If you’re interested in a potential future career as a lawyer, but don’t know where to start, The Beginner’s Guide to a Career in Law is for you.
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THE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO A CAREER IN
2027
Welcome
If you decide that a career as a lawyer is for you, there are a few things you should be doing before you even start university. Here’s a brief checklist to get you started. Your ‘first steps’ checklist:
If you’re interested in a potential future career as a lawyer, but don’t know where to start, The Beginner’s Guide to a Career in Law is for you. In this guide, you’ll find information about what a job in law involves, the differences between the three main types of lawyer (solicitors, barristers and CILEX Lawyers), and the courses, training and assessments you must complete to qualify. There are also some key questions to consider and information about the next steps for those who want to find out more. The Beginner’s Guide is brought to you by LawCareers.Net (LCN), the number one resource for those interested in joining the legal profession. On our website, you’ll find information on employers; interviews with law firm recruiters, trainees, associates, barristers and partners; podcasts, videos and blogs from people at different stages of their legal careers; and a searchable database of law courses (undergraduate and postgraduate), training contract, vacation scheme and pupillage vacancies.
Talk to your careers adviser at school to go through your options.
Research the different paths into law – university, CILEX, paralegal, apprenticeship (read The Law Apprenticeships Guide for more information) – and decide which path is right for you. Get some practical work experience at a law firm, barristers’ chambers or legal advice centre; it’ll help you to decide what suits you and will improve any applications you make.
Work hard at your academic studies. While firms have a range of criteria, good grades remain important.
Check out our Meet the Lawyer profiles for firsthand accounts of day-to- day life at different firms and chambers.
Sign up to LCN Weekly on LawCareers.Net. Our free weekly newsletter delivers news and information about the profession, plus advice and calendar reminders, straight to your inbox. Read the business pages of newspapers and visit LawCareers.Net’s Commercial awareness hub to improve your commercial awareness and get you starting to ‘think business’.
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What lawyers do Lawyers perform an important role, as law covers every aspect of society – from the age you can take your driving test to the speed you can drive once you pass; from the minimum wage you can earn in a job to the quality of the water you drink.
Barristers Barristers represent clients in court and advise on specialist legal issues. They receive cases through solicitors and are self-employed. When not in court, they work in chambers (ie, offices shared by groups of barristers) where they prepare arguments and advice. Again, barristers work in many different areas of law. Key elements of the job include: • advising clients on the law and the strength of their case; • writing advice letters and legal opinions for clients; • representing clients in court, including presenting the case and cross-examining witnesses; and • negotiating settlements (when a legal dispute is resolved privately outside of court). Once qualified, a barrister is known formally as a ‘junior’. They remain a junior until they’re made a King’s Counsel (KC) – this is also known as ‘taking silk’. A KC is a senior barrister with extensive experience who’s seen as having outstanding ability. Only a small proportion of barristers become KCs.
Areas of law There are hundreds of different types of law. At the simplest level, you can divide lawyers between those doing commercial work (ie, work for companies) and those involved with individual people. You could be a banking lawyer checking over a major loan by a bank to a corporation or a personal injury lawyer advising someone who was injured at work. Day-to-day working life varies hugely between practice areas – an environment lawyer’s job will differ greatly from an intellectual property (IP) solicitor. See the ‘Practice area snapshot’ below for more detail.
legal advice and representation. Most solicitors work together in law firms, while others work in central or local government, in companies’ legal departments (in-house) or in alternative business structures – a type of business that provides the same services as a law firm, but is controlled by non-lawyers (eg, the Co-operative Group). Solicitors’ jobs differ depending on the area of law they work in (eg, crime or family) and whether their work is advisory (eg, helping one company buy another) or involves legal disputes (eg, one company suing another). All solicitors’ jobs involve some or all of the following: • meeting clients, finding out their needs and establishing how to help; • researching relevant areas of law and advising clients of their options; • drafting letters, contracts and other legal documents; and • acting on behalf of clients in negotiations and representing them at tribunals or in court. Being a solicitor is a demanding but rewarding job. Many solicitors in law firms work their way up from trainee to associate to partner. That said, making partner isn’t the goal for all solicitors.
