The Only Guide You'll Need to Become a Lawyer
Whether you’re mid-university applications, or you’re thinking about changing careers, the road to becoming a lawyer can be immensely confusing. How early do you need to start thinking about it? How long does it take to do? How do you make your C.V. as convincing as possible for the role?
This blog series will explain each stage of the process to becoming a lawyer in England and Wales. It will explore every option at your disposal; from whether or not you need to study a law degree to be a lawyer, to what kind of lawyer you might like to be and how to go about it. Everything here is written by people who have gone - or are currently going through - the process themselves.
To make it easier to follow, here is a checklist of topics that will be covered.
Do I need a law degree to practice law?
Studying law at university
Studying a non-law degree and then taking the Graduate Diploma in Law
What type of lawyer should I be?
A career at the Bar
A career as a solicitor
STUDYING A LAW DEGREE (IS IT FOR ME?)
Law degrees often come equipped with a series of misconceptions. The first is that studying a law degree necessarily leads to a legal career. The second is that you definitely need a law degree to be a lawyer. The third is that law degrees are exactly the same, no matter which university you attend. This post is split into four questions that might help guide your decision to apply for a law degree.
WHY SHOULD I STUDY LAW?
If you are thinking longer-term about a career in law, a law degree is a good place to start. However, it’s important to remember that you can also become a lawyer by studying a different undergraduate degree, and then take the one-year graduate diploma in law (GDL). Recruiters do not discriminate between graduates who have chosen either path: the non-law degree/GDL post touches more on this.
Having said this, what other reasons are there to study law? Mainly, a law degree gives you three years, rather than one, to become familiar with legal research and the mechanics of cases, courts, and judgments in common law: this is immensely helpful in practice.
By extension, you have more time to conduct deep analyses of academic inconsistencies in the law. Quite apart from being academically interesting, this makes coming up with arguments concerning (seemingly) moot points that much easier as a practicing lawyer. You are also given the freedom to pick niche modules to study during your degree, in contrast to the GDL.
What it comes down to is a combination of academic and professional interests. A law degree does not have to lead to a legal career: many banks, social enterprises, and even creative companies actively seek law graduates for their analytical skills. However, if you are thinking of a career in law, a law degree prepares you very well.
WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN MY LAW DEGREE?
Qualifying law degrees
Law degrees take many shapes: however, if you are studying law with a legal career (perhaps in London or regional parts of England or Wales) in mind, you should choose a qualifying law degree that allows you to practice in England and Wales.
What does this mean? First, England and Wales is a specific jurisdiction. There is no such thing as UK or British law: Scottish (Scots) law requires different training, as does law in Northern Ireland – which is why the legal jurisdiction to which this post refers is always ‘England and Wales’.
Second, there are certain areas of law that you must learn to become a lawyer in England and Wales. Qualifying law degrees include these as a mandatory part of their syllabus. Most universities offer a qualifying law degree, but not all law degrees are qualifying. If you study a non-qualifying law degree, or a degree in Scots law, you will be required to take the GDL in order to practice in England and Wales. A good way to check whether a law degree is qualifying is to browse university faculty websites or university prospectuses.
WHERE SHOULD I STUDY LAW?
Given that qualifying law degrees include the same core modules, does it make a difference where you apply to university?
In short, the answer is absolutely. There are a few things to keep an eye on when deciding which universities to apply to.
Content: law and…?
A law degree offers you more variety than just qualifying law modules: in most cases, you can also pick modules that suit your individual interests. Universities vary in the number of optional modules you are allowed to take during your degree, as well as what kinds of options you will have. For example, Oxford only allows you to choose two additional modules, although options range from the history of law to medical ethics. On the other hand, Warwick gives you more choice, and has previously run a ‘law in Shakespearean fiction’ module.
Some universities also offer joint honours degrees with English law. If you have an interest in international practice, Oxford offers law with French, German, Spanish, Italian or Dutch law, giving you a year abroad at partner universities. Nottingham and LSE give you the option of going to the United States for a year during your degree. Other universities, like Warwick and Newcastle, allow you to do law with business or sociology. If you like law but you’d also like the option of doing something alongside, these degrees are worth exploring; note, however, that they are usually four years long, compared to the traditional three-year degree.
