Becoming a Lawyer - SAMEERA ANWAR

The shortest route to becoming a trainee solicitor is:

1) a three year law degree (LL.B.)
2) one year legal practice course (the L.P.C.)
3) two years as a training contract with a law firm (the Training Contract)

However, there are plenty of people who decide to become a solicitor without doing their degree in law. This is not a problem - you just need to undertake a one year conversion course after you have completed your degree called the CPE.

I did my training at a medium sized commercial practice in the regions with 30 partners and 4 offices across the Midlands. My training contract was split into 4x6month seats - each spent in a different department. The seats I undertook were: Corporate law, Commercial Property, Commercial Litigation and Employment law. I
chose my firm because it would give me experience of training in areas of commercial law. If you think you might like to specialise in e.g. criminal law then you need to find a firm which undertakes these areas of law: this is why choosing a training contract is so important.

During my training contract I was given more and more responsibility. At the begining I was taken along to meetings to make notes and also had to do basic administrative tasks and research for my department. However, by the end of my training contract, I was running my own files, dealing with clients, attending hearings and settling matters all on my own. It is very satisfying work.

I have just qualified and have been offered a job as an Employment Lawyer with a large practice in Birmingham. It has been a hard slog getting here but, I think its worth it.

Useful websites:
http://www.lawsociety.co.uk
http://www.lawmonkies.co.uk
http://www.thelawyer.co.uk