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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