Exceptionally, if you already have a degree in a different discipline, want to practice as a lawyer, but want more academic depth than the GDL provides, you should look into a two-year Senior Status degree in law.
Teaching style
Universities also differ greatly in how they teach you, as well as how they test you, throughout the course of your degree. Conducting in-depth research on teaching styles can help you pick the best environment for your personality.
For example, if you work well in larger groups led by a professor or teacher, many universities – like LSE – use lectures as their main form of teaching. Other universities use smaller groups to encourage discussions on particular topics. For example, Oxford and Cambridge are famous for their unique tutorial/supervision teaching styles. York uses PBL (problem based learning) for people that prefer a hands-on approach.
This logic equally applies to examination styles. If you perform well in written exams, universities that use this as the bulk of your degree classification may suit your profile well. By contrast, if you prefer the flexibility of coursework and the option of distributing your exams throughout your degree, research universities that fit this model.
WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW TO APPLY FOR A LAW DEGREE?
Finally, how do you know if your candidate profile fits the application process for a law degree? Unlike many degrees, there are no specific A Levels/IB subjects/career backgrounds required to study law: evidence of analytical skill and essay writing is sufficient. The standard application process – including a personal statement – equally applies here.
However, if you are thinking of applying to Oxford, Bristol, Glasgow, Nottingham, Durham, King’s College London, SOAS or UCL, you are also required to take the Law National Aptitude Test (LNAT), for which more information can be found (here). Cambridge has a separate law test, which is contingent on the college you apply to. Additionally, some universities – like Oxford, Cambridge, and York – conduct admissions interviews.
Strategising which universities to apply to hinges on where you feel your strengths lie: contacting our tutors at Doxa can help you navigate this process.
ALTERNATIVE ROUTES TO STUDYING LAW: THE GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN LAW
Thinking that you might want a legal career, but not sure whether you want to do a three-year law degree?
If so, you are in good company. Former head of the supreme court Lord Neuberger, super brainy supreme court judge Lord Sumption, and ex-attorney general Dominic Grieve all did non-law undergraduate degrees followed by a qualification known as the Graduate Diploma in Law. They all went on to be top of their field.
But what is this qualification? And is it for you?
WHAT IS THE GDL?
The Graduate Diploma in Law (the GDL for short!) is a one-year law course which you can study after having studied a non-legal degree for undergraduate degree. It generally runs September until June with exams in the last month, but some course may start in January instead.
It is only offered by a small number of institutions known as ‘providers’. These include huge institutions who have campuses across the country such as BPP and University of Law, and smaller universities such as Northumbria University in Newcastle.
You get the opportunity to study the seven key legal subjects (Contract, Tort, Public, Criminal, Land, EU, and Equity and Trusts). You will also learn about the English Legal System. Many providers also give you the opportunity to write a research essay on a topic that interests you. Completing the GDL allows a student to complete the academic qualification necessary for becoming a solicitor or a barrister.
As it is the equivalent of a degree but squashed into one year, it unsurprisingly has the reputation as quite an intense course! However by completing your degree and getting at least a 2.2 (the minimum requirement for most providers), you will have demonstrated that you have the organisation and academic skills to be able to rise to the challenge. Keeping on top of your work and attending all your classes and lectures is key in making sure you make the most of this unique opportunity.
WHY SHOULD I STUDY THE GDL?
It might be that you are really interested in studying a subject other than law at university. You may not be certain whether you definitely want a legal career at all.
If so, the GDL offers you the opportunity to this without ruling out the opportunity to go onto a legal career.
In addition, studying another subject may give you a skill set which be an advantage in a legal career. Lord Sumption himself said that he felt doing another degree first helped to teach him the analysis of evidence in a way that really helped his legal career.
Sometimes people worry that a GDL student will be at a disadvantage applying for a solicitor or barrister role. They worry that firms and chambers prefer law students, who will have had the opportunity to learn a greater breadth of law. This not the case and law firms and chambers are very clear that they will not discriminate against GDL students. They know you bring your own skills to the table and within a few years of practice, you’ll have caught up!
WHERE SHOULD I STUDY THE GDL?
