Overview
Lawyers play a crucial role in advising individuals, businesses, and governments on legal matters. The type of work you undertake in your law graduate career depends on the kind of lawyer you wish to become and the area of specialisation you choose. Solicitors work in a wide range of firms, each offering different working environments, training opportunities, salaries, and career progression paths. Meanwhile, barristers typically work in chambers or as in-house counsel, providing specialist legal advice and advocacy services in court.
There are over 90,000 solicitors working in private practice in England and Wales, with thousands more employed in-house by businesses, government bodies, and local authorities. Around 17,000 barristers work in chambers, primarily as self-employed professionals, while an estimated 250,000 paralegals assist in legal processes across various sectors. Legal professionals can find employment in law firms, barristers' chambers, government departments, private companies, and the court system.
The legal profession offers a variety of challenging and prestigious career opportunities. It is highly competitive, requiring significant training and financial investment. Once you decide to pursue a legal career, careful planning is essential, as the qualification pathways differ depending on whether you aim to become a solicitor, barrister, or legal executive.
Average Law Graduate Salary
Law Graduate Career Path
A law graduate career offers multiple paths, with different roles available depending on your interests and qualifications. The two main divisions of the legal profession are barristers and solicitors, but there are also opportunities as legal executives, paralegals, and legal researchers. Common job roles for law graduates include:
- Solicitor – Advising and representing clients in legal matters, negotiating settlements, and handling contracts, litigation, and business affairs. Solicitors can work in corporate law, family law, criminal law, intellectual property, and more.
- Barrister – Representing clients in court, providing specialist legal advice, and advocating in cases where solicitors cannot resolve disputes. Barristers typically work independently or in chambers.
- Legal Executive – Specialising in specific areas of law, such as conveyancing, probate, or litigation, and carrying out similar work to solicitors but without the same broad legal training.
- Paralegal – Assisting solicitors and barristers with case preparation, document management, and research. This role can lead to qualification as a solicitor or legal executive through work-based training.
- Legal Researcher / Analyst – Working in law libraries, legal publishing, or private firms to analyse legal cases, legislative changes, and legal precedents.
Training & Progression
- To become a solicitor, you will need to complete a Law degree (LLB) or a non-law degree followed by a Law Conversion Course (formerly known as the GDL). This is followed by the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and a two-year training contract within a law firm. The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) is now replacing the LPC, offering a new route to qualification.
- To become a barrister, you must complete the Bar Course (formerly BPTC) after your law degree or conversion course. This is followed by a one-year pupillage in a barristers' chambers before securing tenancy as a fully qualified barrister.
- Alternative legal careers, such as legal executives or paralegals, do not require full solicitor or barrister qualifications but may involve additional training through the Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx).
With experience, legal professionals can move into senior associate, partner, or in-house counsel roles, or transition into judiciary, academia, or corporate leadership positions.
Qualifications and Skills Needed
What proportion of candidates as a percent we place into Law graduate careers and the typical qualities graduate employers look for.
GRB Placements for Law by Degree
Typical Candidate Attributes
To succeed in the legal sector, you will need strong academic credentials, excellent analytical abilities, and the ability to communicate complex legal concepts effectively.
Key skills for a career in law:
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills – Ability to interpret and apply laws and regulations to real-world situations.
- Excellent written and verbal communication – Drafting legal documents, contracts, and court pleadings requires clarity and precision.
- Commercial awareness – Understanding how legal decisions impact businesses and clients.
- Attention to detail – Legal work requires accuracy and thoroughness in case preparation and documentation.
- Negotiation and advocacy skills – Particularly for barristers and solicitors dealing with client disputes and contract negotiations.
- Time management and resilience – Meeting tight deadlines while handling multiple cases.
Best degrees for a career in law:
- Law (LLB) – The most direct route to becoming a solicitor or barrister.
- Non-law degrees with a Law Conversion Course (GDL/SQE) – Common for graduates in politics, history, business, or economics who later decide to enter the legal profession.
- Specialist degrees – Some legal areas benefit from degrees in engineering (for patent law), medicine (for medical law), or finance (for corporate law).
The legal industry values well-rounded candidates with extracurricular involvement, work experience, and internship placements in law firms or legal departments.
Application & Recruitment Process
Applying for a legal career requires thorough preparation, strong academic records, and relevant work experience. Most law firms recruit two years in advance, so early applications are essential.
Common steps in the legal recruitment process:
- Online Application & CV Submission – Candidates must demonstrate academic excellence, legal knowledge, and relevant experience.
- Psychometric Testing & Case Studies – Many firms require logic, reasoning, and situational judgment tests to assess candidates’ problem-solving abilities.
- Assessment Centres – Includes group exercises, mock negotiations, client meetings, and legal research tasks.
- Vacation Schemes & Mini-Pupillages – Short-term placements in law firms or chambers, often a prerequisite for training contracts or pupillages.
- Final Interview & Offers – Conducted by partners or senior associates, focusing on legal knowledge, commercial awareness, and suitability for the firm.
Solicitor training contracts and barrister pupillages are highly competitive, so applicants should seek legal internships, voluntary work, and networking opportunities early in their studies.
Is a Career in Law Right for You?
Law is a demanding yet rewarding career path that requires dedication, resilience, and an ability to handle complex legal matters under pressure. Before committing, consider whether you have the skills, work ethic, and financial resources to complete the necessary training. You should consider a legal career if you:
- Have a strong interest in justice, business, or governance.
- Are a critical thinker who enjoys analysing complex problems.
- Possess strong writing, research, and communication skills.
- Are comfortable working long hours and handling pressure in high-stakes cases.
- Are willing to undertake extensive training and ongoing professional development.
Law offers a prestigious, intellectually stimulating, and financially rewarding career, but competition is fierce, and success depends on hard work, networking, and commitment to the profession.
Sources for Further Information
General Council of the Bar www.barcouncil.org.uk
Institute of Legal Executives www.cilex.org.uk
Law Society www.lawsociety.org.uk
Crown Prosecution Service www.cps.gov.uk
City of London Solicitors' Company www.citysolicitors.org.uk
The Solicitor Group www.thesolicitorsgroup.co.uk