifying law degree or a conversion course: the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) or Senior Status Law Degree (see below) Applications are made through the Central Applications Board for the former or UCAS for the latter.   

2. The vocational stage 

The Legal Practice Course (LPC) is available one-year full-time, two-years part-time or as a seven- month course (known as the accelerated LPC). Some providers also offer the opportunity to study an LPC LLM (involving an additional research module).  Applications are made through the Central Applications Board.  

3. The practical stage 

This consists of a two-year ‘period of recognised training (PRT)’ (previously and more commonly still known as a training contract) in a solicitor’s practice or other legal department (eg the in-house legal department of a company). Normally this is undertaken after completing the LPC. During the training contract (PRT) the trainee also completes the Professional Skills Course. 

Which route should I follow: SQE or LPC? 

A decreasing number of students each year will find themselves in the position of having to decide between these two routes: the old LPC route or the new SQE route. This dilemma only affects you if you are deemed to have started your legal training before 2021, eg started your law degree or conversion course in or before 2021. The SRA provide some guidance on this on the SRA website but how you decide will come down to a mix of factors: timing, costs, job opportunities as they apply to you and your circumstances. It’s important to check what your shortlisted firms are doing in this regard, so you know whether they expect you to do the LPC or SQE route. We will be happy to talk through your individual situations in a careers appointment.  

A special note for non-law students  

Remember this: going into the legal profession from a non-law degree does not put you at a disadvantage. You will be welcomed to apply as much as the law students  and your degree equips you well for many of the skills needed in the legal profession.Firms value the different skills you will bring from your STEM, history and English backgrounds, for instance. In most law firms, half of their lawyers will be from a non-law degree. In fact, firms such as Bristows, Bird & Bird and Taylor Wessing recruit up to 80% non-law students (scientists, mainly) in each trainee cohort as a large part of their client work is in intellectual property and life sciences where a STEM background is advantageous.  

The PGDL or conversion course  

Remember that the SRA only requires you to have a degree to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales; a conversion course is not a requirement under the post-2021 qualification rules. We recommend, in common with most law firms however, that non-law graduates study the PGDL: postgraduate diploma in law. This is the more recent version of the GDL, designed specifically to align with the Solicitors’ Qualifying Examination or SQE. The SQE exams are expensive, difficult and have a relatively low pass rate (53% – 57%) so give yourself the best chance of passing by studying the conversion course first. Law careers website Legal Cheek compares sitting the SQE exams without a conversion course to ‘turning up to an advanced driving course without having passed your driving test’.  

Full-time course applications 

Applications for full-time courses are made through the Central Application Board; part-time course applications are made directly to the course provider. There is no closing date but we advise making applications in good time in the year before entry in order to get your preferred choice. 

That said, some institutions may ask for applications to be made before a certain date in order to have a place guaranteed (subject to meeting their criteria) or to meet a deadline to be considered for funding from that institution. Once an application is received by CAB it is then released to the institutions and offers can be made from then on. Different institutions may respond at different rates and some courses/institutions may be more popular than others. 

The application form allows applicants to select up to 3 institutions and is only for applications to full time courses. There is a requirement to attach undergraduate degree transcripts. Referees will also be needed so please check in advance who that will be and brief them accordingly. 

Part-time course applications 

Some students choose to study the conversion course part-time and work alongside the course. Applications for part-time courses should be made directly to the institution concerned. 

Senior status law degree 

An alternative to the PGDL for non-law graduates is to take a two-year senior status law degree or BA in Jurisprudence with Senior Status (as it’s known at Oxford), which is a law degree completed over two years, allowing for more in depth study and greater choice of subjects than the PGDL. You must have at least one other university degree before embarking on the senior status in law.  

This course is available at a range of institutions including Oxford, Cambridge, York, Swansea and The University of Law. Contact the relevant law faculty for application procedures and prospectuses. For these courses, application is normally made via UCAS, but check with each institution. For Oxford and Cambridge the 15 October deadline applies and you will need to sit the LNAT (Law National Admissions Test). Also check with the institution about the fee level charged as this course is a second first-degree-level course and thus is not eligible for the same types of government funding /student loans as first degrees. 