Traditionally, the legal profession is divided into two main branches: solicitors and barristers. However, these aren’t the only types of legal professional. There are CILEX Lawyers, paralegals, apprentices and more. Find out about alternative routes to qualifying in ‘Apprenticeships’ on page 6 and ‘Paralegals’ on page 7, and in the companion to this booklet, The Law Apprenticeships Guide , which is available free at schools and online at www.lawcareers.net. For now, here’s an introduction to what solicitors and barristers do. Solicitors Solicitors provide advice and guide clients through legal issues. They’re the first point of contact for people and organisations seeking
Further reading Solicitors www.lawcareers.net/solicitors Barristers www.lawcareers.net/barristers
CILEX Lawyers and paralegals also work in law firms, alongside other legal professionals such as licensed conveyancers and probate practitioners . Find out more about paralegals, CILEX Lawyers, other specialist legal roles and apprenticeships later in this guide.
Practice area snapshot Below is just a small selection of the vast array of practice areas out there:
Mergers and acquisitions
Dispute resolution
Human rights
Intellectual property
Commercial real estate
Employment
Sport
Environment
This practice area is incredibly wide-ranging and includes immigration and asylum cases, privacy cases affecting celebrities and international law issues. Clients may range from low-income refugees and prisoners through to large news organisations and government departments.
Employment solicitors can work on disputes that end up in employment tribunals or in the High Court, helping to draft employment contracts, advising on working hours, handling discrimination, staff restructuring and whistleblowing issues. Your client could be the employer or employee. As a barrister, you’ll appear on behalf of your client in either a tribunal or court, often in different parts of the country.
Mergers and acquisitions involve companies combining, being bought or selling parts of their business. Lawyers advise clients throughout these transactions, working closely with specialists in areas like tax and employment. The role centres on managing complex deals and ensuring everything runs smoothly and complies with regulation.
Sports lawyers can work in both amateur and professional sport, and across a wide spectrum of sports. Sports lawyers may advise on employment contracts and team transfers, and can develop expertise in a variety of areas. Clients could include
Dispute resolution focuses on helping individuals and organisations to resolve disagreements, often arising from contracts or commercial relationships. Lawyers may guide clients through court proceedings, arbitration or settlement discussions, depending on the nature of the dispute.
This involves protecting intellectual ideas (eg, new inventions, brands and music) from
Commercial real estate lawyers advise on the buying, selling and leasing of property, as well as development and investment projects. The work often overlaps with planning, construction and finance, and involves clients such as developers, investors and public bodies.
Environment law offers the opportunity for individuals to be involved in a range of matters, such as health and safety, contaminated land and renewable energy. Biodiversity loss, climate change and the ever-present net-zero pressures make this area of law a fascinating and dynamic one.
exploitation, usually through copyright,
trademarks and patents. The work of IP lawyers includes commercial exploitation cases, infringement disputes and agreements covering IP rights, either exclusively or as part of larger commercial deals.
governing bodies, leagues or players.
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Branches of the profession
CILEX Lawyers
Solicitors As of April 2026, there were 176,440 practising solicitors.
Barristers
As of 1 December 2025, there were 19,093 practising barristers. Of those, 602 were pupils and 2,137 were KCs. Just over 19% of barristers attended an independent/fee- paying school in the UK. As of December 2025, people from ethnic minority backgrounds made up 17.7% of all practising barristers. Mostly self-employed, so receive irregular (but often substantial) fees.
There are approximately 17,000 CILEX members.
Becoming a solicitor usually takes around six years if studying full time, while becoming a barrister takes around five years – these routes will take slightly longer if you study a non-law degree, followed by a law conversion or non-law-focused Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) preparation course. Deciding which career path would suit you best could be a challenge – factors to bear in mind include your school grades, key interests and career aspirations. Over the page is a brief guide with some key facts that may help you to decide which branch is best suited to you, including the number of practising lawyers and an overview of some of the profession’s diversity stats and salaries.
One of the key questions to ask yourself is what type of lawyer you want to be. For many, that’ll mean deciding between becoming a solicitor (private practice or in-house) or a barrister. For others, the option to ‘earn while you learn’ as a CILEX Lawyer will appeal. Simply put, a barrister appears in court, while a solicitor/CILEX Lawyer works in a law firm. All three are ‘lawyers’. However, there are key differences. The stereotype is that barristers are individualists, while solicitors/CILEX Lawyers are team players. While it’s true that a barrister is almost always self-employed and a solicitor/CILEX Lawyer may work in a law firm or business of thousands of people, the reality is more complicated. Barristers often work with each other and with solicitors, and some solicitors/CILEX Lawyers spend many hours on their own drafting documents.
