Career timetable: solicitors
will go through the post-training job offer process hopefully to be offered a newly qualified role in your preferred department. Approximately 12 weeks before your training contract is due to end, the SRA will send you the necessary forms so that you can apply to be formally admitted to the roll of solicitors. Provided that all necessary training conditions have been satisfied, you will be admitted to the roll. SQE2 exams The SQE2 exams can be sat at any time after you complete the SQE1 assessments, but in many cases they are likely to be sat during or at the end of your two-year period of QWE. Once you have passed SQE2, completed the QWE requirement and been admitted to the roll by the SRA, congratulations – you are a solicitor!
contract, because of the high cost of the course and the intense competition for legal roles. If you have yet to find a training contract, keep making further applications throughout your LPC year until you get one. Attend as many law fairs as possible and check vacancies in the LCN Jobs section (www. lawcareers.net/Jobs) and the Law Gazette . Meanwhile, SQE preparation courses vary hugely in terms of length, intensity and price. Find comprehensive information and guidance on the full range of SQE courses on www.lawcareers.net/Courses/Solicitors- Qualifying-Exam. SQE1 exams Find out what the SQE assessments involve on p88. Training contract/period of recognised training The traditional training contract – or ‘period of recognised training’ – is a two- year employment contract with a law firm or other approved organisation. Firms have a lot of freedom to design their own training programmes, but most training contracts follow a similar format. All trainee solicitors are required to meet the SRA’s competence statement. Year one Ensure that your training contract has been registered with the SRA (your firm will usually do this for you). Most firms operate a series of departmental rotations (usually four seats in separate departments, each lasting six months). On-the-job training is provided throughout and is supplemented by courses and lectures during the two-year training period. If you’ve so far only completed Stage One of your LPC, you’ll need to complete Stage Two during your training contract.
Year two Around the middle of your second year you
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