A special note for overseas qualified lawyers  

This section may be of particular interest to those students on the MJur, MLF and BCL masters courses. You may be considering staying in the UK to practise as a lawyer and wondering what steps you need to take to work here.  

Overseas lawyers used to follow the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS) to practise in England and Wales but this has been phased out and replaced by the SQE qualification route. Before embarking on requalification to the England and Wales system, make sure that you speak to relevant human resources teams or graduate recruitment within law firms for information on how firms view and manage hiring qualified lawyers. They may or may not see requalification as a requirement, depending on the work you will be doing and the amount of experience you have in another jurisdiction.  

We would also recommend you network with lawyers working in England and Wales from your home jurisdiction to learn from their experience. Hearing about the journey they took may save you a lot of time and research.

Will you need to do QWE/a training contract? 

This will vary from firm to firm: some will ask you to go through a training contract; others will encourage you to   join the firm as a ‘lateral hire’ but you will be expected to hit the ground running and carry out client work immediately without supervision.  Please check directly with each firm you are applying to. 

To gain qualified status, foreign qualified lawyers might be able to apply for exemption from the SQE 1 and 2 exams and the Qualified Work Experience (QWE) element of qualification;  it is always best to thoroughly check the SRA regulations on this matter: see exemptions to SQE 1 and 2.   

Recruitment of qualified lawyers in the UK happens through a variety of ways:  

• directly by law firms through their websites 

• regular jobs posting on online legal job sites 

• through recruitment agencies or headhunters 

• through networking.  

Securing a position as a qualified lawyer will likely depend on your area of expertise, the equivalent amount and type of experience that you have, and the business needs of the firms. You will also need to consider your visa status. We are not qualified to advise on visas at the Careers Service but would recommend speaking to Visa and Immigration team at the University

The changeover in the qualification process from the old LPC system to the new SQE system is quite complex and brings new challenges in terms of training schedules, timings and so on. Here are some of the possibilities for completing your qualifying work experience (QWE).  

QWE: training contracts 

Training contracts – a period of 24 months of paid work with a law firm – are likely to remain the principal  entry routes for the near future. There are c 5500 traineeships registered each year. 

The SRA requires that students must have opportunity to develop the solicitor competencies during their QWE so firms will need to ensure that this is the case but firms may also add in bespoke training to suit their particular practice areas and clients. It is likely that trainees will still be given the opportunity to experience different practice areas in either a 4 or 6 month 'seat' rotation before deciding where to specialise on qualification. Many of the global firms will also offer the opportunity to take a seat overseas in a different jurisdiction or as a client secondment.

At present 90% of training contracts are in the private practice sector, with the majority being found in commercially orientated firms. These practices recruit early (many two years before the start date), while many smaller and High Street practices will recruit nearer the start date.

Remember that many of the commercial firms recruit a high proportion (between 50% and 100%) of their future trainees from their vacation schemes. So, securing a scheme and doing well on it can put you in a very strong position to be offered a training contract interview at the end of the scheme and a training contract offer with that firm.

The remaining positions are to be found in the Government Legal Department, local government, teh Crown Prosecution Service, and in-house legal departments in commerce and industry and quangos.

Here are some examples of law firms offering training contracts plus SQE training and support:

• Example 1: City Consortium Solicitor Training Programme. Six global firms (Herbert Smith Freehills, Slaughter and May, Hogan Lovells, Norton Rose Fulbright, Linklaters and Freshfields) have grouped together to design a training programme for their future trainees in conjunction with BPP where future trainees will do a PGDL (if they are from a non-law degree) plus 11-month City Consortium Plus Programme to help prepare for the SQE exams. Trainees will complete the SQE 1 and 2 exams before they join their firms for 2 years QWE/training contract. NB: students need to apply to each individual firm for training contracts:  it is just the training that will be the same for all.
• Example 2: Clifford Chance trainees will complete a PGDL (if a non lawyer) followed by the LLM in Legal Practice (includes SQE 1 and 2 preparation) and the Clifford Chance  Plus Programme at The University of Law  before completing their 24 months of QWE at the firm.
• Example 3: Reed Smith trainees go to the College of Legal Practice for their SQE preparation and  start work part time in the firm while studying for the SQE.

We anticipate that firms who previously paid for their trainees to complete the GDL/LPC will continue to support them to take the SQE and any preparatory courses required.

