How to become a lawyer

What is a lawyer?

Lawyer is a general term referring to anyone who is qualified to give legal advice as a licensed legal practitioner.

They provide legal advice, draft legal documents and represent people in court. In the UK, 'lawyer' is commonly used to refer to both solicitors and barristers.

Other legal jobs that are sometimes referred to as 'lawyers' include:

• Chartered legal executives - qualified lawyers that specialise in particular fields of law, such as civil and criminal litigation, corporate law or public law. Only those who complete the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives' (CILEx) training programme can use this title.
• Paralegals - carry out legal work without being qualified as a solicitor or barrister. They support lawyers by preparing briefing notes and interviewing clients and witnesses.

What's the difference between a solicitor and a barrister?

• Solicitors provide legal support, advice and services to clients, who can be individuals, private companies, public sector organisations or other groups. Working in private practice, in-house for commercial organisations, in local or central government or in the court service, they may specialise in certain areas of law such as property, family or finance.
• In England and Wales, barristers represent individuals or organisations in court, research points of law and advise clients on their cases. Many are self-employed in chambers, while others work in government departments or agencies, including the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Government Legal Profession. Advocates play a similar role in Scotland.

To help you decide which path would suit you, arrange work shadowing and work experience placements and attend insight days. Find out more about law careers and the different areas of law.

What law qualifications do I need?

A-level subjects for law

There are no essential A-level subjects for studying law. However, to demonstrate that you have the skills and competencies necessary, choose subjects that involve research, analysis and communication, such as:

• economics
• English literature
• geography
• history
• law (if it's an option at your school)
• maths
• modern languages
• sciences
• sociology.

Be aware that many universities do not accept general studies or critical thinking A-levels.

Legal work is intellectually challenging and competitive, so universities expect excellent A-level grades as evidence that you'll be able to cope with the demands of studying law. Entry requirements for an undergraduate law degree at top universities typically range from A*AA to AAB. Other institutions have less stringent criteria, so check when searching for courses.

Some universities specify required GCSE grades in English, maths and possibly a foreign language.

In addition, to study undergraduate law at certain universities you'll have to take the National Admissions Test for Law (LNAT) as part of your application. Institutions that require the LNAT as part of your application include:

• Durham University
• Kings College London
• SOAS University of London
• The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
• University of Bristol
• University of Cambridge
• University College London (UCL)
• University of Glasgow
• University of Oxford.

This does not test your knowledge of law - instead, it assesses your aptitude for the required skills. Fees for those taking the LNAT at a UK or European Union (EU) test centre are £75 and £120 for those outside the EU.

Qualifying as a solicitor

Becoming a solicitor via the university route requires you to complete a qualifying law degree (LLB) before taking the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), which will eventually replace traditional routes to qualification such as the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) and Legal Practice Course (LPC).

Your degree doesn't have to be in law though - you can study an unrelated subject at undergraduate level and still become a solicitor. However, for those with a non-law degree it is recommended (though not compulsory) to complete a law conversion course (commonly the Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL)) or an SQE preparation course, which provides you with the foundations of legal knowledge.

The next step on the SQE route is to complete two years of qualifying legal work experience (QWE), which can take the form of a training contract, before passing the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) character and suitability requirements. You can then apply for admission to the roll of solicitors.

Alternatively, it's possible to complete a Solicitor Apprenticeship, which is a six-year, Level 7 programme aimed at A-level graduates, paralegals and chartered legal executives. Graduate solicitor apprenticeships are also starting to emerge. These follow the same format as a solicitor apprenticeship but instead are aimed at degree holders and take roughly two to three years to complete. Find out more about law apprenticeships.

Qualifying as a barrister

To become a barrister in England and Wales you need to complete at least three stages or components of training. These include:

• academic component (law degree)
• vocational component (a Bar course)
• work-based learning component (pupillage).

After completing all training components you're ready to apply for tenancy as a self-employed barrister in chambers or go into practice as an employed barrister.

Qualifying as a CILEx Lawyer

You can also become a CILEx (Chartered Institute of Legal Executives) Lawyer through the CILEx Professional Qualification (CPQ) route. Combining work with study you'll progress across three stages:

• Foundation - aligned to the role of a paralegal
• Advanced - for those handling cases at an advanced paralegal level
• Professional - for those who want to be CILEX Lawyers in their chosen specialist area of law and with full practice rights.

Students who already hold an undergraduate or postgraduate legal qualification will not have to start at the beginning.

Qualifying as a CILEX Lawyer through the CPQ costs around £12,500-£13,000. Candidates who already hold a legal qualification and benefit from exemptions may pay considerably less, typically from around £6,700. Additional costs may apply for certain advocacy pathways

Qualifying as a paralegal

You can study for paralegal qualifications by joining a relevant professional body such as the National Association of Licensed Paralegals (NALP) or CILEX. Via the NALP you can study entry-level certificates through to postgraduate level diplomas.

