Pursuing a career as a solicitor requires a strong level of commitment, enthusiasm, knowledge and skill. More importantly, you also need to know where to look in terms of education, work experience, training contracts, law firms and a whole range of other areas tailored to improving your chances of success.
Within this blog, I have provided you with helpful resources that I believe will benefit your preparation regarding the process and the know-how of becoming a qualified UK solicitor.
How to Become a Solicitor guide
This guide will deliver invaluable information that will guide you through a long, stressful and competitive journey. If you want to become a solicitor, then you will need to understand the expectations and demanding nature of the profession.
The guide will:
- Help you decide whether you are right for the job, and whether the job is right for you;
- Understand the nature of the profession and what it entails;
- Provide a step-by-step account of the process of becoming a solicitor, including education, skills, qualifications and experience;
- Give you an insight into what employers are looking for in terms of potential employees and the opportunities available;
- Guide you through the interview stages and the typical questions you are likely to be asked;
- Provide tips, advice and helpful resources to aid you on your journey to become a UK solicitor.
I have broken down the important key areas that may be of particular use to you. Whether you are just starting out and thinking of pursuing a career in law, or whether you are still trying to find the right opportunities; this blog will provide you with helpful resources that will ultimately better your chances and improve your knowledge in terms of the profession, where to study, salaries, and useful links.
Where to study your law degree
Universities and Institutions That Offer Qualifying Law Degrees (those with an asterisk also offer the CPE/GDL courses)
Below is a list of universities and institutions that offer qualifying law degrees. If you are thinking of pursuing this career, then it is important that you know where to look in terms of who offers the course.
Institutions that also offer the CPE or the GDL courses are marked with an asterisk (*).
| Aberdeen University
Web: www.abdn.ac.uk/law/
|
Manchester Metropolitan University*
Web: www.mmu.ac.uk
|
| Anglia Ruskin University
Web: www.anglia.ac.uk/law
|
Newcastle University
Web: www.ncl.ac.uk
|
| Aston University*
Web: www.aston.ac.uk
|
Northumbria University*
Web: www.northumbrialawschool.co.uk
|
| Bangor University
Web: www.bangor.ac.uk/
|
Nottingham Trent University*
Web: www.nlu.ac.uk
|
| Birkbeck College (University of London)
Web: www.bbk.ac.uk/
|
Oldham College
Web: www.oldham.ac.uk
|
| Birmingham City University*
Web: www.bham.ac.uk
|
Open University
Web: www.open.ac.uk
|
| Birmingham City University
Web: www.bham.ac.uk
|
Oxford Brookes University*
Web: www.brookes.ac.uk
|
| Bournemouth University*
Web: www.bournemouth.ac.uk
|
Oxford University
Web: www.ox.ac.uk
|
| BPP Law School*
Web: www.bpplawschool.com
|
Queen Mary University of London
Web: www.law.gmul.ac.uk
|
| Bradford College
Web: www.bradfordcollege.ac.uk
|
Queens University, Belfast
Web: www.qub.ac.uk
|
| Brighton University
Web: [email protected]
|
Reading University
Web: www.rdg.ac.uk
|
| Brunel University*
Web: www.brunel.ac.uk
|
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)(University of London)
Web: www.soas.ac.uk
|
| Buckingham University
Web: www.buckingham.ac.uk
|
Sheffield Hallam University*
Web: www.shu.ac.uk
|
| Buckinghamshire New University*
Web: www.bucks.ac.uk
|
Southampton Solent University*
Web: www.solent.ac.uk
|
| Cambridge University
Web: www.cam.ac.uk
|
Southampton University
Web: www.soton.ac.uk
|
