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Solicitor

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Primary Secondary Post-16

A solicitor is a type of lawyer in the UK who provides legal advice, prepares documents, and may represent clients in lower courts. Solicitors often specialise in areas such as family law, property law, commercial law, or criminal law. Their daily work can involve meeting clients, drafting legal documents, negotiating on behalf of clients, and ensuring that legal transactions comply with the law. Most solicitors work in private practice or in-house for companies, but some are employed by public sector organisations. To become a solicitor, you usually need to complete a law degree or a conversion course, followed by the Solicitors Qualifying Examination and a period of practical training.

Solicitor

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📊 Statistics

Average Starting Salary

Newly qualified solicitors in the UK typically earn between £28,000 and £60,000 per year, depending on location and firm size.

Experienced Solicitor Salary

With experience, solicitors can earn £60,000 to £100,000 or more, especially in London or with large firms.

Number of Registered Solicitors

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

🚀 Careers in this path

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Family Law Solicitor

Specialises in legal matters related to families, such as divorce, child custody, and adoption.

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Corporate Solicitor

Advises businesses on legal issues including contracts, mergers, and compliance with company law.

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Property Solicitor

Focuses on legal work related to buying, selling, and renting property, including conveyancing.

Achieve Academic Qualifications

Complete GCSEs and A-levels

Obtain strong GCSEs, especially in English, and then take A-levels, ideally including subjects that require analytical thinking.

Most universities require at least five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English and Maths. For A-levels, Law is not essential but subjects like History, English Literature, or Politics can be useful. Good grades are important to secure a place at a competitive university.

Earn a Law Degree or Equivalent

Study for a qualifying law degree (LLB) or, if you have a degree in another subject, complete the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL).

A full-time law degree usually takes three years. If you study a non-law subject at university, you will need to take the GDL, which is a one-year conversion course. Both routes prepare you for the next stage of solicitor training.

Complete Professional Training

Pass the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE)

Take and pass the SQE, which is divided into two parts and tests your legal knowledge and skills.

The SQE has replaced the Legal Practice Course (LPC) for new entrants. SQE1 assesses legal knowledge through multiple-choice exams, while SQE2 tests practical legal skills. Preparation courses are available but not mandatory.

Complete Qualifying Work Experience

Gain two years of qualifying work experience with up to four different legal employers, such as law firms or in-house legal teams.

This experience can be gained through traditional training contracts or other legal roles that meet the Solicitors Regulation Authority's requirements. You will need to record your work and get it confirmed by a solicitor.

Become a Qualified Solicitor

Apply for Admission to the Roll

Submit your application to the Solicitors Regulation Authority to be admitted as a solicitor.

You must provide evidence of your qualifications, SQE results, and qualifying work experience. You will also need to pass a character and suitability assessment before you are officially registered as a solicitor.

Start Your Career as a Solicitor

Begin working as a fully qualified solicitor in your chosen area of law.

You can choose to work in private practice, in-house for a company, for a government department, or in other legal settings. Continuing professional development is important to stay up to date with legal changes and to progress in your career.

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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

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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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