All degree subjects are acceptable (minimum 2.1) although graduates of law and subjects that might be useful for specialist areas (eg.engineering, maths and sciences) might have an advantage. Non-law graduates must first study for the CPE for a year to get on a level footing with those who studied law as a degree, before pursuing either the LPC for solicitors or BVC for Barristers.
Competition for vacation placements is very fierce and applications must be sent in early, with the closing date for some firms as early as February of your final year. Firms often have their own application form which can be obtained by contacting them, or requesting it through their website; otherwise they will require a CV and covering letter sent to the HR department.
Given that competition for places is always high, any sort of work experience you can gain, preferably in a variety of different firms and areas, will give you a significant advantage. This will demonstrate not only your self-motivation, but also that you have made a considered choice and are committed to a legal career. Many firms run vacation schemes, mainly in the summer, which vary in length from one week to several. These are intended primarily to give students an insight into a legal career, but they can also serve to make an individual’s CV look impressive and often act as a preliminary interview procedure for the firm.
The CPE, BVC, LPC, Pupillages and Training Contracts
Getting a place in Law College
Students who have not studied law as their first degree need to take the Common Professional Exam (CPE) which is essentially a law degree compressed into 1 year that can be taken at a number of schools and colleges throughout the UK (See www.lawcabs.ac.uk to obtain application form and further information). On successful completion of the CPE, indivIduals then join law graduates to complete their training by taking either the BVC (Bar Vocational Course), for those wishing to become barristers, or the LPC (Legal Practice Course), for those wanting to become solicitors.
To study for the CPE you need to apply through a central applications system similar to UCAS, providing information about yourself, your hobbies and interests, and why you want to become a lawyer (a question you will find yourself asked with increasing frequency, so it’s a good idea to formulate a convincing response). You indicate 3 institutions of your choice on the form and then wait for the response.
Applications to study for the BVC are made through the Centralised Applications and Clearing House (CACH) run by the Bar Council and should be completed by November, the year before commencement. Of the eight institutions that offer the BVC, three of them are based in London. It is necessary to join one of the four Inns of Court (Lincoln’s Inn, Gray’s Inn, Inner Temple and Middle Temple) by the end of June before beginning the BVC. Besides actually “calling to the Bar” those members who successfully complete the BVC, the Inns of Court, which are based near the High Court in London, provide a range of services for their members, offering library and dining facilities as well as a number of social and training activities. A limited number of scholarships and grants are also awarded by Inns to their members and this is often a deciding factor as to which Inn individuals apply.
The LPC is run by the Law Society and comprises of a number of compulsory subjects, such as business law and litigation, and two or three electives, where students can choose from a range of various specialist subjects. The deadline for applications for the LPC is typically August the year before, although the earlier the better. Currently, full-time LPC courses are run by 24 institutions, many of which are part of already established universities.
Financing Your Studies
With the CPE and LPC both costing somewhere around £10,000 for fees alone, it is important that you think well in advance how you are going to finance your studies. Some students prefer to take a year or two out before starting either their CPE or LPC in order to raise sufficient funds. Others take the courses part-time, enabling them to spread the cost of each course over two years, and allowing them to integrate work and study.
There are a few other options:
Most of the larger law firms offer some sort of sponsorship covering fees in return for you completing your period of training contract with them. Some also include extra funding such as a maintenance grant, usually around £3,500 - £4,000 in London, whereas others offer the option of an interest-free loan. It is important to apply early for training contracts, as you will be competing for financial assistance against the country’s top students.
Only a few students are successful in securing LEA grants, as many Local Education Authorities have ceased to fund postgraduate legal education. Nevertheless it may be worth contacting your LEA for details of this discretionary contribution.
There are various loan schemes available from different high street banks specifically aimed at law students. It is worth exploring the options to see which would suit you best, as regards how much you can borrow, the terms and conditions, etc.
There is a Law Society bursary scheme available, although it is heavily oversubscribed and only a lucky few can be successful. The scheme is means tested, so if you believe you qualify you should contact the Law Society.
Applying for a training contract
A training contract is basically the promise of a job following the LPC and is a requirement in order to complete your training fully. Qualification as a solicitor commences only after a 2-year period of working within a law firm and experiencing a number of different areas of law.
It is beneficial to make quite an early decision about exactly what type of law you want to practise (this is where work experience comes in useful) because the big City law firms require applications to be made a long time in advance. There are Law Society regulations preventing firms from poaching law students before November of their final year, however there are no such rules concerning the recruitment of non-law students. This means that non-law students can apply, be interviewed and accepted before any law students have even been considered, but it also means that they need to apply before they have actually studied any law or even finished their final year at university! A training contract with one of the larger national law firms not only means you can expect a good starting salary to help with your living expenses, but also that your fees for the CPE and LPC will be covered.
As soon as you decide to apply for a training contract you need to start your research into all the different law firms so that you know which ones fit your criteria. You will spend many long hours checking closing dates and filling in application forms. For non-law students this is usually the end of July, but it is best to try and submit any applications well before then. Not only does this demonstrate good organisational skills, but it could also give you a head start as many firms tend to recruit before the closing date has passed.
As with all application forms, you can expect several pages requiring detailed breakdowns of your academic career and sections asking you to describe times when you have shown initiative/ demonstrated leadership skills/ learnt from a mistake etc. You will not be expected to have sailed single-handedly around the world whilst simultaneously learning Serbo-Croat and gaining a black belt in karate! Just consider what attributes the company is looking for (eg. independence, determination and organisational skills) and then identify the things you have done which best reflect them.
A handy tip when filling in application forms is to photocopy/print off a form to practise on so as to avoid any crossings out or cramped writing on the final draft. Furthermore, do make sure you READ THE INSTRUCTIONS on the form!!! Many firms want your answers written in black ink and in your own handwriting – you will fail instantly if you have written in block capitals and blue ink. Although the questions for different firms are likely to be similar they will not be identical, so you must be very careful to ensure that each form is completed on an individual basis, having read the company brochure. No City giant is going to be thrilled to receive an application form explaining why you believe you belong in a provincial medium-sized firm!
As with any application for a much sought after career, you can expect fierce competition as there are always far more applications than there are places, so be prepared for rejection. If you do get an interview, however, it is vital that you make sure you are as well prepared as possible. The whole process of becoming a solicitor may seem long-winded, but if it is something you really want to pursue, don’t despair as you will get what you want eventually. Always remember that each law firm is different and will suit different people, so you just need to work out the one that’s right for you. Although rejections may hurt, they are preferable to being offered a training contract you wouldn’t enjoy in a place that you wouldn’t fit into.