Law is a fascinating profession and can take you in many different directions. You could choose a career in criminal law, working on either side of the fence: defending or prosecuting alleged criminals. Or you could work in business law, ensuring the company you work for is sticking to the rules, or perhaps no win no fee, getting compensation for your clients. Of course there is also family law, employment law, insolvency; the list is very long indeed! But, regardless of the type of law you would like to work in, there are a few things you need to do before you can start.
Obtaining a Degree in Law
Becoming a solicitor or barrister in the UK means you first need to get qualified. This means studying law at university level. These courses will usually take three years and can be followed at most of the universities in the UK.
Choosing to be a Solicitor or Barrister
Once you have completed your law degree, you need to decide whether you want to be a solicitor and undertake the Legal Practice Course, or a barrister, in which case you need to undertake the Bar Vocational Course. These courses are mandatory for you to be able to practice law.
Obtaining a Training Contract/Pupillage
A requirement for the UK Law Society/Bar Council is that you obtain a training agreement from an existing law firm to train as a solicitor or a pupillage if you want to train to become a barrister. This is comparable to an apprenticeship. Pupillages last one year and you will be able to handle your own cases after six months. Training contracts last two years.
Costs and Time
As shown, depending on whether you want to become a barrister or a solicitor, the length of time you will be training varies from five to six years. The costs are quite high, particularly in this day and age where tuition fees have increased in price. The Legal Practice Course and Bar Vocational Course cost between £10,000 and £15,000. This is just one of the many reasons why you are encouraged to really think hard about your decision to choose law as a profession. It is also advised to start when you are young, as training contracts and pupillages become harder to find the older you get.
Salary
One of the great benefits of practicing law in the UK is that it is the 9th best paid job to have. The average salary currently stands at £51,911 per year. Newly qualified solicitors usually start around £28,000, ranging to £96,000. Starting salaries for barristers range between £25,000 and £75,000. Remember though, that during your pupillage or training contract, your salary will be substantially lower.
So, there are many things to consider if you want to become a lawyer in the UK, regardless if you want to specialise in no win no fee, corporate or criminal law. Firstly you need to decide whether the career is right and achievable for you. This is truer than for any other profession in the UK, with the exception perhaps of medical studies. You then need to decide whether you want to become a solicitor or a barrister and ensure you get either a training contract or pupillage. Although extremely hard work overall, you also need to remember that practicing law is a fantastic opportunity to change the world for the better and if the profession is right for you, it is a truly amazing career.