| Canterbury Christ Church University
Web: www.canterbury.ac.uk
|
St. Mary’s University College
Web: www.smuc.ac.uk
|
| Cardiff University*
Web: www.ct.ac.uk
|
Staffordshire University*
Web: www.staffs.ac.uk
|
| City University*
Web: www.city.ac.uk
|
Sussex University
Web: www.susx.ac.uk
|
| Coventry University
Web: www.coventry.ac.uk
|
Swansea Metropolitan University
Web: www.smu.ac.uk
|
| De Montfort University*
Web: www.dmu.ac.uk
|
Swansea University*
Web: www.swan.ac.uk
|
| Dundee University
Web: www.dundee.ac.uk
|
University College (University of London)
Web: www.ucl.ac.uk
|
| Durham University
Web: www.dur.ac.uk
|
University of Bedfordshire
Web: www.beds.ac.uk
|
| Edge Hill University, Lancashire
Web: www.edgehill.ac.uk
|
University of Bolton
Web: www.bolton.ac.uk
|
| Greenwich School of Management
Web: www.gsm.org.uk/en/
|
University of Bradford*
Web: www.bradford.ac.uk
|
| Holborn College
Web: www.holborncollege.ac.uk
|
University of Bristol
Web: www.bristol.ac.uk
|
| Huddersfield University
Web: www.hud.ac.uk/
|
University of Central Lancashire*
Web: www.uclan.ac.uk
|
| Hull University
Web: www.hull.ac.uk
|
University of Chester
Web: www.chester.ac.uk
|
| Keele University*
Web: www.keele.ac.uk/
|
University of Cumbria
Web: www.cumbria.ac.uk
|
| Kent University
Web: www.ukc.ac.uk
|
University of Derby
Web: www.derby.ac.uk
|
| King’s College, London
Web: www.kl.ac.uk/ |
University of East Anglia* (Norwich Law School)
Web: www.uea.ac.uk
|
| Kingston University*
Web: www.king.ac.uk/
|
University of East London*
Web: www.uel.ac.uk
|
| Lancaster University
Web: www.lancs.ac.uk/
|
University of Essex
Web: www.essex.ac.uk
|
| Leeds Metropolitan University*
Web: www.leedsmet.ac.uk/fbl
|
University of Exeter
Web: www.ex.ac.uk
|
| Liverpool John Moores University*
Web: www.livim.ac.uk/
|
University of Glouchestershire
Web: www.glos.ac.uk/
|
| London Metropolitan University*
Web: www.londonmet.ac.uk/
|
University of Greenwich
Web: www.gre.ac.uk/
|
| London School of Economics
and Political Science Web: www.lsbu.ac.uk
|
University of Hertfordshire*
Web: www.herts.ac.uk/
|
| London South Bank University*
Web: www.lsbu.ac.uk
|
University of Law
Web: www.law.ac.uk
|
| University of Leeds
Web: www.leeds.ac.uk/
|
University of Northampton
Web: www.northampton.ac.uk
|
| University of Lincoln*
Web: www.lincoln.ac.uk/
|
University of Plymouth*
Web: www.plymouth.ac.uk
|
| University of London External Programme
Web: www.londonexternal.ac.uk
|
University of Portsmouth
Web: www.port.ac.uk
|
| University of Manchester
Web: www.manchester.ac.uk
|
University of Salford
Web: www.salford.ac.uk
|
| University of South Wales*
Web: fbs.glam.ac.uk/school/law/
|
University of Sheffield*
Web: www.shef.ac.uk
|
| University of Strathclyde*
Web: www.strath.ac.uk/humanities/lawschool/
|
University of West London
Web: www.uwl.ac.uk
|
| University of Sunderland
Web: www.sunderland.ac.uk
|
University of West of England, Bristol*
Web: www.uwe.ac.uk
|
| University of Surrey
Web: www.surrey.ac.uk
|
University of Westminster*
Web: www.wmin.ac.uk
|
| University of Teesside
Web: www.tees.ac.uk
|
University of Winchester*
Web: www.winchester.ac.uk
|
| University of Ulster
Web: www.ulster.ac.uk
|
University of Wolverhampton*
Web: www.wlv.ac.uk
|
| University of York
Web: www.york.ac.uk
|
Warwick University
Web: www.warwick.ac.uk
|
Training Contract Salaries and Salaries Upon Qualifying
Below is a list of law firms, their starting salaries for their Training Contracts, and the salaries upon Qualifying.
This section is a helpful resource to becoming a solicitor as it allows you to see potential earnings. Please note, that this list is not exhaustive. It gives a basic overview of the type of earnings you can expect in either your Training Contract or upon qualifying.
