Solicitor
Solicitors advise clients about the law and act on their behalf in legal matters.
Also known as: Lawyer
- Starter salary£30,000 a year
- Experienced£80,000 a year
- Typical hours37 to 50 a week
What you'll do
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.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- excellent verbal communication skills to work with different people
- active listening skills
- the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
- knowledge of English language for explaining legal matters to non-experts
- 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
How to become a solicitor
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:
- take an undergraduate degree in any subject, or equivalent qualification , in any subject
- pass parts 1 and 2 of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE)
- complete 2 years (or equivalent if part-time) qualifying work experience
- meet the character and suitability requirements of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
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
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
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:
- pass parts 1 and 2 of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE)
- show you have 2 years of qualifying work experience , or equivalent, if part time
- meet the character and suitability requirements of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
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.
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- pass enhanced background checks
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:
- Army
- Royal Air Force
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.
Guides for this industry
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Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0