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Your questions, answered.

The routes into law, and how to work out which one fits you.

How do you become a solicitor in England and Wales?

Four stages: a degree in any subject, a conversion course if your degree was not in law, the two SQE assessments, and two years of qualifying work experience, which for most people is a training contract at a firm.

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What is the difference between a solicitor and a barrister?

Solicitors advise clients directly and run matters end to end, usually as employees of a firm. Barristers specialise in advocacy and are mostly self-employed in chambers, instructed by solicitors. The training routes are separate from the start.

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Do you need a law degree to become a solicitor?

No. Any degree subject is accepted, and commercial firms recruit heavily from non-law backgrounds. Non-law graduates take a conversion course before sitting the SQE.

How do you write a first-class law essay?

Answer the question that was asked, take a clear position, and spend most of your words on analysis rather than description. Marks come from weighing authority and counterargument, not from how much you can summarise.

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What skills do law firms actually look for?

Commercial awareness, clear written communication, attention to detail and the ability to work with other people under time pressure. Firms look for evidence of these from any part of your life, not only from legal work experience.