QWE: Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeships

We are already seeing that some organisations – law firms and others - are completely redesigning the way they train future solicitors. Programmes look a little similar to the way an accountant might be trained - that is by working, learning and studying concurrently.  These types of training programmes take two to three years to complete, are aimed at graduates and are often called 'Level 7 apprenticeships or graduate solicitor  apprenticeships' or similar. They work in a similar way to the traditional training contract with on-the-job training and SQE preparation. Graduate solicitor apprentices must pass the SQE assessments to qualify.

Opportunities are generally likely to be advertised on the Government's portal 'find an apprenticeship' or on individual firms' websites. Applications for these new graduate solicitor apprenticeships may follow the same two years ahead system of training contracts but this may vary by firm so keep yourself up to date by following your firms of interest. This article from LawCareersNet is a useful resource for comparing solicitor apprenticeships to training contracts.

QWE: Other options

Now that the new SQE route to qualification is here, you do not necessarily need to rely on either a traditional training contract or an apprenticeship with one particular employer to become a qualified solicitor. You will still need to complete the 24 months QWE but you can explore your options and try and secure your own experiences. Please read the section above on the requirements which still need to be met for qualification and read the SRA documents on this and on solicitor competencies. Also bear in mind that this route is still very much in its infancy and you may prefer to still apply for traditional training contracts which will continue to offer 'tried and tested' training in the vast majority of cases. However, for anyone who is not attracted to those, you can now be more creative in searching out alternative experiences with different types of employers.    

Application tips for the solicitor route 

Vacation schemes

• As highlighted in the Skills, Experience and Preparing Yourself section of this briefing, vacation schemes are an excellent opportunity to gain experience in law firms, show that you are doing your research and that you are committed to this career path. 
• Firms offer these during winter (limited firms), spring and summer (many firms) vacations. Application deadlines for winter schemes range from early October to early November and December/January for the spring/summer ones. Ideally submit your applications in good time and not just before the closing date. This will give you more options on suitable interview dates if you are successful.
• Rolling applications: some firms will start to screen applicants and offer places well ahead of the closing dates – check with the firms that interest you to avoid disappointment.
• Law students usually apply for schemes in their penultimate year and non-law students in their final year (although it can be earlier). Some schemes are targeted at specific student groups so do check which scheme is aimed at which group.  
• Link to training contracts – if you have a successful vacation scheme many law firms will ask you if you want to make a training contract application or offer you the chance for a training contract interview at the end of the scheme.  Some firms will hire a very high proportion of their trainees from their schemes (90-100% in some cases). This is why the vacation scheme process is often as rigorous as the training contract process.
• Opportunities for first years – there has been an increasing number of schemes aimed solely at first year (law and non-law) students. These usually take place in the spring with applications opening in December/January. It is entirely up to you whether you attend these or not: it will not affect your ability to secure a vacation scheme or a training contract at a later date. Also bear in mind that the timings of these may clash with your revision and first-year exams  and that firms will often request these grades to be at 2.1 level at least for future applications.
• Rejection – it does happen. Depending on the stage at which you were rejected firms are usually happy for you to still apply for a training contract in that same cycle/academic year. This is because there are limited vacation scheme positions and some students are lucky enough to secure several - whereas students will ultimately only accept one training contract. Sometimes firms may offer you an open day instead; this is a good sign of interest so if you like the firm, go if you can and then apply directly for a training contract.
• Strategy: when applying for schemes, remember that this is a golden opportunity for you to check out the law firm, its culture, practice areas and so on so you may have a strategy to apply to several different types of firm to help you decide.  Allow plenty of time for deep research before completing your applications though.  

