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Law can be a rewarding profession. The College of Law explains why you should think about this as a profession… even if you didn’t study law at university.

Why consider Law?

If you are looking for a career with financial rewards, crave intellectual stimulation, or want your work to have an impact on people’s lives, law can offer all these and more. Lawyers can help put together some of the largest financial deals in the world, and reap some of the best financial rewards of any profession. Some lawyers represent individuals in a huge range of matters, from employment tribunals to criminal prosecutions and more planned events such as buying a house. Others work in areas of public interest such as human rights and environmental law. They all face regular intellectual challenges, as the law is complex and always changing.

What careers are available in Law?

There are essentially two types of lawyer – solicitors and barristers. Barristers are specialist advocates, in other words they are skilled at representing clients in court. They also provide advice on complex legal questions in areas on which they are experts. Clients do not usually approach them directly – they are instructed by solicitors on the client’s behalf. They mostly work together in chambers, but are self-employed and value their independence.

Solicitors considerably outnumber barristers. They mostly work in law firms or legal organisations and provide a wider range of legal services to clients, from individuals to multinational corporations in a whole range of matters. Much of a solicitor’s time is spent in the office rather than barristers who will be in court. Solicitors work more in teams than barristers, and can be employed by large companies, in government, or in organisations such as charities. Solicitors can now do part of the work previously done only by barristers, addressing ‘lower’ courts such as magistrates, and can gain the right to appear at crown and county courts.

What if my first degree isn’t in Law?

This isn’t a problem, all law firms and chambers welcome applications from non-law graduates and many of the most successful lawyers have converted from other subjects. Your previous studies might even be an asset – for example - scientists can have an edge in areas such as Intellectual Property Law.

You will need to complete a conversion course – the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), also known as the CPE, which lasts for a year full-time or two years part-time. This is intended to cover the essential elements of a three-year first degree in Law, so be prepared for an intensive period of study.

What comes next?

Those wanting to become solicitors must then complete the Legal Practice Course (LPC). The focus of the course is more practical than the GDL, and aims to prepare students to apply the law they have already learned in real-world situations.

After completion of the LPC you will them go on to work for a law firm or organisation on what is known as a training contract in order to become a qualified solicitor. This is paid employment and you will spend time in a number of practice areas, under the supervision of senior colleagues.

Barristers go on to the Bar Vocational Course (BVC), where they train in advocacy skills and can expect to hone their craft in plenty of mock trials and learn court proceedings in depth. Following this you will for work six months shadowing a barrister and for the following six months you will practise with your own cases.

How much does it cost?

Neither the GDL/CPE - the academic stage of training, nor the professional stage of training - the LPC or BVC are cheap. You would be expected to pay between £4,000 and £8,800 for the GDL fulltime, and part-time fees may vary. The LPC and BVC are slightly more expensive, ranging between £7,500 and £14,500.

Many students fund themselves on these courses, and career development loans are available as well as conventional bank loans. All BVC students can apply for scholarships from the four Inns of Court, one of which you must join in order to become a barrister.

Probably the most attractive way to fund your studies is to secure a training contract (for solicitors) or a pupillage (barristers) and let your future firm or chambers pay your fees. This is mainly restricted to the larger commercial firms, and only a very small number of pupillages come with this appealing extra, so you must be well organised and research your applications thoroughly to be in with a good chance.

How much can I earn?

Earnings vary hugely across this large and diverse profession. At the top end, successful barristers and experienced solicitors in commercial areas, as well as partners in all thriving firms, can comfortably earn in excess of £100,000 a year. At the other end of the scale, trainees in small ‘high street’ firms of solicitors and most pupil barristers will earn less than the average graduate starting salary. In between is a large number of practitioners who earn a comfortable professional level of income.

Both the Bar Standards Board and the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority set down recommended minimum income levels for trainees/pupils. For barristers this is perhaps especially important as they are self-employed. New entrants’ earnings will depend on gaining a reputation, which will bring in work from instructing solicitors.

Invest in a career in law today and it could turn out to be one of the best decisions you have ever made.

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