How to become a solicitor

I have had lots of questions recently about the timeline for becoming a solicitor and the steps involved so I have created some Q&A style questions with all the information you need. If you have any further questions please either message the Law Careers Instagram (@ussu.lawcareers) or email me directly cl01637@surrey.ac.uk

Best wishes – Chelsea Lewin, Law Careers Officer

Typical routes into becoming a solicitor:

Please note these routes only focus on the new SQE route. If you began your law degree before September 2021 you are entitled to undertake the LPC instead of the SQE.

Route 1:

1. Law degree
2. SQE Prep or LLM Legal Practice (SQE1 and SQE2)
3. Two years qualifying work experience
4. Apply to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to be admitted as a solicitor

Route 2:

1. Law degree
2. SQE Prep Course or LLM Legal Practice (SQE1 and SQE2)
3. Training Contract
4. Qualification

Route 3 – Non-Law Students:

1. Any degree
2. Law conversion course, with or without SQE prep course
3. SQE1 and SQE2 Prep course
4. Training Contract or two years work experience
5. Qualification

How long would it take to qualfify as a solicitor?

If you followed a traditional route of doing a law degree (3 years), then undertake your SQE (this can be done in one year providing both assessments are passed) then begin a training contract (2 years) or Qualifying work experience (2 years) then you are looking at around 6 years without any breaks in the process. Please note that if you’re doing a non-law degree you will need to undertake the Post-Graduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) which is the law conversion course which would come between graduating from your undergrad and before sitting the SQE. The PGDL is a one year course

When should I apply for my SQE prep course?

You can apply for a place on the SQE training prep courses from when you finish your law degree. For example, if you are currently in your final year you should begin applying now for the 2024/2025 intake.

Where can I study the SQE?

• University of Surrey: the deadline to apply to Surrey for the LLM Professional Legal Practice is 01/07/2024. Please follow this link for more details: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/postgraduate/professional-legal-practice-sqe-pathway-llm
• BPP University Law School: Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Leeds, London Central (Holborn), Manchester or online.
• The University of Law: Birmingham, Bristol, Berlin, Hong Kong, Leeds, London Bloomsbury, London Moorgate, Manchester, Newcastle University, Nottingham, Royal Holloway, University of Chester, University of East Anglia, University of Exeter, University of Liverpool, University of Reading, University of Sheffield, University of Southampton or online.
• The Open University: online
• City University of London

How much do the SQE assessments cost? (on top of the course fees)

• SQE1 – £1798
• SQE2 – £2766

What is a training contract and how do I get one?

A training contract is a 2 year placement undertaken by trainee solicitors which will enable them to qualify at the end. During the training contract they will typically undertake four six-month seats in various departments in the law firm, working on cases and legal work building skills and knowledge as they go.

At some international firms with large clients or offices in other countries, some trainees are given the opportunity to undertake a secondment in a different company or office to learn more about a particular area or client.

Some firms recruit exclusively from their vacation schemes, vacation schemes are one-three week long placements at a law firm in which you’re assessed as you go, sometimes you’ll also take part in an assessment centre before being offered a training contract. Others firms may recruit from both the vacation schemes or from a direct training contract application. Research ahead of time as to which firms accept direct training contracts or whether you will need to undertake a vacation scheme to become a trainee.

You’ll begin with the online application form, after this has been submitted some of the larger firms may then send you through a link to complete some psychometric tests before your application is reviewed, for example the Watson Glaser test (please see my blog post on these psychometric tests here: https://surreyunion.org/LawSociety/2022/11/09/psychometric-testing-watson-glaser-test/

Once you’ve completed the test and your application has been reviewed you may be required to undertake an online interview, telephone assessment or a face-to-face first round interview.

Following on from a successful first round interview you may be invited to a second round or an assessment centre where they will assess all the key competencies required of a solicitor. Following on from this, if you are successful you will typically be offered a place on the training contract.

When should I apply for a training contract?

Law students can begin applying for training contracts during your penultimate year (second to last).

Most firms recruit two to three years in advance, these are mostly the bigger firms. For example Ashurst are currently recruiting for the 2026/2027 direct training contracts (deadline 29/03/2024).

However some smaller firms may only recruit one year in advance.

Non-law students will typically start applying for training contracts in their final year or during their law conversion course.

What is Qualifying Work Experience?

Qualifying work experience is any experience of providing legal services that offers you the opportunity to develop some or all of the competencies needed to practice as a solicitor.

Work experience can be undertaken before, during or after taking your SQE assessments but has to be signed off in accordance with the SRA’s requirements. All qualifying work experience must be registered with the SRA and you must have completed all qualifying work experience before being admitted as a solicitor.

For some students who may have done a placement for example as a paralegal, case worker or legal assistant this may count as qualifying work experience. \

I hope these questions were helpful to you, shortly i’ll also be publishing a blog post about how to research law firms and how to prepare for making your applications. In the meantime if you’d like to ask anything or discuss either of these career paths please feel free to reach out via instagram @ussu.lawcareers or email cl01637@surrey.ac.uk

What is the interview and selection process like for training contracts?

Typically, for a direct training contract, you will begin by submitting an online application form, possibly through the firms website,