How to become a solicitor

Source: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/careers/graduate-jobs/how-to-become/how-to-become-a-solicitor Parent: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/careers/graduate-jobs/how-to-become

Find out more about the route to becoming a solicitor in England and Wales, and how our law degrees have been designed to prepare you for your career.

Information is correct as of March 2025. Before deciding whether to pursue a career, you’re advised to contact your college careers service for the most up-to-date guidance.

What does a solicitor do?

Solicitors provide expert legal advice on a range of personal and business issues. They may work with private or commercial clients depending on the size of their firm. Although they usually specialise in one area of law, a solicitor's training is broad and will usually involve learning about many areas of legal practise. With changes being made to how you qualify as a solicitor, here's everything you need to know - including how a Sussex law degree can give you all the preparation you need.

EXPLORE LAW AT SUSSEX

Qualifications required

The introduction of the Solicitors' Qualifying Exam (SQE) means that anyone aspiring to become a solicitor in England and Wales will need to take the SQE. You can learn more about the new requirements from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

Although no longer formally required, law degrees still offer one of the best routes into a career as a solicitor - including the development of practical skills like arguing and persuasion, and the opportunity for real-world legal experience.

How Sussex can help you become a solicitor

At Sussex we offer a range of undergraduate law degrees that will give you an excellent understanding of English law, as well as an opportunity to explore international, European and Canadian law. Over the course of three years you'll be able to gain valuable experience through our Sussex Law Clinics, and can even train to offer legal advice to the public, setting you up for a career in law.

Even if you already have an undergraduate degree in another subject, our newly launched MA in Law will not only provide you with a solid foundation of legal knowledge, but also provide a solid grounding for future SQE preparation. This MA additionally covers all the areas required by the Bar Standard Board for anyone wanting to become a barrister.

Our partnership with the global legal education provider BARBRI also means that our Sussex students (as well as our alumni) will receive a discount on the prep fees for the first stage of the SQE assessment (SQE1).

Read how Professor Amir Paz-Fuchs, Head of Law at Sussex, took the SQE and became a qualified solicitor.

If you haven’t studied a degree yet, and you’re considering one, browse our related subject areas at Sussex (you should check your course is accredited by the correct body):

Law
Criminology.

Already a Sussex student? Find out more about the solicitor career path and other related careers using our sector guide.

How to get experience as a solicitor

It's important to get as much work experience as possible if you want to become a solicitor. Here's some of the ways you can get experience whilst studying a law degree with Sussex:

give legal advice assistance to the public through our Sussex Law Clinics
take part in national and international mooting competitions, sponsored by leading law firms
undertake a vacation scheme at a solicitor's firm, with advice and information from our dedicated law school employability team
join the Student Law Society
attend our extensive law employability events programme
visit our annual law fair to talk to dedicated legal professionals.

You could also try:

getting voluntary work in a legal setting such as The Free Representation Unit
sitting in the public gallery at criminal court hearings so you can witness proceedings
getting a part-time job at a solicitors or law firm
working in a court in roles such as a court usher.

How to get a law degree

To get on to a law degree you usually need three A-levels and a range of GCSEs. See what qualifications you need to study Law at Sussex.

Your subjects don't have to be law-related but it might be helpful to take courses with strong research and communication elements, such as law, history, geography, politics, the sciences and languages.

Taking these kind of subjects may also help you when writing about your decision to study a law degree in your personal statement.

See our guide to writing a UCAS personal statement and writing a Masters personal statement.

Skills required

You will need to be:

analytical
accurate, logical and methodical
a good problem solver
confident
meet deadlines and work well under pressure
a good communicator.

Careers website Prospects has good advice about becoming a lawyer and a job profile of a solicitor.

Earning potential for a solicitor

£28kstarting salary for qualified solicitors in a regional firm or smaller commercial practice (but this depends on your employer).
£65kstarting salary in larger commercial firms (but this depends on your employer).
37hour working week is what you'll generally be contracted to, although you can expect to work longer hours during busier periods.
6 yearsis how long it can take to qualify as a solicitor.

salary based on information from careers website Prospects.

Other career paths in law

See some of the other legal roles/careers you can go into in the UK:

barrister
paralegal
chartered legal executive
costs lawyer.

Studying at Sussex

If you choose to study your degree at Sussex, you’ll benefit from:

careers support for up to three years after you graduate
the chance to join our alumni network Sussex Connect
mentoring schemes so you get real-world advice, support and experience while you study.