Solicitors (Training)

Question 1

What is usual to have to become a solicitor?

Answer 1

Law degree

Question 2

What can those with a degree in a subject other than law do?

Answer 2

Can do extra years training in core legal subjects & take the common professional examination or graduate diploma in law (GDL)

Question 3

Describe the legal practice course

Answer 3

Can be taken as a one year full time course or a two year part time course.
It is practically based & includes training in skills such as client-interviewing/negotiation/advocacy/drafting documents and legal research.

Question 4

When the LPC has been passed does the student become a qualified solicitor?

Answer 4

No

Question 5

What must the student do after the LPC?

Answer 5

Obtain a training contract where he works for a solicitors firm for two years getting practical experience.

Question 6

Where else can the training period be undertaken?

Answer 6

In other legal organisations e.g. Crown prosecution service/ Legal department of local authority

Question 7

What happens during the 2 year training contract?

Answer 7

• Trainee will be paid (not same as a fully qualified solicitor)
• Will do his own work
• Supervised by a solicitor
• Will have to complete a 20 day professional skills course which builds on the skills learned at the LPC

Question 8

What happens at the end?

Answer 8

Trainee will be admitted as a solicitor by the law society and his name will be added to the roll of solicitors.

Question 9

After qualifying what do solicitors have to do?

Answer 9

Attend continuing education courses to keep their knowledge up to date.