Solicitor jobs are one of the two main routes available to people fresh out of university, the other of which is barrister jobs. These graduate legal jobs can lead to big wages and excellent job prospects but legal jobs require years of continuous training and hard work. If you are interested in getting into solicitor jobs though, this guide will help you out.

Getting Into Graduate Legal Jobs

• The first step to getting into solicitor jobs is to undertake a relevant university degree. A law degree is by far the most sensible degree to undertake to get into solicitor jobs but if you have done another degree it is possible to undertake a Common Professional Examination (CPE), a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) or to be become qualified as a fellow in the Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX). After you have obtained these qualifications it is then time to undertake the next stage to get into graduate legal jobs.

• The next step in becoming eligible for solicitor jobs is to enrol and complete a Legal Practice Course (LPC). This course will either last 1 year full time or 2 years part time. After you have completed this it is time to undertake two years vocational training in graduate legal jobs.

• These vocational graduate legal jobs will allow you to gain all the necessary experience and final qualifications (such as the Professional Skills Course) to be able to move out into solicitor jobs as a fully qualified solicitor. During this process, you will most likely have to choose a specialism and start focussing on this for your future.

• Solicitor jobs differ from barrister jobs in that these legal jobs do not involve representing people in court but rather have a more active role in advising clients and preparing their cases. Those with solicitor jobs can easily earn over £80k per year with experience but for graduate legal jobs, that figure is likely to be in the region of £25k-£30k per year.

You can search for a wide range of graduate legal jobs here on Simply Law Jobs.

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In many countries, barrister jobs and solicitor jobs are essentially the same thing and an individual practices in both disciplines but in the UK, these law jobs are separate and require different qualifications. To find out more about the difference between barrister jobs and solicitor jobs, read on.

Barrister Jobs

• These law jobs are different from solicitor jobs in that barrister jobs require the individual to earn their bar and then undertake a 1 year pupillage before becoming a full barrister.

• Those with barrister jobs are able to appear in court and instead of working directly with a client, the barrister will work with the client’s solicitor who will instruct and advise them. The barrister is not considered an attorney and can therefore not act on behalf of the client without being instructed to do so by the solicitor.

• Barrister jobs require the individual to be able to thin very quickly and have excellent public speaking skills. These law jobs require the individual to be given a prepared case by a solicitor and then being able to take it into court. The time between being shown a case and then having to present it is often very short.

• Barrister jobs are often freelance based but it is for barristers to earn over £100k pa. and a QC could well earn over £1m per year. You can search for barrister jobs here on Simply Law Jobs.

Solicitor Jobs

• Solicitor jobs, unlike barrister jobs are not freelance and this law job requires the individual to work for a legal firm, therefore earning a steady wage. Solicitor jobs require a relevant degree as well as a one year LPC and a further two years paid training at a law firm.

• Solicitors work directly with clients and help prepare a case which will then be presented to the barrister to argue in court. Those with solicitor jobs will however be able to represent clients in criminal magistrate’s courts or civil courts.

• These law jobs need the individual to be methodical, organised and complex problem solving skills. Solicitor jobs can still pay lots of money and with experience, wages of £100k+ pa. are certainly available and unlike barrister jobs, solicitor jobs provide a steady wage and other bonuses such as pensions/benefits etc. You can search for solicitor jobs here on Simply Law Jobs.

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