Law Careers
Thinking of a career in law?
A career in law in England and Wales offers a wide range of opportunities. In addition to being a solicitor or barrister, there are many other legal roles and careers
Why law?
Law touches every aspect of our lives; it underpins the way our society is structured and protects our fundamental rights and freedoms.
A career in law in England and Wales offers a huge range of opportunities, across multiple sectors and in varying roles. If you are thinking of law as a career but you are not sure of your options or the path you want to take, here are some things you might want to consider, as well as some resources you might find helpful along the way. Remember that where you start out might not be where you end up; the great thing about a career in law is just how many doors it could open and what opportunities and experience might become available to you.
Is a career in the law right for you?
No-one is born a lawyer - the skills you need to be a good lawyer can be developed through your work experience, training and studies.
Regardless of the final legal career you choose, you will need to have excellent communication skills to be able to deal with a wide range of different people. Being able to communicate well with clients and other legal professionals will be essential.
If you intend to become a barrister or solicitor advocate, excellent debating skills and confidence in public speaking will be crucial.
You will also need to be a good problem solver and be able to analyse large amounts of evidence. Part of being a good lawyer involves carrying out complex legal research and paying close attention to detail.
Depending on the ultimate legal career you aim for, you will need to be a good team player, or confident working independently..
You can read about other essential skills.
Overall, it is essential to be prepared to study and work hard.
In addition to considering the skills you will need, here are some steps you can take to help you decide if you want to pursue a career in the law.
Understand the basics of law
Why not study a little of the law first to see if it is for you? There are various websites offering free taster courses in law. The Open University's Open Learn portal is a high-quality resource you can access for free, offering introductory level online law modules. Take a look at some options to see if this is a subject you would like to study further:
Do your research
... into the roles available
There are many roles involved in the law including solicitor, barrister, chartered legal executive, costs lawyer, paralegal, legal administrator, legal secretary and many others. Some have very defined and lengthy qualification processes and requirements, whereas others require less academic qualifications or training. Some allow to remain a generalist in law for some time, whereas others allow you to specialise in a particular area of the law from the beginning.
Research entry and exit requirements to find the right fit for you. You do not need to decide immediately what your legal role will be but it is good to understand the range of opportunities and career paths available early on.
Use our route checker to clarify the basic qualification routes.
Think about
...the kind of organisation or sector you'd like to work in
There is a need for lawyers in all areas of the world, in all sectors. Are you keen to work for a big City firm, or one that works internationally? Would you prefer to practise law at a small local firm or one operating within a particular region? Are you keen to work in-house as legal counsel for a corporation or government department? Are you passionate about supporting clients that can't afford to access justice by working as a legal aid lawyer? Do you want to work for a firm or be self employed? Do you want to advocate for clients yourself in court or work outside of a courtroom? You should research law recruiters and law firms, both big and small as well as understand the workings of chambers.
...the areas of law that interest you
The areas of law that you can ultimately practise in are wide. Whilst you do not need to make any decisions right now, having an idea of the breadth of practice areas is useful.
Get work experience
Obtaining some practical experience working in the law can help you decide if a career in the law is for you or not, even though you do not need to decide exactly what that role might be just yet.
Next steps
Once you have decided that you want to go into law, your next step is working out the best path for you to take and part of this will be deciding if you want to study law at university or 'earn while you learn'.
Non-university routes into law
If you are interested in pursuing a career in the law, but either don't want, or can't, go to university, there are a variety of routes into the profession which offer flexible entry points and career progression opportunities.
There are courses, such as the CILEX Professional Qualification (CPQ), which are designed to enable you to earn as you learn, gaining experience on the job while studying via distance learning.
Apprenticeships provide the opportunity to learn on the job from experienced colleagues. Many employers will provide funding to support the costs of training during your apprenticeship, so you can benefit from of a zero-cost route to qualification, plus a salary.
Studying law at university can help you to keep your career options open beyond the law. The UCAS section on law highlights the breadth of opportunities open to those thinking about law as a future career.
University route
Think about whether you want to study law as an undergraduate or as a postgraduate.
Undergraduate law degrees are available as LLBs or as BA Law, as stand alone or combined degrees. Consider which might provide the most useful route for you if you choose to study as an undergraduate:
LLB guidance
BA Law guidance
Postgraduate study, if you already have an undergraduate degree or equivalent (in law or non-law subjects), might be a better option for career changers and graduates. Many employers welcome the broader skillsets and commercial awareness brought by graduates from other sectors such as business and finance as well as other subjects that develop commercial awareness and critical thinking. You can keep your options open with a non-law undergraduate degree, then 'convert' your undergraduate degree to law by doing a law conversion course (GDL, PgDL or Masters level conversion), which takes 1 academic year full time.
For those as yet unsure about whether to qualify as a solicitor, a barrister or other lawyer role, a law conversion course will also allow you to keep your career route options open a little longer, whilst giving you a good grounding in the law.
The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) route to qualifying as a solicitor only requires an undergraduate degree in any subject (or equivalent qualification or experience), rather than mandating completion of a law degree/GDL course.
Consider the costs
Whether studying whilst working, or going to university to study, the costs of legal qualifications can be high. For apprentices, your employer will cover the cost of your legal training using funding from the government.
If you are working in a non-apprentice position, your employer may be willing to cover some or all of your training costs. This is often the case if you have been offered a ‘training contract’ at a law firm.
