There are approximately 85,000 practising solicitors and 10,000 barristers in England and Wales, who come under the auspices of the Law Society and Bar Council respectively. With just over 12,000 students graduating each year with law-related degrees, yet only around 6000 jobs available (“first six” pupillages and training contracts), competition is extremely fierce, especially for the most sought after positions. Nevertheless, not all law graduates choose to pursue a legal career and an increasing proportion (almost one third) of the graduates that join the Law Society annually are non-law graduates, having completed the CPE conversion exams.Once you have decided to pursue a legal career, it is vital that you take some time to consider which particular field you wish to move into, as training is separate and it is very unlikely you will be able to transfer later on. There are many different ways of approaching a law-related career and careful planning should help you match your personality and abilities to the most suitable branch.
There are also financial considerations that must be taken into account. To qualify as either a solicitor or a barrister is not only demanding intellectually, but can also be expensive (approx. £10,000 for each year of study), especially if you are unable to secure funding for all, or part, of your studies. Some students end up studying on a part-time basis, while others work in the evenings or at weekends to help make ends meet. Try to assess how likely you will be to receive funding or be offered a training contract, and what your alternative plans are, should you be unsuccessful.
A solicitor advises their client on legal matters, which will depend on the size of their firm and the field they have chosen to specialise in. There are many types of firms specialising in both commercial and private client work (over 10,000 in the UK at present), which range from small companies, with only a couple of partners, to medium-sized firms, regional firms and large City-based firms. While those working in smaller firms tend to have a more general outlook, solicitors in the larger City-based firms will be expected to specialise in a particular area.Commercial solicitors are likely to find themselves advising corporate clients on business matters or representing private clients over matters of tax, property, wills etc. and so need to have expert knowledge of areas such as EC law, litigation and intellectual property rights.
Qualification as a solicitor commences only after completing the LPC, followed by a 2-year period working within a firm and experiencing several different areas of law, as governed by the Law Society. All types of law firms, from High Street Legal Aid practices to huge multinational partnerships, take on trainee solicitors. While smaller firms may recruit after or near completion of the LPC, the larger firms typically recruit two years in advance, offering to pay both fees and maintenance to successful candidates through sponsorship.Work can typically involve research, drafting contracts and agreements, negotiating and representing clients in court. Hours can often be quite demanding as deadlines loom, sometimes requiring weekend work, and those working for large firms may also be expected to travel abroad occasionally. The range of opportunities and levels, that legal work offers qualified solicitors, however, means that law still remains a highly attractive and popular career choice for graduates.
The role of the barrister differs considerably from that of the solicitor. Barristers present cases at the Bar, representing clients as defence or prosecution. They are self-employed and experts in advocacy, advising on points of law in their specialist field (criminal, chancery, family, commercial etc.). Work involves drafting legal documents, advising solicitors, preparing cases, researching points of law, and examining and cross-examining witnesses in court. Skills required for the job include an eye for detail, the ability to memorise facts and complex arguments, as well as the ability to work under pressure.
Before an individual can qualify as a barrister and achieve tenancy (a permanent position in a chambers) individuals must first undertake typically two to three six month periods, “sixes”, to complete their pupillage. Applications are made to chambers through OLPAS. For the “first six” pupils spend most of their time work-shadowing their “pupilmaster/mistress”, before getting limited opportunities to do cases themselves in the “second six”. Pupillages tend to be not only exciting and informative but also quite stressful experiences, as competition is intense with, for example, 4-5 pupils all trying to secure one of the two tenancies available.
Even after achieving tenancy, individuals, as self-employed professionals, must then set about establishing themselves in their speciality. This requires self-discipline, strong time-management skills and hard work, often involving long hours and significant amounts of travel on a daily basis. Nevertheless, despite the evident trials and tribulations that must be overcome, those who do succeed end up in a career which enjoys high esteem and has the potential to earn substantial financial rewards.