The first decision that you should make is whether you would like to study in a London or regional provider. Providers outside London will often have considerably lower fess, and the cost of living will be lower. However, there may be more opportunities for networking and other career events in London, as the capital is the heart of the legal profession in England and Wales.
It’s also a good idea to look into whether the course has any particular strengths or specialities which might be more suited to your career path. City Law School’s course, for example, is tailored more towards those who want to be barristers. This means that there are more opportunities to do activities such as mooting (a form of legal debating) and public speaking.
FUNDING THE GDL
One of the things that sometimes puts people off the GDL is that you cannot get a government funded student loan to cover the fees. However, there are a number of places where you can look for funding.
Law firms
If you are lucky enough to secure an offer of a training contract before commencing the GDL, it is possible that your law firm may offer you a grant to cover fees and possibly living expenses. Check their websites carefully though; the exact policy will vary between firms.
GDL Providers
Many of the providers offer scholarships to assist with the fees.
For instance, BPP offers Career Commitment Scholarships to ‘promising future legal professionals’ as well as ten full fee scholarships. City Law School offers over a hundred full and partial fee scholarships with deadlines in February and June. In addition, they offer a loyalty discount if, after you have finished the GDL, you stay on with them to do one of the two legal professional qualifications, the LPC and the BPTC.
Deadline for these scholarships vary, so make sure you check their websites to make sure you don’t accidentally miss out!
The Inns of Court
If you are thinking of a career at the bar, you can apply for scholarships offered by one of the four Inns of Court (Lincoln’s Inn, Middle Temple. Inner Temple and Grey’s Inn). These are professional organisations which all barristers must be a member of, and one of their big jobs is helping those who might not otherwise be able to afford it get through law school. The deadlines for these scholarships tend to be in early May, and the majority of them are means tested.
HOW DO I APPLY TO STUDY THE GDL?
All GDL applications are made through the Central Applications Board (known as CAB). Whilst applications are offered on a rolling basis, you may want to think about applying earlier in the academic year to make sure you are able to apply for scholarships, as many places will only accept your application for a scholarship if you already have an offer.
A CAREER AT THE BAR: IS THE BAR FOR ME?
This post deals with a potential career at the Bar of England and Wales, covering whether or not the Bar might be right for you, the qualifications needed to become a barrister, relevant work experience, and potential sources of funding.
WHAT IS THE BAR ANYWAY?
The Bar is the official term for the part of the legal world that contains barristers. Barristers are advocates who appear in court on behalf of a client (sometimes – but not always – wearing wigs and gowns).
How are barristers different to solicitors in practice?
Before a case reaches a court, there is a lengthy process during which clients are encouraged to settle. This is because trials are expensive and adversarial by nature. Solicitors are generally in charge of this settlement process. If a court hearing becomes unavoidable, they usually instruct barristers to present complex legal arguments (‘submissions’) to the sitting judge in court.
Although this is not a hard and fast rule, clients generally instruct solicitors; solicitors instruct barristers. Additionally, barristers are usually self-employed, operating from a set of chambers (offices) rather than a law firm or company. By contrast, law firms or in-house legal teams usually employ solicitors. However, some organisations – like the Government Legal Service – are exceptions to this rule.
How do I know if I’m right for the Bar?
Given the above, most aspiring barristers take an academic – as well as a professional – interest in their chosen area of law. Your practice area directly impacts your choice to become a barrister. For example, a family law barrister will be dealing with deeply sensitive matters about individuals and their private lives. By contrast, a tax barrister will largely undertake advisory work about financial issues.
Alongside this, it’s important to have a flair for advocacy and quick thinking: presenting arguments in court requires persuasive speech, as well as an ability to be measured whilst dealing with unexpected interventions from the judge.
Finally, self-employed barristers should be ready both for a greater degree of career flexibility, as well as a more unpredictable career than most!
HOW DO I QUALIFY AS A BARRISTER?
You are eligible to start the process of becoming a barrister if you have completed and passed either a qualifying law degree, or the Graduate Diploma in Law. There are multiple parts to qualifying as a barrister; often the number of organisations to which you are held accountable can become confusing.
Generally, there are three things to keep an eye out for: the first is your Inn of Court, the second is your law school/Bar Professional Training Course provider, and the third is your pupillage application process.