If you are self funding your studies, there are a number of bursaries and scholarships available, as well as funding from government for specific courses. See our Funding your Course section for more details.
Qualifying in a different jurisdiction of the UK
If you wish to qualify as a solicitor in Scotland or Northern Ireland, the qualification route is different. Please refer to the Law Society of Scotland and the Law Society of Northern Ireland. If you wish to qualify as a barrister in Northern Ireland, or as an advocate in Scotland, please refer to the Bar of Northern Ireland and the Faculty of Advocates for further information.
Useful resources
If you are in Year 12, lower sixth or S5 and meet certain eligibility requirements, you might be interested in the Aspiring Professionals programme run by the Social Mobility Foundation to help young people into university and professional life.
Use the link below to find out more about the Aspiring Professionals programme and how to apply.
Whether you are a school or university student, Zero Gravity is a tech platform which offers young people a variety of support, including mentoring, to help you through university applications, job applications and identifying career opportunities.
Use the link below to find out more about becoming a member of Zero Gravity and how it could help you to build your future.
England careers service
Scotland careers service
Wales careers service
Northern Ireland careers service
Career in law FAQs
- How do I gain some legal work experience?
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Gaining initial work experience before you embark on a career in the law is hugely beneficial in helping you decide if the law is for you and to assess potential future employers. It will also help to strengthen your application when you apply for law courses as well as future work opportunities.
- I'm interested in working as a legal aid lawyer as a future career path - is this a viable path?
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Aspiring lawyers who are passionate about access to justice are needed now more than ever. With the right skills, it is still possible to make a career in this area of work.
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A 2020 article on Lawcareers.net looked at the viability of a career as a legal aid lawyer. It argued that whilst the funding situation is 'extremely challenging', it is possible to make a career in this area. A further article in Chambers Student from 2017 focused on legal aid barristers. The Law Society of England and Wales also has a useful section on this topic
Develop your experience in this area by volunteering for or working at:
- University Innocence Projects
- Citizens Advice Bureau
- Relevant charities or NGOs
- Law centres - see Law Centres Network
- LawWorks
- Free Representation Unit
- Young Legal Aid Lawyers jobs and work experience/volunteering opportunities
- Legal Action Group jobs
- Legal Aid Practitioners group jobs
Access financial support schemes:
- Justice First Fellowships (JFF) offer training contracts and pupillages in social welfare law with charities, law centres and legal aid firms
- The Social Welfare Solicitors Qualification Fund (SWSQF) provides financial assistance to aspiring solicitors working in social welfare law for organisations serving disadvantaged communities. The SWSQF funds the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) preparation courses and assessments.
Understand legal aid restrictions:
Access vital peer support and networks:
- Legal Aid Practitioners Group
- Young Legal Aid Lawyers has a mentoring scheme for students and young lawyers, real-life blogs and case studies from practising young legal aid lawyers. It also lists a number of practitioner groups on its website
- What is Qualifying Work Experience and how do I find it so that I can qualify through the SQE route?
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Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) is the term used for the work experience component of the new Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) route to qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales.
In summary:
- QWE is any experience of providing legal services that offers you the opportunity to develop some or all of the competences needed to practise as a solicitor
- QWE can be obtained in England or Wales or overseas
- it can be completed in up to 4 different organisations
- QWE must be 2 years' full time or equivalent
- it can be paid or unpaid
- it does not have to cover a range of areas of the law, or 'tick off' all the competences, but you must be aware that SQE1 and SQE2 will cover a broad range of topics and so you should be prepared for this if your QWE is focused in only one area of the law.
A range of websites and resources are available to help you to find firms offering roles that can be used to gain QWE.
Visit our Qualifying Work Experience section for more detailed information about QWE and how to find it.
- How do I access a Training Contract/Period of Recognised Training (PRT) for the LPC route?
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The two year period of recognised training which must be completed post-LPC is commonly referred to as the 'training contract'. Individuals are given supervised experience in legal practice in order to refine professional skills essential to practicing as a solicitor, including: advocacy, client care, drafting, commercial and financial awareness, and experience in specific areas of practice.
There are two sets of regulations related to periods of recognised training, depending on when trainees started their training, which are covered on the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) website.
Find out where to apply for a Period of Recognised Training (Training Contract)
A range of websites and resources are available to help you to find firms offering training contracts.
LawCareers.net law careers guide contains information about firms that take trainees, organised by geographical region, in addition to summary guides on those firms.
To apply for positions with certain legal firms, you may find the following links useful:
- Lawcareers.net training contract locator and training contract deadlines
- The Lawyer Portal training contract guide and training contract deadlines
- The government legal services sector
- The Crown Prosecution Service trainee scheme
- specialist legal websites/publications such as The Lawyer, the Law Gazette
- Justice First Fellowships (JFF) offer training contracts in social welfare law with charities, law centres and legal aid firms
Some firms will have summer deadlines, whereas others will recruit throughout the year. Use firms' specific recruitment webpages to check specific deadlines and requirements.
Many firms currently recruit applicants to training contract roles up to two years in advance of joining a firm.
If you find that it is not possible to obtain a training contract after completing your LPC, the SRA has confirmed you may still qualify as a solicitor by obtaining 2 years' full time or equivalent Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) and passing the SQE 2 assessment.
Please also refer to our question on What is Qualifying Work Experience and how do I get it for the SQE route? FAQ for additional routes to consider if a traditional training contract is not viable or obtainable after completing the GDL/LPC courses.