More than 60% of solicitors attended a state school, while 20% attended independent/ fee-paying schools.
CILEX reports that 66.2% of its members attended a non- selective state school, while 5.3% attended an independent/ fee-paying school. People from ethnic minority backgrounds make up around 16% of all CILEX members.
People from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds make up 20% of all solicitors, and 19% at partner level. Mostly employed in private law firms or in-house, so receive a regular monthly salary.
Mostly employed in private law firms or in-house, so receive a regular monthly salary.
Work mainly with individuals, companies and barristers.
Work mainly with solicitors and other barristers.
Work mainly with solicitors and individuals.
Office-based, although have some rights of audience (ie, can appear in court like barristers). Engage more in ongoing advisory and one-to- one client work.
Chambers and court based. Engage more in one-off advocacy (ie, court cases).
Office based, although have some of the same rights of audience as solicitors. Engage more in ongoing advisory and one-to-one client work.
For more information on diversity in the legal profession, visit LawCareers.Net’s Diversity in law hub.
Some solicitors aspire to become partner – that is,
Some barristers aspire to become KC – a top barrister, normally instructed in serious and complex cases.
Should they choose to do so, they can go on to become coroners, judges or partners.
CILEX
part ownership of a firm and entitlement to a percentage of its profits. In the UK, first-year trainee salaries start from around £30,000, while City firms can sometimes pay considerably more – anywhere from £60,000 upwards.
Qualification, which takes account of your previous education.
CILEX offers flexible entry and exit points tailored to your previous education and your career goals. School leavers and those with no previous legal education will start on the CILEX Professional Qualification (CPQ) Foundation stage, to progress to CILEX Paralegal or CILEX Lawyer, depending on your career goals. The CPQ has three levels and you can stop or pause your learning at any time, allowing you to gain recognition for your achievements throughout your journey.
Alternatively, those opting for the apprenticeship route without previous legal experience would start with the paralegal apprenticeship and then progress onto the chartered legal executive apprenticeship to become a CILEX Lawyer. CILEX has also introduced a new experience- based route to CILEX Chartered Paralegal status, recognising experienced paralegals with no formal qualifications and bringing regulation, standards and professional recognition to this fast-growing career path.
In 2026, all pupil barristers must be paid a minimum of £23,504 (outside London) or £25,863 (in London). Many earn much more – upwards of £50,000 in some cases.
The average salary for a CILEX student is around £32,000, increasing to more than £58,000 for CILEX Lawyers, although this can be significantly higher if you progress to become a partner or senior legal professional.
Law graduates take a fast-track route to CILEX Lawyer with the CILEX Graduate
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Apprenticeships
Paralegals
Paralegals work in law firms but aren’t qualified as solicitors or CILEX Lawyers. Although paralegals used to be seen as support staff, the role of a paralegal has moved beyond just assisting solicitors. Paralegals are a distinct group of legal professionals, although this kind of role is often used as a steppingstone to becoming a solicitor or CILEX Lawyer. Some paralegal roles are similar to those of solicitors. As such, a paralegal can build up two years’ qualifying work experience (QWE) and qualify via the SQE using their paralegal experience. For the paralegal work to count as QWE, it needs to help you to build the skills and understanding that solicitors require in real legal practice; or some or all of the competencies set out by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in its statement of solicitor competence. Find out more about the SQE and the different routes to becoming a lawyer on page 8.
Another common reason many graduates work as paralegals is because it’s a great way to gain the crucial legal work experience needed to secure a training contract. Some paralegals get the experience and then apply for a training contract at the same firm, while others move on from firms where this isn’t an option and apply successfully elsewhere. However, a note of caution: paralegals perform many of the same tasks as solicitors but are generally not paid as much and there isn’t the same clear career progression that solicitors can pursue. Stay mindful of your prospects if this is something that’s important to you. Further reading The ‘Paralegal’ section on www.lawcareers.net – find it in the hover menu under the ‘Solicitors’ tab .