What is the Bar Professional Training Course?
The Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) is a one-year full time, or two-year part time, course that administers the requisite exams to practice as a barrister. The course is generally run from a specialist law school, such as BPP Law School or the University of Law. There are a handful of providers distributed across the country.
Usually, you can apply to take the BPTC in November/December of the year preceding the start of your course; however, many BPTC providers are now accepting applications on a rolling basis.
What is an Inn of Court?
The Inns of Court are historic societies based in and around London. They hold the sole power to call you to the Bar: this is essentially your ‘graduation’ into becoming an (unregistered) barrister, held after you have passed the BPTC.
Unlike BPTC providers, there are only four Inns of Court: they are all based in London (Inner Temple, Middle Temple, Lincoln’s Inn, and Gray’s Inn). Membership of an Inn of Court is mandatory in order to take the BPTC: you must join one by May of the year you plan to commence the BPTC (i.e. if you are starting the course in September 2020, you must join by May 2020). Throughout the course of your BPTC year, you are required to attend 12 qualifying sessions at your Inn: these can be anything from concerts to residential weekends or formal dinners.
It is worth doing your own background research into the Inns of Court before you choose one to join, as this will remain your professional ‘home’ for life. Additionally, Inns of Court can help you significantly by providing scholarships to assist with the BPTC and the GDL, if you are a non-law graduate.
What is pupillage?
Pupillage is the training year that occurs after you finish the BPTC. It is overseen by a set of chambers that specialises in your chosen area of law, giving you training and supervised exposure to your first cases. Although you are not officially given a ‘salary’ during the year, your chambers gifts you an ‘award’, (usually) commensurate to an entry-level salary. You must complete pupillage in order to practice as a registered barrister. After pupillage, you are eligible to apply for tenancy at a set of chambers, holding a more permanent position.
Applying for pupillage is a competitive process, with each chambers taking on two or three successful pupils from hundreds of applications every year. The application process consists of a paper form, followed by one or two interview rounds; these vary from competence-based questions to legal problem questions.
Applications are usually made through the Pupillage Gateway (similar to UCAS) or through chambers’ websites themselves: a good database of information regarding the best chambers for individual areas of law, as well as application timelines (which vary depending on the set of chambers) is the Chambers Student guide.
Note that you can apply for pupillage before starting the BPTC, as long as you pass the BPTC before pupillage starts. Many (but not all) chambers recruit for pupillage a year in advance to allow you to do this; for example, an application put in for pupillage in January 2019 could result in a pupillage start date of 2020, leaving a year in-between to complete the BPTC. However, you must either be in the final year of your law degree, on the GDL, or already graduated from either course to do this.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Since a career at the Bar is so unique in nature, finding relevant work experience can seem impossible. However, there are a few ways in which your C.V. can reflect the key skills needed to present a fantastic application for pupillage.
First, refining your advocacy skills by any means possible – whether as a public speaker, debater, or in a leadership role – is an innovative way of showing the most important skill a barrister needs in action. Mooting, which is a form of mock trial hosted by most universities and law schools, is particularly good.
Second, applying for mini-pupillages (three to five days shadowing barristers and giving you insight into a set of chambers) familiarises you with chambers that you might be interested in applying to for pupillage. Chambers Student includes a timeline of mini pupillage applications for respective chambers.
Third, it helps to contact your relevant Inn of Court for marshalling opportunities (mini-pupillages but with judges), or volunteer with advocacy organisations like FRU, LPC County Courts Scheme or not-for-profit organisations.
FUNDING
Each Inn of Court holds a formal scholarship selection process every year, with the potential to fund the entire cost of the BPTC for a successful applicant. Application deadlines usually take place in November of the year before you commence the BPTC: this means that you must choose an Inn of Court earlier than usual. It is also important to note that although every Inn chooses to award scholarships based on merit, Middle and Inner Temple adjust the amount of prospective scholarships to reflect the means of the candidate.
Additionally, most BPTC law school providers offer scholarships for merit or advocacy. Most also offer the option of combining a Masters qualification with the BPTC, usually by asking candidates to write a dissertation. This gives you access to a postgraduate loan for the costs of the year.
