Solicitors

Solicitors

1. General Facts

   • over 100 000 solicitors
   • Own professional body: the Law Society

2. Training

   • Law degree (LLB, 3 years, 8 parts)
   • Legal Practise Course
   • 2 Year Training Period
   • Qualified Solicitor + CPD
   • Any Degree
     • Graduate diploma in law
       • Legal Practise Course
         • 2 year Training Period
           • Qulaified Solicitor + CPD
   • 4 GCSE's
   • Institute of Legal Executives (Part 1 + 2)
     • Be admitted as a fellow of institute of Legal Executives
       • Legal Practise Course
         • Qualified solicitor
       • (must be ove age 25 and have worked for 5 years in a solicitors office)

3. Training Contract

   • Work in a solicitors firm for two years getting practical experience
   • Get paid at a much lower rate than when they are qualified
   • Have to complete a 20-day Professional Skills Course
   • After the course; join the role of solicitors
     • After qualifying do Continous Proffesional Development (CPD)

4. Non-graduate route

   • 4 GCSE's
     • ILEX
       • Only open to mature students and takes longer

5. Criticisms

   • High financial cost
   • Discriminates against poorer families
     • Results in large debts before employment
   • 25% of lawyers do not have a law degree
     • Argued that they do not posses enough knowledge
   • Too many students obtain the LPC who are unable to obtain a training contract