You don’t have to go to university for a career in the legal profession. A legal apprenticeship enables you to gain qualifications while in paid work, through on-the-job training at a law firm or other employer. Legal apprentices can become solicitors, CILEX Lawyers or paralegals (there are other specialist roles available too) without the tuition fees and accommodation costs associated with university. Some apprenticeships take 18 months to complete, but the more advanced levels provide training across five or six years – around the same time it’d take to qualify via the university route. You’ll start paying a student loan back when you’re earning at least £25,000 (depending on when you started university). So, although high fees are a factor to consider, they shouldn’t necessarily put you off university. That said, university isn’t for everyone and a legal apprenticeship is a genuine, and free, alternative. This section is a basic introduction to legal apprenticeships. To learn more, read The Law Apprenticeships Guide for everything you need to know about the different legal apprenticeships on offer. Pick up a free copy from your school or read it online at LawCareers.Net. Am I eligible? In most cases, to become a legal apprentice, you must be 16 or over, not in full-time education and a UK citizen/someone who has right of residency in the UK. Most legal apprenticeships require five GCSEs (or equivalent) graded 9 to 4, including maths and English. The paralegal apprenticeship requires at least two A levels, while the solicitor apprenticeship requires three A levels, with grade requirements varying between employers from CCC to AAB. The graduate solicitor apprenticeship is aimed at candidates with a qualifying law degree (or equivalent) and non-law graduates who’ve completed a law conversion course. Earn and learn The minimum wage for apprentices under the age of 19 is £8 an hour (as of April 2026), as well as for people aged over 19 in their first year of an
apprenticeship. All apprentices who’ve completed the first year of their apprenticeship and are over the age of 19 are paid at least the National Minimum Wage for their age group. For those considering alternatives to university, there are four levels of legal apprenticeship available.
Legal administration or business administration apprenticeship
These apprenticeships are aimed at school leavers who don’t have A levels. Apprentices develop the skills to manage legal cases on an administrative level. CILEX Law School offers a business administration apprenticeship – a well-suited pathway for school leavers seeking a career in law. Paralegal apprenticeship The paralegal apprenticeship trains apprentices in the skills needed to work in a certain area of law (eg, personal injury). Paralegals support solicitors on legal matters and do many of the same tasks.
The Law Apprenticeships Guide
Find out more about paralegals on the next page.
Chartered legal executive apprenticeship You’ll complete the CPQ as part of this apprenticeship, achieving CILEX Lawyer status. As a CILEX Lawyer, you’ll have full practice rights in your chosen specialism and complete equivalent work to that of a solicitor. Candidates usually complete previous qualifications, such as the paralegal apprenticeship, before starting the chartered legal executive apprenticeship. Solicitor apprenticeship This apprenticeship is a six-year programme that integrates studying for a law degree with on-the- job training at a law firm or other organisation (eg, in-house), ending in qualification as a solicitor via the SQE. Graduate solicitor apprenticeship Other ways of qualifying as a lawyer via apprenticeships include the graduate solicitor apprenticeship (open to university graduates). Those qualifying this way will also complete the SQE as part of their apprenticeship. It works in much the same way as a traditional training contract.
Other types of legal professional
Roles such as licensed conveyancer (focusing on property transactions) or probate practitioner (dealing with wills and estates) offer opportunities to develop expertise in a defined area, often through experience and additional training. Similarly, legal assistants support lawyers with tasks such as document preparation, scheduling client meetings and case management, providing an entry point into the legal profession while building practical knowledge across different areas of law. Sometimes firms will use the terms ‘paralegal’ and ‘legal assistant’ interchangeably; however, there are often clear differences in responsibilities.
