If you have ever been in the situation where you have meticulously planned for every possible outcome only to discover that the most minor initial problem has now assumed major proportions and a solution has to be found – and fast….then you are ideal material for a career in the legal profession.

At first glance being a lawyer might appear to have nothing in common with being a member of the Armed Forces but many of the transferable skills you have acquired during your Forces career will stand you in good stead.

Analysing a situation, recognising potential difficulties and the relevant solutions to them, communicating effectively with team members and others from many different backgrounds, being prepared to work long hours when required to get the job done and dealing calmly with sometimes stressful situations  - sound familiar? You could find yourself employing all these talents in a legal sphere.

So what qualifications do you need? Answering that means that you have to make an initial decision about whether you want to train as a solicitor or a barrister. All the information in this article relates to becoming a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales – Scotland has a different legal structure and consequently uses a different training framework for its potential lawyers.

It may help to think of the distinction between a solicitor and a barrister as similar to the difference between a GP and a consultant in the NHS. The solicitor is the lawyer initially seen by the client, whether the issue is one of a will to be drafted or dealt with after death, a divorce, a company merger or what to do after you have been charged with a criminal offence. If the issue is a complex one or requires more detailed specialist knowledge, the solicitor may refer the matter to a barrister (the consultant) for what is termed “Counsel’s opinion”.

The greatest difference between the two branches is that barristers are self-employed and thus responsible for all their own paperwork such as VAT and income tax (unless they work in-house for a large organisation). Solicitors, in contrast, work mainly in private practice in firms which can range from one or two partner offices to very large affairs with over 200 partners and offices in many different countries. Solicitors can also be found in local and central government organisations. On a more frivolous note, barristers are the ones who wear the wigs in court, although the advent of “higher court rights” has meant that solicitors too are able to appear in courts such as the Crown Court, minus the wigs however!

For non-graduates the quickest route to qualification either as a solicitor or barrister is to take a law degree (usually LL.B) at a university. Graduates who then wish to become solicitors will progress to the one-year Legal Practice Course (LPC) which is offered by a number of providers including The College of Law  - all of whom are accredited by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Aspiring barristers will undertake the one year Bar Vocational Course, soon to be confusingly re-named the Bar Professional Training Course, which is offered by fewer providers and is regulated by the Bar Standards Board.

Both courses are rigorous and designed to introduce the budding lawyer to the practical realities of life as a practitioner. There is therefore much emphasis on such skills as legal research, drafting documents, advocacy and negotiation.

On successful completion of the LPC, trainee solicitors will complete a two-year training contract with a firm or organisation (essentially an apprenticeship), which they must organise for themselves. At the end of this they will be admitted to the Roll and become fully fledged solicitors.

Barristers must undertake a year’s pupillage with an established Chambers (again, organised by themselves). The first six months will be “non-practising” i.e. watching and learning; the second six will be the time when they are able to appear in court and represent clients.

If you have a degree in a non–law subject you can convert to a legal career by completing the one-year Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), which is designed to give a thorough grounding in the basic principles of English law. Again a number of providers are available, including The College of Law. On successful completion of the GDL you can then go on to undertake either the LPC or the BVC. It’s worth noting that legal employers are happy to take graduates with good degrees in any discipline – it doesn’t have to be a law degree.

There are other routes to qualification without a degree – you can become a Legal Executive within a firm and work towards becoming a solicitor. This takes longer and will involve working whilst you study (as opposed to full-time academic study). Non graduates may prefer this route as the minimum required qualification is four GCSEs (including English Language /Literature). On this specific point look at the ILEX website – www.ilex.org.uk

So, what now? If you’re seriously contemplating a career in law, get researching. The internet is a good place to start. Below is a list of useful websites for further information.

And although there is currently a recession, which is affecting the legal market as much as any other, bear in mind that so long as people get married or live together and then break up (Family law), make wills and die –or die without a will (Wills and Probate), form companies and merge with other companies (Corporate and Commercial law) or break the law (Criminal law) – to mention only a few areas in which a lawyer may be involved – there will always be a demand for experienced and talented individuals to join the legal profession.

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