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Wherever you're heading - the City, a criminal practice in Blackpool or
the bar - the route to qualification is lengthy and undeniably hard
work. Once you've completed your A-levels you will need to study for at
least another four years, and then spend an extra two years as a
trainee, before you can receive your Law Society certificate allowing
you to practise as a solicitor. Following qualification it takes a
minimum of six years to be promoted into a partnership. Meanwhile, to
qualify as a barrister you also have to study for at least another four
years after your A-levels and will then need to spend a further year as
a pupil (trainee barrister).
The minimum entrance requirement for securing a training contract is a 2:1.
Law firms are not just keen to attract the most academically able of UK
graduates. They are also seeking those with good interpersonal
skills, a second language, work experience and an aptitude for working
to a deadline.
Finally, there are the fees for the postgraduate courses - the Common Professional Examination (CPE) or Graduate
Diploma in Law (GDL), the LPC and the Bar Vocational Course (BVC) -
which can be as much as £6,000, £9,000 and £6,000 respectively.
Thankfully, though, graduates who are fortunate enough to secure
training contracts with large commercial firms will receive sponsorship
and will not have to worry about paying for such fees themselves.
This guide will focus initially on becoming a Solicitor rather than entry to the Bar and the barrister and advocacy profession.
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