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The following describes the various stages along the path to formal legal qualifications:
Career paths
SQE preparation courses There are a range of SQE preparation courses for law and non-law graduates, including those designed for students who want to gain a master’s qualification. The courses differ in length, price and content. Pupillage Pupillage is a compulsory, year- long period of on-the-job training before qualification as a barrister. QWE QWE is a period of training that you must complete before you can qualify as a solicitor. It can be completed in up to four separate placements (eg, paralegal work or volunteering at a law clinic), taking place before, during and/or after SQE study. That said, many law firms prefer to train their future lawyers themselves via a formal training contract, meaning they’d want you to complete the two-year training period with them. Barrister
Paralegals Paralegals have traditionally worked as support staff but, in practice, many experienced paralegals do the same work as solicitors. Paralegal roles provide a good route into the profession for students and graduates, either as valuable work experience before applying for a training contract or a way to gain QWE as part of the SQE. Paralegal apprenticeships A paralegal apprentice starts their career straight from school. You receive paid on-the-job training in legal and commercial skills, and professional conduct. Solicitor apprenticeship The solicitor apprenticeship is a six-year programme of paid training, integrating a law degree, which ends in qualification as a solicitor. The entry requirements are usually five GCSEs graded 9 to 4 and three A levels (grade requirements vary), or equivalent work experience. You must pass the SQE to qualify. Graduate solicitor apprenticeship The graduate solicitor apprenticeship is open to candidates with a qualifying law degree (or equivalent qualification) and non-law graduates who’ve completed a conversion course. It can take between two to three years to complete. It works in a similar way to the traditional training contract and involves on-the- job training and preparation for the SQE assessments. For more on the different types of apprenticeship, see page 6 and read The Law Apprenticeships Guide .
GCSEs The foundation of your career and essential first step. A levels Universities and employers will likely look at your A-level grades. You don’t need to study A-level law to become a lawyer. Non-law degree You don’t have to study law at university to become a lawyer. A non-law degree can be followed by a law conversion course, or non-law specific SQE preparation course, before embarking on a Bar course or the SQE assessments. Law degree The qualifying law degree covers the seven foundations of legal knowledge: criminal, contract, land, equity and trusts, EU, public and tort law. Law conversion A law conversion course packs the key learnings of a law degree into one year (if studying full time). Bar course The mandatory stage of training to become a barrister that follows your law degree or law conversion course. There are a range of options at different law schools, serving different learning styles and budgets. SQE You’ll need: a university degree or equivalent in any subject (law or non-law); to pass the SQE1 and SQE2 exams; pass the SRA’s character and suitability assessment; and have completed two years’ QWE.
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GCSEs
A levels (or equivalent)
Non-law degree
Law degree
Paralegal apprenticeship
Law conversion
Barristers offer advice on specific legal issues and represent clients in court. Solicitor Solicitors give advice and
SQE prep and assessments
Various CILEX routes
Bar course
assistance on matters of law; they’re the first point of contact for those seeking legal advice and representation. Solicitors can also work in-house at various organisations. CILEX Lawyer A CILEX Lawyer is a qualified lawyer (although not a solicitor) who’s trained to specialise as an expert in a particular area of law. The CPQ provides three outcomes: CILEX Paralegal, CILEX Advanced Paralegal and CILEX Lawyer.
Solicitor apprenticeship (incl. SQE)
Pupillage
Graduate apprenticeship (incl. SQE)
QWE (eg, training contract)
Solicitor
Barrister
Paralegal
CILEX Lawyer
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Key questions
Should I go to university or try an alternative route, such as an apprenticeship? Some lawyers begin their careers immediately after leaving school
Do law firms/chambers prefer candidates to have a law degree? Most firms and chambers are looking to recruit a balance of law and non-law graduates – in fact, roughly half of solicitors are from non-law backgrounds. Studying another subject at university may also help to make you a more well- rounded individual. So, if you want to study English literature but think you might want a career as a lawyer, you can complete a law conversion afterwards. The postgraduate conversion course squeezes the essential elements of a qualifying law degree into one year. While a law conversion isn’t a requirement for non- law graduates qualifying via the SQE, it’s recommended and most law firms require their non-law trainees to take one prior to starting their SQE preparation and training contract with the firm. There are also several non-law specific SQE preparation courses available, as well as conversion courses that incorporate elements of SQE preparation. You can then complete further preparation before sitting SQE1 and SQE2. For aspiring barristers, after taking the law conversion, you’ll join the law graduates on the Bar course, followed by a pupillage in a set of chambers. But note: traditional academic subjects (eg, history or sciences) are favoured. How important are grades at A level and university? Law is an intellectually rigorous career, which is why some firms and chambers require excellent academics. It’s therefore important that you get the best grades you possibly can. Many firms have also adopted contextual recruitment systems like upReach’s REALrating, which look beyond grades to contextualise academic performance, highlighting candidates they may otherwise miss.
by taking the apprenticeship route. This enables aspiring lawyers to learn ‘on the job’ in a paid role, with allocated study time. Solicitor apprenticeships also allow those with A levels to qualify as a solicitor without going to university, while there are other kinds of apprenticeships for candidates at different stages, including paralegal, chartered legal executive and conveyancing apprenticeships. See the ‘Apprenticeships’ section on page 6 for more detail and The Law Apprenticeships Guide .
