Becoming a Solicitor or Legal Executive

If you are looking at a career in law, you have a number of options available to you.

This flow chart shows the various methods of entering the profession:

Williamsons Solicitors employs Solicitors, Legal Executives, Licensed Conveyancers and Paralegals amongst various other non-fee earning rolls. The firm is a medium sized firm dealing in all aspects of law. Therefore, there is often opportunities across a broad spectrum of subject areas.

To become a Solicitor, you need to have completed a degree. If you have a degree in law, you can go straight to law school to study the Legal Practice Course for 1 year. If you do not have a qualifying law degree you would do 2 years at law school.

After you have finished law school you can apply for jobs in a law firm. You can work straight away as a paralegal or secretary. If you want to become a solicitor, you can either apply for training contract positions or can work in a firm and ask them to progress to a training contract after proving yourself in the firm. Alternatively, you can become a legal executive by working in a law firm straight from college or university and completing several modules until you reach a similar level of qualification to that of a solicitor.

The career path in law is not easy, you will be expected to work hard and prove yourself in the profession. There are several elements to learn as well as the legal work, such as explaining matters to clients and supporting them throughout your dealings. Organisation and time keeping are essential skills which will need to be honed to be successful in Law.

If you are interested in a career in law, or are already working in the legal profession, and would be interested in the exciting opportunities that Williamsons can offer, then please do not hesitate to send your CV and a cover letter to Brian Cook at brian.cook@williamsons.co.uk