What is the Duration Required to Become a Lawyer? - PUSTAKAGAYO

 

Numerous aspiring lawyers often have questions about the typical time it takes to qualify. To address this, let's explore different pathways to becoming solicitors or barristers (along with the associated challenges).

How Long Does It Take to Become as a Lawyer?

Alas, the central question of this article cannot be answered in just a sentence or two. Instead, the answer depends on several factors, such as the specific type of lawyer you aspire to be, the chosen path you undertake, and even the starting point from which you decide to measure the duration.

GCSE and A Levels

A robust academic background is essential for all aspiring lawyers, as it continues to be a sought-after skill by law firms and Chambers. Achieving good performance in GCSEs (usually at age 16) and A Levels (usually at age 18) is crucial for students. Selecting relevant subjects for these exams will better prepare you for a career in law, and striving for the highest grades possible is advisable. Let's begin counting the journey from the moment you finish your A Levels.

Potential Challenges:

Not everyone achieves the expected grades, and this can impact your journey. For many individuals, this might lead to re-sits. If your A Level grades fall short of meeting the entry requirements on results day, you may consider applying to another university through UCAS' Clearing service. This should not be perceived as a major setback, and in most cases, it does not affect the duration of your path to qualification. It's a minor hurdle that can be overcome positively.

University

Subsequently, most aspiring lawyers typically enroll in a 3-year university program (choosing the right university is another important consideration). Currently, this is a mandatory step for all barristers, and most solicitors also opt for university education, although the solicitor apprenticeship route is now becoming more accessible, as we will discuss further below.

During university, you have the option to pursue a qualifying law degree or choose a different subject altogether. Once again, building a strong academic record is crucial, aiming for at least a 2.1 grade if possible. Some firms, like Slaughter and May, are renowned for pushing their future trainees to achieve first-class honors.

During the penultimate and final year of university, many aspiring lawyers begin applying for graduate roles in law, specifically training contracts for solicitors and pupillage for barristers.

Potential Challenges:

Attaining top marks at university can be challenging, and some students may need re-sits for certain modules. The workload in general can become overwhelming at times, leading some students to consider deferring for a year, known as rustication in places like Oxford. However, these setbacks should not deter you from achieving your ultimate goal. In fact, they can be valuable opportunities to regroup and come back stronger for some individuals.

It's essential to recognize that the majority of people may not secure training contracts or pupillage on their first attempt, and they may encounter numerous rejections. Starting law school (the next step) without a sponsor behind you is not uncommon, and it shouldn't be considered a significant obstacle in continuing your journey.

Law School

After graduating from university, the next step is typically attending a law school, such as BPP or the University of Law (where you'll need to choose from a few options).

If you hold a non-qualifying law degree (like a non-qualifying BA in Law or a degree in English, History, etc.), you'll need to undergo a one-year conversion course (formerly known as the GDL, now usually called the PGDL) to catch up on the legal concepts your peers learned during their law degrees.

In the second year of law school (or the first year for those with a qualifying law degree from university), the paths diverge for solicitors and barristers. Aspiring solicitors will proceed to take the SQE (previously the LPC - soon to be discontinued) for one year, while aspiring barristers will pursue a bar course.

Potential Challenges:

Once again, achieving the grades can be challenging (though most law firms or Chambers do not necessarily require a distinction in every module, and a pass is often sufficient). At this stage, it's possible that you may not have secured a training contract or pupillage yet – but this should not be a significant cause for concern.

Gaining Compulsory Work Experience

After completing law school, gaining work experience that qualifies you as a lawyer is the next step.

For solicitors, this involves undertaking two years (usually split into four six-month periods known as seats) of approved 'QWE' (qualifying work experience), often obtained through a training contract with a law firm or in-house as a lawyer at a different company. Many seek to secure an associate position after this stage.

For barristers, completing pupillage is necessary, which is a one-year course (split into two six-month periods known as sixes) typically spent at a barrister's Chambers. The next goal is often securing tenancy (essentially full-time employment, though barristers remain to some extent self-employed).

Throughout this training period, you can expect to earn a decent salary (usually around £50,000 per annum for top firms/Chambers).

Upon successfully completing this journey, congratulations – you are now a qualified lawyer.

Potential Challenges:

Transitioning into the workplace presents various challenges, such as the need to adapt to working as part of a team (which might be relatively new for you at this stage of your legal career) and communicating effectively with clients. However, with time and experience, you will undoubtedly improve in these areas.

Working in the legal field often involves intense and long hours, which must be balanced by taking care of yourself and choosing a firm that aligns with your work-life balance requirements.

What If I Cannot Secure Work Experience?

It is entirely common to face challenges when pursuing sought-after training contract and pupillage offers, as these opportunities are highly competitive (though acceptance rates may vary based on the specific organization). Continuing to apply even during law school and beyond is not a catastrophic situation by any means.

Another noteworthy point is that the SQE's requirements for QWE no longer mandate completing a training contract exclusively. Instead, work experience as a paralegal or volunteering in a legal clinic (to name a few examples) is often accepted as qualifying work experience – both of which are typically less competitive routes compared to training contracts.

What If I Complete A Solicitor Apprenticeship?

As previously mentioned, some aspiring solicitors opt to pursue a solicitor apprenticeship after A Levels instead of attending university. There are several differences between these two paths that you must consider in your specific situation. However, it's essential to note that this route generally takes a similar amount of time as the traditional path (around 6-7 years until reaching qualification).

Key Takeaways

The path to becoming a qualified lawyer in the UK can significantly vary depending on various factors. Generally, an approximate estimate for the process (starting after completing A Levels) is around 5-7 years.

It's essential to consider that setbacks and delays may occur during the journey. Taking a gap year during or before university, or needing an additional year to secure qualifying work experience, is quite common and should not be a cause for concern. Each individual follows their unique path to becoming a lawyer, and imposing a rigid standard of what that path should entail can be misleading at times.