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about a career in the law.
What’s commercial awareness?
Why should I choose law over other professions? Don’t pursue a legal career for the sake of it or because you’ve
Law firms want their lawyers to be ‘commercially aware’,
but what does this mean? In essence, lawyers deal with more than just the law. They must understand their clients’ business/personal circumstances and the market/environment in which they operate. Commercially aware lawyers are proactive in spotting and suggesting solutions to potential problems for the client. As a student, you’re not expected to be an expert. Law firms are looking for a combination of basic knowledge, common sense and enthusiasm for commercial matters, and (most importantly) the ability to ‘think business’.
heard that it pays well; you must have a passion to be a lawyer to succeed. Do you find law interesting? Has a particular area of law caught your attention? Are you the kind of person who’d thrive in a legal environment? The best way to find out is by doing some work experience.
How do I go about getting legal work experience? As above, vacation schemes are a great way to learn more about the
profession. You can see a comprehensive list of opportunities on LawCareers.Net’s Vacation scheme deadlines page. That said, you’re not restricted to these structured programmes – you could get some experience shadowing a trainee or lawyer simply by writing speculatively to local firms/chambers. You could also get involved with university pro bono schemes or legal advice centres, such as the Citizens Advice Bureau. These experiences provide a valuable introduction to the types of work and client relationships that lawyers are involved with. Plus, if the experience meets the QWE requirements, it could count towards the two years’ experience needed to qualify as a solicitor.
What skills and strengths do you need to be a good lawyer? Several core skills are needed to
be a good lawyer – many of them you can hone through your academic studies and work experience. The strengths that legal recruiters look for include: • intellectual ability;
How’s AI changing the work lawyers do? AI is increasingly used by law firms and chambers to support legal
• motivation; • resilience; • accuracy/attention to detail;
work, particularly to make the process of completing repetitive tasks more efficient. This frees lawyers up to focus on higher value work. Law firms aren’t replacing lawyers with AI – strong legal thinking, accuracy and ethical decision making remain essential. It’s becoming increasingly important for aspiring lawyers to show an understanding of AI, and an awareness of its limitations and risks.
• teamwork; • leadership; • problem solving; • commercial awareness; and • communication skills. If you have the majority of these, law could be a good choice!
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Why are vacation schemes so important? Getting work experience at law firms is often an essential aspect
What do I need to know about the postgraduate law courses? In brief, before you start pupillage
Is the role of lawyers essentially the same in all law firms and chambers? No. Take solicitors’ firms – the work
Have all lawyers been to private school and Oxford or Cambridge? No. Most firms and chambers fully understand the benefits of a representative workforce, which means recruiting the best candidates regardless of background. These days, most go further by establishing their own diversity policies to ensure they provide a welcoming and supportive environment for people whatever their gender, ethnicity, sexuality, age, disability and socioeconomic background, for example. Check out LawCareers.Net’s Diversity in law hub to find out about the initiatives in place. That said, different firms and chambers have different personalities, so it’s important to find one that suits you – a compelling reason to attend law fairs, open days and get work experience.
of securing a training contract. Vacation schemes (usually run during university holidays) provide a chance for you to find out about not only the law, but also individual firms. Many firms rely on vacation schemes to identify which candidates they want to take on as trainees, so getting on a scheme is a great chance to impress and secure a training contract. Interested in a career at the Bar? Securing a mini- pupillage is an excellent way to find out what life as a barrister looks like.
(to become a barrister), you must complete the compulsory vocational stage (ie, a Bar course and the exams). Bar courses are usually one-year courses, but can be done over two years, part time or by distance learning (depending on the provider). Meanwhile, while the SRA doesn’t stipulate when aspiring solicitors should complete the QWE element of the SQE, aspiring solicitors who’ve been accepted onto a law firm’s training programme will follow the firm’s training structure. This could involve completing the SQE assessments prior to commencing the on-the-job training.
and lifestyle that you’d experience in a large City firm and a small high-street practice are completely different. These differences are also apparent when looking at solicitors working in private practice versus those who opt to work in-house. It’s the same with a London-based commercial barristers’ chambers and a small regional crime chambers. It’s important to find out which type and size of practice would suit you by doing work experience and speaking to people in the profession. Only by getting firsthand experience and speaking to those in the know can you get a feel for the kind of work that might appeal to you and your skill set.
