Training
Because the law is complex, the training of solicitors takes a long time and can be difficult. The Law Society makes the rules for the legal education and training required and they are designed to ensure that the trainee receives an education which is both thorough and broad.

How to Qualify
The quickest and most common route to qualification is by means of a qualifying law degree and a list of institutions offering them can be obtained from the Law Society. It does not matter which subjects you take at GCSE level (although English Language should be included), but you will need a good academic record, as competition for places is strong. You should aim for three 'A' levels or equivalent, in any academic subject of your choice, and you should obtain good grades.

If you decide to take a degree in a subject other than law, you will have to complete a one year full-time (or two years part-time) course leading to the Common Professional Examination or the post-graduate Diploma in Law. These courses are offered at a number of institutions, but you should aim for a good class of degree as competition for places is intense. The course will give you the basic grounding in law which you need to qualify as a solicitor. After successful completion of the law degree, or CPE, or Diploma in Law, you will have to undertake the Legal Practice Course, which is the professional training for solicitors. This course takes one academic year, or two years if studied part-time. Again, competition for a place on the LPC is very tough. Good academic grades are essential. The course teaches the practical application of the law to the needs of clients, and is offered by a number of different colleges and universities.

Having successfully completed the Legal Practice Course, the would-be solicitor has to enter a two year training contract with a firm of solicitors or other approved organisation (such as a local authority or the Crown Prosecution Service), gaining practical experience in a variety of areas of law. At this stage, you will be paid a salary and will be a trainee solicitor. It is important that you arrange a training contract as early as possible. You can begin to apply in the final year of your degree.

Legal Executives
For those who do not wish to take a degree, it is possible to qualify as a solicitor by obtaining employment in a legal office, joining the Institute of Legal Executives and taking the examinations to qualify as a member and subsequently a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives. This can be a stepping stone to qualifying as a solicitor. This process is lengthy, demanding and academically difficult, but enables the non-graduate to qualify as a solicitor. Further information about this, and a career as a legal executive, can be obtained from the Institute of Legal Executives, Kempston Manor, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 7AB.

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