Training contracts

• Typically the medium and large law firms who offer training contracts recruit their trainees two years in advance to allow time for students to complete all the necessary SQE exam preparation. In academic year 2025/2026, firms will generally be hiring trainees to start with them in September 2027 to March 2028. Smaller firms and other organisations may only hire one year ahead or for an immediate start.
• There are two ways to apply for a training contract: either via a vacation scheme as described above or directly for a training contract.  
• Law students usually start applying at some point during their penultimate year, either via a vacation scheme or directly for a training contract as appropriate to their circumstances. Non-law students usually apply in their final year of study: whether that be undergraduate, masters or DPhil.
• You don't have to apply according to these timings (whether you are law or non law). Many students wait until they have graduated or even after doing another job for a while before applying. You just need to bear in mind some of the lengthy lead times.
• In 2021 a Law Society survey discovered that the average age of newly qualified solicitors was 29.9 years. This suggests that many people are doing other jobs (perhaps time as a paralegal or something outside the legal market) or further study before qualifying as a solicitor.
• Applications can open as early as August, though more typically in September and close in December/January or even later in the year: June or July. Some firms have different application dates for law students – often an application window across May to June. Be sure to check the dates and deadline for your firms of interest to give yourself the best chance of success.
• Rolling applications. As with vacations schemes some firms will start to interview applicants long before the closing date while others will wait until all the applications have been submitted and the closing date passed. It is important to apply in good time but only when you are confident that you are making the right decision, that you are well prepared and that you can make an excellent application.
• Rejection – if you are rejected, it is usually possible to reapply to the same firm the following year but you will need to show some improvement in your application. Depending on the stage you reached reapplication may not be possible, so do check the law firms' policies.
• If you are applying for a training contract, firms will expect you to have a coherent strategy of applications, to be extremely well researched and committed to this option.

If at any point you would like to discuss you own plans for becoming a solicitor then please book an appointment with one of our careers advisers and we will be happy to help you navigate a path.

Funding

This can be a major issue, especially if you are looking to train in a smaller, less commercial firm. The cost of fees and living expenses need to be considered if you planning on qualifying as a solicitor without the sponsorship of a law firm. It is perfectly acceptable to ask a law firm what sort of support they can offer for postgraduate law courses (PGDL and SQE preparation courses and exams). 

• Sponsorship. Most commercial firms that take trainees will offer some form of sponsorship to their future trainees. Many firms, particularly the larger ones, cover fees for the PGDL, the LPC  and now the SQE as well as up to about £10,000+ a year living expenses. 
• Bursaries and Scholarships. There are now a number of awards given by the law course providers which are worth investigating as competition and entry requirements are not as onerous as you may think. Do check deadlines for applications.
• Local Authority Grants. LEAs do not normally award discretionary grants for training for the legal profession, but you may wish to check with your education authority.
• Law Society. The Law Society Diversity Access Scheme (DAS) awards c 15 scholarships each year to students who face exceptional social, educational, financial or personal obstacles to qualifying as a solicitor to help them qualify.
• Government Post Graduate Student Loan for Masters Courses - The  Government's student loans for masters students allow students to borrow money for masters courses and repayment is on a very similar system to the undergraduate loans scheme. These are only for masters level qualifications, so there will be some LPC LLMs as well as other LLMs in Legal Practice which cater for SQE which may meet the criteria, but not all. You need to check with your provider.
• Bank Loans – Some of the High Street banks and specialist banks offer loans for students. Contact your local bank branch or course provider for details of their student loan schemes.
• Professional and Career Development Loans. These are government-backed. Visit the UK Government website for information. These loans are not available for the PGDL course.
• Trusts/Charities. There may be a few charitable trusts that are prepared to consider applications for financial help towards vocational training.
• Personal funds. It is not unknown for individuals to finance their training through savings and personal borrowing. Do get some feedback on your chances of ultimate success before you commit yourself to high levels of debt. 

This Law Society article offers further information on funding.

Law careers websites

For lists of training contracts and vacation schemes, practice area overviews, commercial awareness advice, events and law firm profiles 

• The Lawyer 2B 
• Chambers Student Guide 
• All About Law 
• Legal Cheek
• TARGETjobs Law
• Prospects: Law
• LawCareers.Net 
• The Lawyer Portal 
• Chambers Student True Picture 
• Forage 

Law news

To help you keep on top of wider news in the legal profession. Most have regular newsletters 

• LittleLaw
• The Lawyer 
• Legal Week
• The Law Society Gazette
• The Justice Gap 
• Lexology
• Legal Futures

Resources to help your commercial awareness 

• All About Law Commercial Awareness Compass weekly newsletter and on Spotify 
• LawCareersNet commercial awareness hub 
• A&O Shearman's useful article on What is Commercial Awareness?
• Commercial awareness for regional firms, from Shoosmiths
• 10 top tips to develop your commercial awareness, from Legal 500