How much longer will it take to qualify if I choose a non- law undergraduate degree? It takes only one year longer to
Are postgraduate law courses expensive? Do I have to pay for them myself? The total cost of qualifying
How can my careers service help me? Your school or university careers service is a key resource. Some
How can I find out more? Visit LawCareers.Net for news, advice, features and interviews with those on the ground, and
qualify if you choose a non-law degree (if studying full time). After graduating, you’ll complete a law conversion that covers the key parts of a law degree, before progressing onto the SQE or Bar course.
advisers specialise in the legal sector and can help to check through your vacation scheme and training contract/pupillage applications (or speculative CVs and letters, if you’re trying to secure informal work experience). Some have contacts at local law firms and chambers, so could help you set up work shadowing. Further reading See The Oracle on LawCareers.Net for answers to a range of questions from students about careers in law (www.lawcareers.net/explore/oracle) and use LawCareers.Net’s hub pages to boost your understanding of the profession and chance of success in applications. Here’s a list of our hub pages:
as a solicitor or barrister shouldn’t be underestimated. Over and above the £9,790 per year you’re likely to pay for your undergraduate degree, you’ll have to pay around £14,000 or £18,000 (plus living costs) for, respectively, the SQE and Bar course in 2026/27. Unlike undergraduate and Master of Laws (LLM) degrees, postgraduate loans are unavailable for the SQE and Bar course (unless they include an LLM). SQE prep courses with an LLM can cost upwards of £18,000 in London. If you’re not doing an LLM, it’s best to have a training contract or pupillage lined up before embarking on any of the courses – many large firms/chambers offer sponsorship (usually covering course fees and maintenance grants) to their future trainees/pupils. Bank loans are usually the preferred option for those who self-fund. For more detailed funding advice, look at the ‘Finances’ section on LawCareers.Net.
pick up a copy of this year’s The Law Apprenticeships Guide from your careers service for information on the apprenticeship route. You can also read both guides online via LawCareers.Net. Attend virtual and in- person law fairs to speak to recruiters and current trainees/pupils.
What’s the SQE? The SQE is the assessment that all solicitors must pass to qualify. It’s designed to ensure that all
qualified solicitors are of the same high standard, regardless of their route (eg, university or apprenticeship). Unlike the Postgraduate Diploma in Law, the SQE isn’t a course but a series of exams divided into two stages – SQE1 and SQE2. Check LawCareers.Net’s dedicated SQE hub for the latest information on SQE prep courses, fees, exam results and more!
• Application hub • Apprenticeships hub
• Barristers hub • Beginner’s hub • Commercial awareness hub • Diversity in law hub
• First-year hub • Non-law hub • Solicitors hub • SQE hub • Training in Ireland hub
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Reality check
Diversity Real progress is being
Competition There are fewer training contract and pupillage places than there are people with the necessary qualifications.
made to improve diversity and social mobility across the legal profession, thanks to a growing number of initiatives focused on widening access and opportunity. Organisations such as upReach, for example, work for free with students, offering practical support with CVs, application forms and interview practice, while also working with employers to provide work experience opportunities and improve access to the profession. While it’s important to be honest that the profession is still shaped by its history, change is happening and momentum is building. There’s increasing awareness of the imbalance and clear commitment from many parts of the profession to do better. For the latest developments and insights into the support available, visit LawCareers.Net’s Diversity in law hub.
Find a way to stand out – be resourceful, authentic, determined and committed to the profession and a career in law.
It’s worth mentioning that a legal career is competitive and expensive. So, without wanting to detract from the exciting and challenging career on offer, here follows some food for thought…
Commercial awareness
Finances With nearly £10,000
Academics There’s real competition for training contracts and pupillages. You must get strong grades from your
The legal world is part of the business world. If you have ambitions to work for a commercial
per year undergraduate fees, plus postgraduate study in 2026/27 costing
up to £21,100 for the Bar course (with a master’s), and the new SQE assessments costing £5,092 from September 2026 (excluding the fees for preparation courses), the road to qualification isn’t cheap. In addition, some law firms at the smaller end of the market may pay trainees no more than the National Minimum Wage. Your ability to afford the courses and a potentially low starting wage must be a factor in deciding whether to pursue law as a career. Keep an eye out for funding options – our ‘Finances’ page on LawCareers.Net has lots of information and advice.
