Becoming a solicitor
placements. There’s more information on both routes in the next chapter, as well as in ‘Postgraduate training’ on page 86. Training contract The traditional training contract – or ‘period of recognised training’ – is a two-year period of paid training with a law firm or other approved organisation. The two years provide an opportunity for trainees to put into practice all the knowledge and skills they’ve acquired so far, with the firm assessing the trainee’s suitability for retention on completion of the training period. Trainees eligible to qualify via the LPC route may also study elective LPC modules if they choose to begin the training contract on completion of the initial core LPC modules. The two-year training contract can count towards your two-years’ QWE. Law firms and other employers have a lot of flexibility over the content of their training contracts, but most are still generally based on the following format. Structure The training contract format varies between firms. Most (although not all) firms operate a ‘seat’ system, in which trainees spend six months in four different departments. This gives trainees exposure to different practice areas so they can make an informed choice about where they specialise once they qualify. As far as possible, firms will try to accommodate trainees’ seat preferences, although they must consider the overall needs of the firm as well as those of the other trainees. The SRA has guidelines that must also be followed. In some firms, trainees may have the opportunity to spend a seat in an overseas office or on secondment to a client. Training contracts may be less structured in smaller and high-street firms than those in the larger commercial firms – an approach that might appeal to those who fear a ‘conveyor belt’ training mentality in the City firms. As
Solicitors provide legal advice and representation. They work directly with their clients and are usually the first point of contact for anyone seeking legal advice. In general practice, solicitors may be called on to advise on issues ranging from crime, personal injury, contracts and wills to buying houses and taking over a business. Increasingly, solicitors and firms specialise in certain areas of law. A run-down of various specialisations can be found in ‘Solicitors’ Practice Area Profiles’ on page 121. One important thing to note: the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) was introduced in September 2021. It’s a new assessment that all aspiring solicitors must pass in order to qualify. The SQE is a series of exams, which are divided into two stages (SQE1 and SQE2). There are a range of new preparation courses designed by universities and law schools to prepare students for the SQE, which will replace the Legal Practice Course (LPC). The course fees for the SQE preparation courses vary based on the training provider and the course content. For anyone who commences a law degree, Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) or LPC before September 2021 transitional arrangements will be in place until 31 December 2032. To learn more about the SQE, read the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) chapter on page 105 or visit the SQE hub on LawCareers.Net. For those who can still take the LPC, your route to become a solicitor is to complete a law degree, followed by the LPC and then a training contract. If you’re a non-law graduate, you’ll need to take a law conversion course (like the GDL) then the LPC and a training contract. For those taking the SQE, your route is a little more flexible and will involve some kind of SQE preparation course as well as building up your two years’ qualifying work experience (QWE), either in one firm or in up to four
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