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113 Chancery Lane

LondonWC2A 1PL

www.lawsociety.org.uk

2008 The Law Society

careers

Becoming a solicitorStart planning your future today

information

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Getting started

Who becomes a solicitor?

What solicitors do

A wide range of career options

Routes to becoming a solicitor

Law graduate route

Non-law graduate route

The ILEX routes

Checklists

Law graduate Non-law graduate

Application / selection - top tips

Covering letters

CVs

Applications

Interviews

Alternative options

Useful contacts

The role of the Law Society

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contents

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About the Junior Lawyers Division

The Junior Lawyers Division is an exclusive new membership group for enrolled students,

trainees and solicitors with up to five years active practice. It has a potential membership

of over 70,000.

The Division is the voice of junior lawyers across the country and in every type of practice.

Membership is free as long as you are enrolled with the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Membership benefitsThe Junior Lawyers Division is part of the Law Society, so members benefit from the

Societys resources and profile. But in its representative role the Division is autonomous.

The Division offers a full package of benefits including:

national and regional networking events

an interactive website

careers advice - domestic and international

local JLD groups

legal research advice national and regional skills events

mentoring opportunities for students

links with other international bar organisations

a confidential freephone helpline (08000 856 131)

discounts from leading businesses

competitively-priced CPD training

the opportunity to influence the future of the profession by getting

involved in the Division.

Campaigning for junior lawyersThe Junior Lawyers Division will campaign on the issues that affect students, trainees and

new solicitors - for example, minimum salary for trainees, debt and quality of life.

Find out more at www.lawsociety.org.uk/juniorlawyers

junior lawyers

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Becoming a solicitor Start planning your future today

Legal Practice Course

1 year full-time2 years part-time

QUALIFYING LAWDEGREE

3 years full-time

5 years part-time

NON QUALIFYING

LAW DEGREE3 years full-time

5 years part-time

ILEX ROUTESRequire 4 GCSEs

(including EnglishLanguage) or equivalent.

Students without formal

qualifications may be

considered on the basis

of experience.

OVERSEAS LAWYERS /QUALIFIED BARRISTERS(QLTT)

Training Contract

2 years full-timeup to 4 years part-time

Professional Skills

Course(undertaken duringtraining contract)

Qualified solicitor

Common ProfessionalExamination / Graduate

Diploma in Law1 year full-time

2 years part-time

Legal Practice Course1 year full-time

2 years part-time

Training Contract2 years full-time

up to 4 years part-time

Professional SkillsCourse

(undertaken duringtraining contract)

Membership RouteILEX ProfessionalDiploma level 3

followed byILEX Professional HighDiploma in Law level 6

Membership of ILEX Common Pr ofessionalExamination / Graduate

Diploma in Law(exemptions may be

available)

Legal Practice Course1 year full-time

2 years part-time

Fellowship RouteILEX ProfessionalDiploma level 3

followed byILEX Professional HighDiploma in Law level 6

Fellowship of ILEXQualifying

employmentundertaken

Common ProfessionalExamination / Graduate

Diploma in Law(exemptions may be

available)

Legal Practice Course1 year full-time

2 years part-time

Qualified solicitor

Training Contract andProfessional Skills

Course2 years full-time

up to 4 years part-time

Professional SkillsCourse

Qualified solicitor

Qualified solicitor

Certificate of Eligibility(issued by the Solicitors

Regulation Authority

Qualified LawyersTransfer Test (QLTT)

Qualified solicitorEngland & Wales

Practice-based training (Training Contract) ILEX Membership routeSee page 9

Professional Skills Course (PSC) See page 9

Admission to the roll

ILEX Fellows are exempt from the training contract as they qualify by passing exams

administered by ILEX whilst working under the supervision of a solicitor. Once you have

successfully completed the required training you can apply to the roll of solicitors in England

and Wales, which entitles you to practise as a solicitor.