first year of university onwards. Your A-level grades are also important. Many law firms have also adopted contextual recruitment systems like REALrating to look beyond A-level grades to assess academic potential and identify candidates they may otherwise miss. Time Spend time researching law firms/chambers you like; planning how to get work experience (legal or non-legal); and filling out, refining
law firm, you must develop a good understanding of the issues and events affecting businesses. Developing commercial awareness starts with being curious about the world around you. We encourage you to read our weekly commercial news round-up (published every Thursday), our Wrestle with PESTLE articles, and trusted sources like the Financial Times and The Economist . As you read, consider how what you’re learning might affect businesses and the legal advice they need – you don’t need to be studying law to start practising this.
Work/life balance It’s true that the legal
profession has a reputation for long hours and intense work. It’s worth doing your
research as workload and expectations vary depending on the practice area or type of law firm/chambers you choose. It’s also important to note that mental health in the legal profession is being talked about now more than ever, and progress is being made in this area.
and checking your applications. In every case, start early, have a
Experience You need a combination of work experience (legal and non-legal) and extracurricular activities to
schedule and be strict with yourself. Last-minute, rushed application efforts are almost worse than no effort at all.
Online Set up a LinkedIn profile to connect with employers and other contacts – and start to build up the
become the all-rounder that law firms/ chambers want to hire. By choosing experiences that challenge and interest you, you’ll be better able to show what you’ve learnt and how it’s relevant to life as a lawyer.
‘professional’ side of your social media presence. You can even learn about the profession through Instagram and TikTok! Follow LawCareers.Net on these platforms to get started.
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LawCareers.Net The law is an incredibly competitive profession and it’s never too early to start trying to boost your chances of success. One of the best ways to do that is to visit LawCareers.Net to begin your research. It’s your one-stop shop for all things law-related.
Keep up with the business sections on newspapers’ websites, LawCareers.Net’s weekly commercial news round-ups and the Commercial awareness hub to improve your commercial awareness. You should also read the more specific legal press – a couple of the more reputable broadsheet newspapers have great law sections. Work with your university careers adviser on your application and interview technique and start to think about where you might like to apply for a vacation scheme/mini-pupillage next year. Sign up to LCN Weekly on LawCareers.Net. Our free weekly email newsletter delivers news and information about the profession, plus advice and reminders throughout the legal recruitment calendar, straight to your inbox. Get some practical work experience at a law firm, barristers’ chambers or legal advice centre – this could count towards your QWE if you want to qualify as a solicitor. Explore the range of diversity organisations that help future lawyers. Go to law fairs, firm presentations and open days to meet people face to face. Think about how to stand out by asking good questions (eg, about a recent deal, case or merger that the firm has been involved with). Read our Vacation Scheme Insider profiles to understand what placements involve and start identifying firms to target – whether for insight days this year or vacation scheme applications next year. Join your university’s student law society. They’ll support you with events, presentations, information sessions and more. Plus, you can meet other students in the same position as you. Your first-year university checklist: If you’re at university (law or non-law) and want to know what you should be doing, here’s a brief checklist to get you started.
On LawCareers.Net you’ll find:
A directory of more than 1,000 law firms, barristers’ chambers and legal educators Exclusive interviews with lawyers and recruiters, offering real insight A range of videos, masterclasses and podcast episodes
In-depth Practice Area Profiles, brought to life by insights from solicitors
Essential information on legal apprenticeships
Honest blog posts from aspiring lawyers
Features packed with practical advice about pursuing a legal career
Personalised careers guidance via The Oracle
An insider look at firms’ vacation schemes
Create a free MyLCN account on LawCareers.Net to manage your legal career in one place. You’ll also receive the LCN Weekly email, bringing you the latest guidance, opportunities and industry updates.
Scan this QR code to register for a free LawCareers.Net account
Engage with some of the extracurricular options at university (eg, sport, debating, mooting or music) to make yourself into a well-rounded candidate.
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If you’d like more copies of The Beginner’s Guide to a Career in Law 2027 or its companion publication, The Law Apprenticeships Guide 2027 , please contact info@lawcareers.net.
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