Each year many students doing their A-levels, or who are already at university, decide they would like to become a solicitor.  Many make this decision without really knowing too much about the profession in reality.  Many more are unaware of the steps necessary to become a solicitor or the timetable for taking those steps.

Some time spent on researching at this stage will help keep the path to becoming a solicitor a smooth one and avoid some of the common pitfalls along the way.  The path to becoming a solicitor in England and Wales will take 6 years or more so the choices that are made along the way are crucial.

The first step is choosing whether to study law at university or not.  Some people are surprised that it is possible to study a non-law degree and still go on to qualify as a solicitor.  This is because there is a conversion course called the Graduate Diploma in Law which can be taken after completing a non-law degree.  This adds an additional year to the studies but it also allows a student to get a broader education on other subjects which they could possibly use at a later date.

When choosing which university to go to students are advised to do plenty of research as to the reputations of universities and whether some are viewed upon more favourably by the type of law firm the student might want to work for at a later date.  It is also advisable to apply to courses and universities that are suited to each candidate’s ability, ie a university’s required grades match the grades the candidate predicts they will get at A-level.

Both pre-uni and during uni holidays it is advisable for students to try to undertake some form of legal work experience as most law firms like to see such experience on their CV’s.  Work experience can be gained at firms local to the individual or there are official vacation schemes run by many of the bigger London and regional city firms that are regarded highly and can even lead to a training contract offer from that firm.

After university the next step is to go to law school.  Law degree students can start applying for the Legal Practice Course from their second year at university (up until the end of their final year) whilst non-law degree students can apply for the Graduate Diploma in Law from their second year at university (up until the end of January in their final year) and for the Legal Practice Course from their final year at university (up until the summer term of the GDL).

After completing the Legal Practice Course the next step is to undertake a training contract with a law firm or other qualifying legal organisation.  Many law firms recruit around two years in advance so applications to these firms must be in before the end of the second year at uni for law students and before the end of the final year for non-law students.  For smaller firms the deadlines may be much later so it is advisable to research which firms a student may want to apply to and then check their website or telephone them to find out when their application deadline is.

Upon successful completion of a training contract, and the Professional Skills Course that forms part of it, trainee solicitors are then admitted as practicing solicitors and are entered onto the Roll of Solicitors at the Law Society of England and Wales.