The Beginner’s Guide to a Career in Law

Welcome

The Beginner’s Guide to a Career in Law sponsored by The University of Law

Read the guide now

Becoming a solicitor

Discover what you need to do to become a solicitor

Visit the Solicitor hub

Becoming a barrister

Discover what you need to do to become a barrister

Visit the Barrister hub

Education hub

Find your undergraduate or postgraduate law course

Visit the Education hub

Welcome Becoming a solicitor Becoming a barrister Education hub

Sponsored by

The Beginner's Guide to a Career in Law

Your essential first step to a career in law

Sponsored by

Key law career questions

Find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about a career in the legal sector

Sponsored by

Key law career deadlines

Discover several key events and deadlines that you need to diarise

Sponsored by

Reality check

Without wanting to detract from the exciting and challenging legal career on offer, here are some things to bear in mind

Beginner's Guide

First steps checklist

Here's what you can do even before you start university

First-year checklist

Find out what you should be doing in your first year at university as a law or non-law student

Meet the Lawyer

Read how today's lawyers went from student to qualified lawyer

Legal career paths

Take a look at our simple career timetable

Solicitor versus barrister

What's the difference and which career would suit you? Use this guide to get you started

Meet the Recruiter

Rachel Chapman

Early talent manager Rachel Chapman shares the most common ways candidates let themselves down, what you need to know about Trowers & Hamlins LLP and all the ways the firm prioritises diversity and inclusion.

Meet the Lawyer

Daniel Millard

Daniel Millard, an associate in Cooley (UK) LLP’s cyber/data/privacy team, speaks about the important role work experience had on his career, his decision to pursue a career as a technology lawyer and how his team intersects with the rest of the firm in this Meet the Lawyer profile.

Meet the Recruiter

Sarah Warnes

Hear from Sarah Warnes, Cooley (UK) LLP’s trainee recruitment and legal talent manager, as she outlines the firm’s recruitment processes, what Cooley wants to see from applicants and more in this Meet the Recruiter interview.

Meet the Lawyer

William Jay

William Jay, an associate at Morrison Foerster, outlines what it was about the leading global law firm that stood out to him when he was making training contract applications, as well as what makes it a great place to work.

Videos

See more videos

Masterclass | How to research law firms

LawCareersNetLIVE London 2023: trainee panel

Five top tips for FIRST YEAR LAW STUDENTS

First steps for those considering a LEGAL CAREER

Masterclass | Legal apprenticeships

Vacation Scheme Insiders

Bashira Koya

University

University of Birmingham

Subject

History

Started

June 2023

Vacation Scheme Insiders

Durham University

Philosophy

Spring 2024

Vacation Scheme Insiders

Jane Xiu

University

King's College London

Subject

Biochemistry

Started

June 2022

"Where should I start?"

Practice areas

Find out what life is like in practice

Becoming a solicitor

Find out what becoming a solicitor involves

Becoming a barrister

Find out what becoming a barrister involves

Becoming an in-house lawyer

Find out what becoming an in-house lawyer involves

Feature

Bar courses: a student’s guide to barrister training 2024/25

To become a barrister, students must pass a Bar course at an education provider that's been approved by the Bar Standards Board (BSB). All aspiring barristers must complete a Bar course in order to be ‘called to the Bar’, which enables you to apply for a pupillage. Read LawCareers.Net’s guide to Bar courses to understand what you need to do to reach qualification as a barrister.

Ask the Oracle

How do I become a human rights barrister?

I want to become a human rights barrister but I keep hearing that only Oxbridge students get pupillages. Is this true?

LCN Says

Dimitar Dimitrov - Five things you can do to get ahead as a non-law student

Dimitar Dimitrov

Non-law students often worry that their degree is an invisible barrier between themselves and the legal profession. This simply isn’t true.

Most Recent

About the legal sector

What lawyers do

Learn more about the branches of the legal profession, areas of law, and practice areas

Types of lawyers

Read our table of key facts to help you distinguish between the different types of lawyers

Paralegals

Find out about this distinct group of legal professionals

Work experience

Find out about the various work experience opportunities available for aspiring lawyers

News

Law firm revenues on the rise

Shoosmiths, Linklaters LLP and Weightmans LLP have each published record-breaking financial results for the 2023/24 financial year, with Shoosmiths’ revenue surpassing the £200-million mark for the first time.

News

More law firms boost NQ pay and reveal SQE grants

DLA Piper UK LLP, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, Reed Smith and Ashurst LLP have become the latest law firms to increase their newly qualified (NQ) lawyer salaries.

News

Dentons sets “great example” as it receives menopause accreditation

City law firm Dentons becomes one of six law firms to achieve Menopause Friendly Accreditation across its offices in the UK, Ireland and the Middle East.

News

Burges Salmon, A&O Shearman and BCLP reveal trainee retention rates

Burges Salmon LLP is “thrilled to report” that all of the firm’s 24 qualifying trainees have accepted roles at the firm.

Beginner's Guide to a Career in Law

Beginner's Guide

Videos

"Where should I start?"

Most Recent

About the legal sector

More insights

Most Recent

Podcasts

Popular