Legal jobsites and volunteering opportunities 

• Do-it.life  
• Local Government Lawyer
• Law Society Gazette
• The Lawyer
• Totally Legal
• Simply Law Jobs
• Bonavero Institute of Human Rights Student Fellowships
• Vantage

Legal training

• LawCABs – Central Applications Board applications for GDL and SQE courses
• Gov.uk: Student Finance
• Find a Masters in law

Regulatory bodies and professional associations

• Law Society The professional association for solicitors, includes trends and surveys and diversity schemes
• Solicitors Regulation Authority The regulator for solicitors, includes routes to qualification information 
• CILEx – Chartered Institute of Legal Executives
• Lawyers in Local Government
• Junior Lawyers Division of the Law Society 
• Young Legal Aid Lawyers 
• The Legal Aid Practitioners Group
• Law Centres Network
• The Legal Aid Agency
• UK Student Law Association
• The European Law Students’ Association

Useful resources for researching firms' practice areas

• Legal 500 
• Chambers and Partners

Useful podcasts 

This list of law careers podcasts from Law Careers Net is a good place to start. Many law firms also offer their own podcasts, as does the BBC Legal Team. 

Advice on using AI in applications 

How to use AI responsibly in the application process, from A&O Shearman 

Recruiters are keen to have a diverse workforce, and many will have policies and processes that are proactive in recruiting students and graduates from diverse backgrounds. An increasing number of recruiters are offering traineeships, internships and insight events that are aimed at specific groups and many are being recognised for their approach to being inclusive employers.

Try the following to discover more about the policies and attitudes of the recruiters that you are interested in:

• Read their equality, diversity and inclusion policy
• Search their website to see if they have any specific staff networks
• Look for external accreditation such as whether they are a Disability Confident employer, a Stonewall Diversity Champion or part of the Mindful Employer charter promoting mental health at work
• Check to see if they are partnering with organisations such as Rare Recruitment, SEO London, MyPlus Students' Club, EmployAbility or one of the many other organisations that are working for specific communities
• Explore what they do to celebrate diversity on their Facebook and Twitter pages

Law firms are particularly active in this area of diversity and have well established programmes in place with long standing organisations such as Employ-Ability (disability and neurodifference), Sponsors for Educational Opportunity, RARE Recruitment, the Sutton Trust and the BLD Foundation. These organisations provide support for vacation scheme applicants from under representative backgrounds. In addition, new organisations are growing such as Aspiring Solicitors, which provides mentoring and CV/application help for any students in its target groups.

18% of those with practising certificates are from a BAME background and female practice certificate holders (53%) have been growing over three times the rate of men on average over the past decade. At entry level, over 63% of trainees are women.  There is still much work to be done at partner level though where only 8,930 in total are women.

The Law Society of England and Wales has networks to support women, those from ethnic minorities and LGBT+ and disabled people in the solicitors profession. Anyone can join these networks, including students – you do not have to be qualified, nor identify with a particular characteristic. Further details on these and the Law Society’s other diversity and inclusion work can be found here https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/campaigns/diversity-and-inclusion

In addition, the "Explore Law" event run every year in central London, is an event for students with disabilities or long term health conditions interested in finding out about internships and graduate positions in commercial law. See CareerConnect for details in Michaelmas.

The UK Equality Act 2010 has a number of protected characteristics to prevent discrimination due to your age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or beliefs, sex or sexual orientation. For further information, visit the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s webpage on the Equality Act and the Government’s webpages on discrimination.

Further resources:

• Black Lawyers Directory
• Black Solicitors Network
• Aspiring Solicitors
• RARE Recruitment – Rare recruitment now also have an online portal called Vantage, accessed via the Lawyer Portal or LawCareers.net. Although this can be used by any student, Vantage utilises contextual data to help top firms connect their opportunities directly with students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
• Discuss – a RARE programme for those interested in City Law
• Articles – a RARE programme for vacation scheme applicants
• BLD Foundation – information on their Head Start and Legal Launch pad programmes
• Employ-ability – a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to assisting people with all disabilities into employment and often advertises work experience opportunities as well as permanent positions
• Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) London – a not for profit organisation that helps penultimate year undergraduate students from under represented ethnic minority background gain internships
• The Law Society of England and Wales - diversity and inclusion pages.