solicitors

• solicitors

  • a client’s first point of contact with the legal profession
  • they provide legal advice and negotiate on behalf of their clients
  • they do advocacy work (appearing in court on behalf of their clients) most solicitors advocacy is limited to pre-trial hearings in the lower courts although some go on to do an extra qualification which gives them the higher rights to appear in higher courts and conduct trials (solicitor advocates)
• solicitors work in high street firms, city firms or “in house”
• the work of solicitors can be contentious (court work is involved in resolving a dispute) or non contentious (court work is not involved in resolving an dispute)
• training and qualification

  • the traditional route is to study for a 3 year qualifying law degree,includes core subjects e.g. tort, criminal and land law
  • this is then followed by completing the legal practice course, a post graduate course which lasts a year of taking full time or 2 years part time and cost between £10,000 - £15,000
  • once the legal practice course is completed, the student will obtain a training contract from the law firm this is paid employment and lasts 2 years the training solicitor must gain both contentious and non contentious experience
  • training solicitor admitted
• training and qualification (non law degree)

  • graduate a diploma in law (extra year in legal practice course)
• THE SQE

  • degree - level qualification (includes solicitor apprenticeships)
  • 2 years of qualifying work experience
  • SQE 1 and 2 (candidate must also meet character and sustainability requirements)
  • admitted to role
• solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority an independent body which seeks to ensure that high standards are maintained

  the SRA sets out standards for qualifying a solicitor, monitors the quality of training and refers complaints to the solicitors disciplinary tribunal