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CHRIST’S LIBERTY CHURCH�CAREER ACCELERATOR ��LEGAL CAREER INSIGHT

JULIA BWOMA

SOLICITOR / NON-PRACTISING BARRISTER

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29 JANUARY 2023

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TWO TYPES OF LAWYERS IN ENGLAND AND WALES

SOLICITORS

  • Advice and act on behalf of individuals, organisations and government.
  • Instruct barristers to appear in court on behalf of their clients.
  • Man work in law firms, in-house and for government departments.
  • 220,069 total number of solicitors by end of 2022.

BARRISTERS

  • Appear in court on behalf of individuals and organisations
  • Advice / provide legal opinion to Solicitors on cases
  • Mostly self employed, in chambers, a few employed in-house, by government and by Crown Prosecution Service.
  • 17,263 barristers in practice in 2021.

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TRADITIONAL ROUTE TO A LEGAL CAREER

  • 3 A levels and A grades needed most universities will take BCC to AAA.
  • 5 GCSEs (A-C) including science, English, and maths.
  • 3 or 4 years university degree, (can take placement year).
  • 1 year professional training course (LPC for solicitors and Bar course for barristers).
  • 1 years on the job training for barristers (pupil barrister, in Chambers, in-house, government departments or Crown prosecution). or
  • 2 years trainee solicitor training in law firms, in-house, government departments.
  • 5-8 years to qualify, and gain a practising certificate.

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ALTERNATIVE ROUTES TO QUALIFICATION (1) �NON-LAW DEGREE

  • 1 year Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)
  • 1 year professional training course (LPC for solicitors and BPTC for barristers).
  • 1 year on the job training for barristers (pupil barrister, in Chambers, in-house, government departments or Crown prosecution) or
  • 2 years trainee solicitor training in law firms, in-house, government departments.

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ALTERNATIVE ROUTES TO QUALIFICATION (2)�CHARTERED LEGAL EXECUTIVE

  • Authorised lawyers specialising in an area of law.
  • must complete the CILEX Professional Qualification (CPQ)- a progressive framework,
    • CPQ Foundation,
    • CPQ Advanced,
    • CPQ Professional - leads to accreditation as a full CILEX Lawyer.
  • Trainees with a legal practice course (LPC) will enter CPQ at Professional stage.

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ALTERNATIVE ROUTES TO QUALIFICATION (3)�LEGAL SECTOR APPRENTICESHIPS

  • Various – paralegal, chartered legal executives and solicitor apprenticeships .
  • Apprentices are assessed (SQE 1 – Written multiple-choice exam) and SQE 2 – Practical assessment).

Solicitor Apprenticeships

  • a six-year, Level 7 programme (post A levels).
  • five GCSEs, including mathematics and English – grade C or above (or equivalent).
  • three A levels (or equivalent) – minimum grade C . 
  • 20% of working week studying and the rest of it working in a law firm.
  • If already have a degree, can join a law firm as the SQE stage through the graduate apprenticeship.

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ALTERNATIVE ROUTES TO QUALIFICATION (4)�SOLICITORS QUALIFYING EXAMINATION (SQE) ROUTE

  • SQE route commenced in September 2021.
  • SQE will replace the non-law degree (GDL) qualification route and the training contract (LPC) route.
  • Currently, all 3 routes available until 2032.
  • Hold a degree or degree apprenticeship.
  • Pass SQE 1 and 2, costs £1,622 for SQE 1 and £2,493 for SQE2
  • Complete 2 years of qualifying work experience (not limited to training contract, can be law clinic, voluntary, paralegal or placement).

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COMPETITIVENESS IN THE LEGAL SECTOR

Solicitors

  • 5,,000 to 6,000 LPC graduates each year.
  • Training contracts and applicants in some law firms,
    • 62 training contracts – 2,500 applicants,
    • 57 training contracts – 4,540 applicants.
  • LPC full-time costs are between £7,850 and £17,950.

Barristers

  • 2020/2021 1412 barristers called to the bar, 371 obtained pupillages, 286 got tenancy (permanent position in chambers).
  • Each year there are around 500 pupillage places for around 3,000 applicants.
  • Bar costs between £12,000 and £18,340.

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SQE COSTS BETWEEN £3,000 AND £4,000. DONT HAVE TO TAKE ANY PREPARATORY COURSES BUT YOU CAN IF YOU WISH.

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INSIGHTS FROM MY LEGAL CAREER JOURNEY

Training

  • Start / join.
  • Explore scholarship opportunities early.
  • Believe in yourself.
  • Surround yourself with people who believe in you.

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Career

  • Be flexible
  • Take opportunities as they come.
  • Have mentors
  • Attend events.
  • Other opportunities,
    • Judicial assistants,
    • In-house counsel,
    • Company secretary,
    • Risk and compliance office in banks, law firm and organisations,
    • Legal adviser in immigration/employment/consumer law,
    • Insurance legal claims handler or executive.

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