Finally, if you have secured a pupillage offer before commencing with the BPTC, you have the option of ‘drawing down’ your pupillage award in order to part-pay for the costs of the BPTC.
THE PATH TO BECOMING A SOLICITOR
QUALIFICATIONS
In order to qualify as a solicitor, you first will need either a qualifying law degree, or a non-law degree followed by the year-long Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL). The next step is to take the Legal Practice Course (LPC). This is a year-long postgraduate qualification, with a focus on the practical application of law. As well as written exams, you are required to pass professional skills modules, such as interviewing and advocacy.
After the LPC, the final step towards qualifying as a solicitor in the UK is called the “training contract”. This is essentially a two-year period of training recognised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) at a law firm, or company that employs solicitors. During a typical training contract, you will complete six months in four of the firm’s departments which will help you decide where you want to qualify.
You may have heard about the new SQE “super exam”, which has been proposed by the SRA. This will eventually replace the LPC and change the qualification route. The SQE is still in the early stages of development and, once introduced, will be phased in gradually so that students can still qualify through the LPC route during a lengthy transition period. Despite this, you should keep a keen eye out for developments.
CV-BUILDING/WORK EXPERIENCE
Many students find it useful to experience working in a law firm before embarking on the route to becoming a solicitor. For those looking to work at commercial law firms, you can test the waters during a structured internship called a vacation scheme. Vacation schemes range from 1-4 weeks long and take place during the university holidays. Places are fiercely competitive, as students are attracted by the salary and perks of a vacation scheme. Some firms even whisk their vacation scheme participants one of their foreign offices for the day! At the end of most vacation schemes, the students, or recent graduates, will be given the opportunity to interview for a training contract. This can be attractive to many applicants, as they have already had the chance to prove themselves over the course of the internship.
Aside from vacation schemes, there are plenty of other ways to gain legal experience. This is particularly important if you are not pursuing a career in commercial law. Many students find volunteering at free legal advice centres (e.g. Citizens Advice Bureau) to be an extremely rewarding and worthwhile experience, as well as a helpful CV booster. It is also common for those starting out in their legal career to work as a paralegal. Working as a paralegal can open up further opportunities to advance and some firms are known to offer training contracts internally to their high-performing paralegal staff.
Though legal experience is useful in giving you an idea of what to expect and to prove your interest to employers, the importance of other work experiences should not be overlooked. In fact, such experiences are an opportunity for you to stand out from the crowd. For example, corporate law firms will typically look favourably on any commercial experience which has broadened your commercial awareness. If you aiming to qualify as a family law solicitor, then a potential option could be to volunteer at a domestic violence charity.
FUNDING
Self-funding the LPC is a significant financial commitment that will set you back in the region of £13,000, depending on the provider and location. Several law firms have a preferred provider, so this is something to consider when choosing where to complete the LPC. Luckily, there are options for funding so that you may not have to not have to fund it completely yourself.
Students that are lucky enough to have training contract offers will typically have the costs of the GDL and/or LPC covered by their firm, along with a generous maintenance grant. For this reason, several law students apply for training contracts in their penultimate year of university to have this security. A limited number of firms will reimburse you for the costs, either in full or in part, for the expenses you have incurred in taking the LPC prior to receiving a training contract offer.
Many course providers offer the LPC combined with a Masters qualification, at the same cost. At the University of Law, for example, you have the option to do the LPC MSc in Law, Business and Management or the LPC LLM. This is significant because UK students taking a masters qualification are eligible for a Student Loans Company Postgraduate Loan of up to £10,906.
You should also look out for scholarships and bursaries, which unlike a loan are not repayable. Most LPC providers offer their own scholarship and bursary programmes, and some even guarantee a partial refund if you do not find employment within 6 months of graduation. In addition, the Law Society has a Diversity Access Scheme which provides eligible and successful applicants with funding for up to the full cost of LPC fees, work experience opportunities and professional contacts in the legal industry.
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If you have any questions about this piece or are looking for help with your application, email us at: support@doxa.co.uk
Author: Srishti - Oxford
BA Law
I am currently undertaking an LL.M in Law and Gender at SOAS University of London, having just completed the Bar Professional Training Course. I begin pupillage in 2019, and in my spare time I am learning Sanskrit and am a trained dancer.