Routes to becoming a solicitorNO A LEVELS OR EQUIVALENT

ILEX route (see below)

Access / Introductory Programme - 1 year full-time (Access Certificate qualifies you

for university entry)

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Becoming a solicitor Start planning your future today

Useful contactsCourses

For entrance requirements for admission to full-time undergraduate law degree courses at

universities of higher education you should apply to:

The Universities and Colleges Admission Services (UCAS)

PO Box 28

Cheltenham

Gloucestershire

GL50 3SA

Telephone 0870 112 2211

www.ucas.ac.uk

Applications for full-time places on the Legal Practice Course and Common Professional

Examination / Graduate Diploma in Law course are administered by the Central Application

Board.

To apply for a full-time place on the Legal Practice Course telephone 01483 301 282. For a

full-time place on the Common Professional Examination / Graduate Diploma in Law Course,

telephone 01483 451 080.

For details on LPC,CPE and GDL courses, write to:

The Central Applications Board

PO Box 84

GuildfordSurrey

GU3 1YX

www.lawcabs.ac.uk

The Institute of Legal Executives

If you are interested in following the legal executive routes, contact:

The Institute of Legal Executives

Kempston Manor

Kempston

Bedfordshire

MK42 7AB

Telephone 01234 841 000

www.ilex.org.uk

Institute of Paralegals2nd Floor, Berkeley Square House

Berkeley Square

Mayfair

London W1J 6BD

Tel: 0870 243 2308

www.instituteofparalegals.org/

The Bar CouncilFor more information on a career as a barrister, contact:

Education and Training Department

General Council of the Bar

289 High Holborn

London

WC1V 7HZ

Telephone 020 7242 0082

www.barcouncil.org.uk and www.legaleducation.org.uk

Careers Service

Your careers adviser at your teaching institution will have a

wide range of reading material

Local authorities / commerce and industry

If you wish to train within commerce, industry or a local

authority, you should contact relevant organisations

direct.

Law Society Gazette

The Gazette jobs provides access to the latest legal jobs

www.lawgazettejobs.co.uk

The Magistrates Association

For more information on a career in the

Magistrates Court Service, contact:

The Magistrates Association

28 Fitzroy Square

London

W1T 6DD

Telephone 020 7387 2353

www.magistrates-association.org.uk

Crown Prosecution Service

For training details, contact:

The Staff Management Unit

Crown Prosecution Service

50 Ludgate Hill

London EC4M 7GG

www.cps.gov.uk

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GovernmentFor details, about a career as a solicitor in government contact:

The Recruitment Team

Chancery House

53-64 Chancery Lane

London

WC2A 1QS

Telephone 020 7649 6023

www.gls.gov.uk

The Law Society

For information on how the Law Society can provide support throughout your career

www.lawsociety.org.uk

Junior Lawyers Division of the Law Society

Support, advice and networking opportunities for students, trainees and newly qualified

solicitors

www.lawsociety.org.uk/juniorlawyers

Solicitors Regulation Authority

For additional information on qualification requirements and a list of firms authorised totake trainee solicitors

Telephone 0870 606 2555

www.sra.org.uk

The role of the Law SocietyAs the representative body for solicitors in England and Wales, the Law Society is here to

support you at every stage of your training, qualifying and throughout your career as a

solicitor.

The Law Society is committed to attracting the most able candidates into the legal

profession and to promoting equality at all stages. Solicitors are drawn

from all walks of life and around 6,000 qualify each year in England and

Wales.

A career as a solicitor is open to anyone and the Law Society is actively

promoting diversity in entrants to the profession. In recent

years more women than men have been qualifying assolicitors and at least 18 per cent of people qualifying have

been from minority ethnic groups.

Equality in the profession

The Law Society has developed two important schemes

to aid diversity in the profession.

Diversity Access Scheme

This scheme provides support to talented people who

face particular obstacles to qualifying as a solicitor.

These might relate to social, educational, financial or

family circumstances or a disability. The scheme hastwo elements - sponsorship to cover fees for the

Common Professional Examination, the Graduate

Diploma in Law or the Legal Practice Course - and a

mentoring scheme which puts individuals in touch with

a solicitor who can advise and support them.

Bursary Scheme

The Bursary Scheme is funded by a number of trusts and

scholarships. Awards are given exclusively to students

who have secured a place on the Common Professional

Examination, the Graduate Diploma in Law or the Legal

Practice Course. To be eligible to apply for an award,you must be able to demonstrate that your financial

position would make it difficult for you to further your

legal studies.