It's also possible to become a paralegal through the completion of a Level 3 paralegal apprenticeship.

Law graduates looking to gain qualifying work experience to become solicitors or those aiming to build experience in the sector before training to become barristers can find work as paralegals in law firms.

Can I become a lawyer with a 2:2 or a third?

Law is such a competitive sector that even candidates with top grades can sometimes struggle to get QWE, a training contract or pupillage after their studies.

Firms tend to look for a 2:1. However, if your results don’t best represent you, bear in mind that a lot of law firms allow you to explain mitigating circumstances, while others don't look at grades at all, rather just your eligibility to complete a training contract or QWE.

If you have a 2:2 or a third rather than applying for magic circle or major city firms, a more realistic approach is to make speculative applications to smaller high street solicitors.

Make your application stand out in other ways by gaining valuable work and life experience, demonstrating your understanding of the key skills gained through this, and how they may transfer to a legal environment.

Find out more about writing a legal CV and cover letter.

How long does it take to become a lawyer?

If you study full time, it takes five or six years to qualify as a solicitor. This includes a three-year law degree, the SQE assessments and two years of qualifying legal work experience. If you didn't study law you'll need to factor in studying for a law conversion course and/or an SQE preparation course, both of which can extend the training period.

Becoming a barrister takes five years - including three years for your law degree, one year for a Bar course and a one-year pupillage in chambers. Again, add an extra year for a law conversion course if your degree wasn't in law.

If you're studying to become a lawyer via the CILEx CPQ, each stage will take between 18 months and two years - although students can progress at whatever speed suits them - meaning a student could qualify as a CILEX Lawyer in five to six years.

What are the best law schools in the UK?

According to the Times World University Rankings by subject 2026, the following UK universities top the list for law:

• University of Cambridge
• University of Oxford
• University College London (UCL)
• London School of Economics and Political Science
• University of Edinburgh
• King's College London
• University of Glasgow
• Queen Mary University of London
• Durham University
• University of Bristol.

The Universities of Glasgow, Nottingham, Surrey and Warwick also appear in the top 100.

Where you choose to study should be based on your own research into different locations, institutions and their facilities, reputations, industry connections and employability records. It's a personal choice - just because an institution tops the rankings doesn't necessarily mean it's right for you.

Find out more about choosing a university.

What skills will I need to become a solicitor or barrister?

In addition to strong academic grades, there are certain skills you'll need to demonstrate to become a lawyer.

A good indicator of what's required is the LNAT, which is used by some universities as an entrance exam for law degrees. It assesses your:

• verbal and written reasoning skills
• ability to understand and interpret information
• inductive and deductive reasoning abilities
• ability to analyse information and draw conclusions.

To find out more about specific skills, see Essential skills for a successful law career.

How do I get legal work experience?

Getting plenty of law work experience is vital if you want to become a lawyer. It'll help you to develop the required skills and learn whether it's the right career for you.

Organise informal work experience with high street legal firms before going to university. This could be a couple of weeks spent work shadowing a solicitor and carrying out general office duties. Placements like this, arranged independently, look good on applications for law degrees.

During your studies, apply for formal work placements. These include vacation schemes at law firms, which take place during academic holidays, and mini-pupillages in barristers' chambers.

Other ways to gain useful experience include:

• court marshalling (sitting with a judge for a few days)
• getting involved in your university's law or debating society
• undertaking pro bono work (advising and representing people on a voluntary basis).

Online platforms such as Forage provide valuable work experience, as well as a certificate of completion that is recognised by many law firms. Citizens Advice is also a great way to develop your soft skills.

What will prevent me from becoming a lawyer?

There are no age limits on training to become a lawyer but there are certain circumstances that may hinder your chances of becoming a solicitor or barrister, such as:

• Failing to achieve the required qualifications. Working as a solicitor or barrister is a graduate profession and you must complete all elements of training before being accepted onto the roll of solicitors or being called to the Bar.
• Failing to pass character and suitability and 'fit and proper person' checks. The SRA assesses character and suitability before admitting anyone onto the roll of solicitors and the Inns of Court carry out 'fit and proper person' checks before pupil barristers can be called to the Bar. Failing to pass these requirements will prohibit you from working as a solicitor or barrister.
• A criminal record. Certain types of convictions and cautions may prevent you from becoming a lawyer. You won't automatically be disqualified; the SRA handle situations on a case-by-case basis but it's essential that you disclose your criminal record when asked, with honesty. Failure to disclose could result in a refusal to submit you to the roll of solicitors.
• Debt, County Court Judgements (CCJs) and bankruptcy. Like with a criminal record, financial troubles don’t automatically disqualify you from becoming a solicitor. However, failure to disclose them during the SRA's character and suitability checks will work against you.

Find out more

• Read about diversity in the legal profession.
• Discover the reality of working in law.
• Learn more about the 9 questions you might be asked in a law interview.
• Find out how much lawyers earn.