| Law Firm | Starting Salary for Training Contract (£) | Starting Salary Upon Qualification (£) |
| Allen & Overy LLP | 39,000 | 61,500 |
| Ashurst LLP | 38,000 | 61,000 |
| Baker & McKenzie LLP | 39,500 | 63,000 |
| Bird & Bird LLP | 36,000 | 59,000 |
| Burges Salmon LLP | 33,000 | 41,000 |
| Clifford Chance LLP | 39,000 | 63,500 |
| Clyde & Co | 36,000 | 59,000 |
| CMS Cameron McKenna | 37,500 | 60,000 |
| Edwards Wildman Palmer UK LLP | 38,000 | 58,000 |
| Field Fisher Waterhouse | 35,000 | 58,000 |
| Government Legal Service | 23,250 | 35,000 |
| Herbert Smith Freehills LLP | 39,000 | 63,000 |
| Hogan Lovells | 39,000 | 63,000 |
| Ince & Co LLP | 36,000 | 58,000 |
| Jones Day | 41,000 | 72,500 |
| Kirkland & Ellis International LLP | 41,000 | 97,560 |
| Lawrence Graham LLP | 35,000 | 54,000 |
| Linklaters LLP | 69,500 | 64,000 |
| Macfarlanes LLP | 38,000 | 61,000 |
| Mayer Brown International LLP | 37,500 | 61,000 |
| Mills & Reeve LLP | 25,000 | 36,000 to 56,000 |
| Norton Rose Fulbright LLP | 38,000 | 63,000 |
| Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (Europe) LLP | 38,000 | 65,000 |
| Osborne Clarke | 32,000 to 36,500 | 40,000 to 58,000 |
| Reed Smith | 37,000 | 59,000 |
| SGH Martineau LLP | 23,000 | 36,000 |
| Shearman & Sterling LLP | 39,000 | 78,000 |
| Shoosmiths | 24,000 | 38,000 |
| Sidley Austin LLP | 41,000 | 72,000 |
| Simmons & Simmons LLP | 37,500 | 59,000 |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom (UK) LLP | 42,000 | 98,000 |
| Slaughter and May | 39,000 | 63,000 |
| Stephenson Harwood LLP | 37,000 | 60,000 |
| Stevens & Bolton LLP | 33,000 | 44,000 |
| Sullivan & Cromwell LLP | 50,000 | 97,500 |
| Travers Smith LLP | 39,000 | 63,000 |
| White & Case LLP | 42,000 | 75,000 |
Law Societies
Below is a list of law societies:
This is a helpful resource as it allows you to research into different law societies which will prove valuable to you as you progress through the stages of becoming a solicitor.
| · Bedfordshire Law Society
· Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Law Society · Birmingham Law Society · Bournemouth and District Law Society · Bristol Law Society · Bromley and District Law Society · Cambridgeshire and District Law Society · Cardiff and District Law Society · Chichester and District Law Society · City of London Law Society · City of Westminster and Holborn Law Society · Cornwall Law Society · Derby and District Law Society · Devon and Somerset Law Society · Doncaster and District Law Society · Dorset Law Society · Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Law Society · Halifax Law society · Harrogate and District Law Society · Hastings and District Law Society · Hertfordshire Law Society · Isle of Thanet Law Society · Isle of Wight Law Society · Kent Law Society · Leeds Law Society |
· Leicestershire Law Society
· Lincolnshire Law Society · Liverpool Law Society · Manchester Incorporated Law Library Society · Medway Law Society · Mid Essex Law Society · Middlesex Law Society · Newcastle upon Tyne Law Society · Norfolk and Norwich Law Society · North Staffordshire Law Society · Northamptonshire Law Society · Nottinghamshire Law Society · Oldham Law Society · Plymouth Law Society · Sheffield and District Law Society · Suffolk and Northern Essex Law Society · Surrey Law Society · Sussex Law Society · Tees Valley Law Society · Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and District Law Society · Warwickshire Law Society · West London Law Society · Worcestershire Law Society · Worthing Law Society · Yorkshire Law Society
|
Further Helpful Resources
Below are some helpful resources to further your understanding regarding the process of how to become a solicitor. These links will prove useful in your research in relation to the following: how to become a solicitor, educational requirements, work experience, training contracts, career guidance and professional advice that will ultimately assist your preparation and research.
- TraineeSolicitor.co.uk (to find a training contract, discuss training contracts etc)
- TheLawForum.co.uk
- Professional Forum for UK Solicitors (LinkedIn)
- http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/careers/becoming-a-solicitor/
- https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/solicitor.aspx
- http://www.prospects.ac.uk/solicitor_job_description.htm
- http://www.cilexlawschool.ac.uk/prospective_students/qualify_as_solicitor/introduction
- http://allaboutlaw.co.uk/stage/becoming-a-lawyer/how-to-become-a-solicitor
This blog was written with the intention to provide some helpful resources and improve your understanding regarding key areas in terms of becoming a solicitor.
Knowing what to look for and where to look, is a crucial part of your preparation, and thus these helpful resources, alongside our guide ‘How2become a Solicitor’, will provide you with invaluable information that is guaranteed to guide you through your journey of becoming a UK solicitor.
