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Law & Legal Services

Solicitor

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Primary Secondary Post-16

Solicitors are legal professionals who provide advice, draft documents, and represent clients in legal matters. In the UK, they often work directly with clients, helping them with issues such as buying a house, writing a will, or dealing with employment disputes. Solicitors can work in private practice, for companies, or within government. They may also represent clients in courts, although more complex advocacy is usually handled by barristers. Becoming a solicitor involves completing a law degree or conversion course, followed by the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) and a period of qualifying work experience.

Solicitor

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📊 Statistics

Average Salary

The average salary for a solicitor in the UK ranges from £25,000 to £100,000 per year, depending on experience and location.

Number of Qualified Solicitors

There are over 150,000 practising solicitors in England and Wales as of 2023.

Typical Working Hours

Solicitors usually work between 37 and 50 hours per week, although hours can be longer in some areas of law.

🚀 Careers in this path

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Family Law Solicitor

A solicitor who specialises in family law, dealing with matters such as divorce, child custody, and adoption.

Conveyancing Solicitor

A solicitor who focuses on legal processes involved in buying and selling property.

Employment Law Solicitor

A solicitor who advises clients on employment rights, workplace disputes, and contracts.

Achieve Academic Qualifications

Complete A-levels or Equivalent

Study for and successfully complete A-levels, ideally including subjects like English or History.

Most universities require good A-level grades to study law. While law is not always necessary at A-level, subjects involving analysis and essay writing are beneficial. Check university entry requirements for specific grade expectations.

Obtain a Qualifying Law Degree or Complete a Law Conversion Course

Study for a law degree (LLB) or, if your degree is in another subject, undertake a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL).

An LLB is a three-year undergraduate law degree that qualifies you for the next stages of solicitor training. If you have a non-law degree, the GDL is an intensive one-year course covering core legal principles and is required before progressing.

Complete Legal Professional Training

Pass the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE)

Prepare for and complete both stages of the SQE, the new route to qualification.

The SQE consists of SQE1 (legal knowledge) and SQE2 (practical legal skills). You can prepare through self-study, university courses, or private providers. Passing both is required to move forward.

Gain Qualifying Work Experience

Undertake at least two years of qualifying legal work experience, such as a training contract or placements.

You may gain experience with law firms, legal clinics, or other approved organisations. This hands-on practice is vital for developing your skills and is required for qualification as a solicitor.

Qualify and Practise as a Solicitor

Apply for Admission to the Roll of Solicitors

Apply to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to be formally admitted as a solicitor.

After passing the SQE and completing work experience, you must apply to the SRA, providing evidence of your qualifications, work experience, and passing a character and suitability assessment.

Begin Your Career as a Solicitor

Start working as a qualified solicitor, choosing an area of law to specialise in as your career develops.

Solicitors work in many different practice areas and settings. You may continue to train and specialise throughout your career, taking further qualifications if desired, and can work in private practice, in-house, or for public bodies.

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Career Progressions

This page showcases various career options and the pathways to reach them. Each career listed here shares transferable skills and knowledge, making it easier for individuals to transition between them.

Your current career is highlighted to help you see how it fits into the broader landscape of potential career choices. By clicking on any career, you can learn more about it, including the training and education required to pursue it.

Remember, progressing in your career often involves further learning and training. This page provides insights into future career options as well as those that can lead up to your current one.

These career progression decisions are informed by comparing the skills and knowledge needed for different occupations, along with data on how people move between them. Explore the possibilities and discover the exciting journey ahead in your career!

Sample Qualifications

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:

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