Solicitors Training

Question 1

If someone has a degree in a subject other than law what can they do to become a solicitor?

Answer 1

they can do an extra years training in core legal subjects and take the Common Professional Examination (CPE) or Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)

Question 2

What are the 2 qualifications someone can take in order to become a solicitor if they have not done a law degree?

Answer 2

Common professional Examination (CPE)

Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)

Question 3

How long is the Legal Practice Course (LPC)?

Answer 3

either

• 1 year full term course
• 2 year part time course

Question 4

What training skills are involved in the LPC?
(5)
BLINDA

Answer 4

• client-interviewing
• negotiation
• advocacy
• drafting documents
• legal research
• business management

Question 5

After the LPC what must a student do before they are a qualified solicitor?

Answer 5

They must next obtain a training contract in a solicitors firm to work for two years getting practical experience

Question 6

As well as a solicitors firm where else can the training period be undertaken? (2)

Answer 6

• Crown Prosecution Service

- Legal department of a local authority

Question 7

Will the trainee be paid during their training contract?

Answer 7

Yes they will be paid but not the same rate as a fully qualified solicitor

Question 8

During the training contract what else will the trainee need to do?

Answer 8

must complete a 20 day Professional Skills Course which builds on the skills of the LPC

Question 9

What does the 20 day Professional Skills Course do?

Answer 9

this builds on the skills of the LPC

Question 10

What will happen after the 2 year training period?

Answer 10

they will be admitted as a solicitor by the Law Society and their name will be added to the roll of solicitors

Question 11

Even after qualifying what do solicitors have to continually do?

Answer 11

continually must attend education courses to keep their knowledge up to date

Question 12

What must non-graduates do in order to quality as solicitors?

Answer 12

first must become a legal executive

Question 13

Who is the non-graduate route open to ?

Answer 13

only mature candidates

Question 14

What is the diagram for the normal solicitor route ?

Answer 14

Alevels or equivalent 
|
Law degree
|
Legal Practice Course (LPC)
(one year)
|
Two-Year training period
|
Qualified as a solicitor

Question 15

What is the diagram route to becoming a solicitor after taking another degree subject

Answer 15

Alevels or equivalent 
|
Degree in another subject 
|
Common Professional Examination (CPE)
(one year law course)
|
Legal Practise Course (LPC)
(one year full time or 2 year part time)
|
Two year training period
|
Qualified as a solicitor

Question 16

What is the diagram route to becoming a solicitor for a non-graduate

Answer 16

Institute of Legal Executives Professional Diploma 
|
ILEX High Professional Diploma 
|
Legal Practice Course (LPC)
|
Fellow of ILEX for 5 years
or
two-year training period 
|
Qualified as a solicitor

Question 17

What are the 3 criticisms of the training process?

Answer 17

• Financial problems
• Lack of legal knowledge
• Over-supply

Question 18

What are the fees for the LPC?

Answer 18

£12,000

Question 19

How much is the CPE/GLD which those who have a degree in another subject must take as well as the LPC?

Answer 19

£10,000

Question 20

Why must fees be paid for the LPC and CPE/GLD?

Answer 20

as they are post-graduate courses

Question 21

What is a result of paying fees to be solicitor such as the LPC?

Answer 21

students from poorer families may not be able to afford to take these courses and may be prevented from becoming solicitors even though they may have obtained a good law degree

Question 22

Other than the fees of the LPC , CPE/GDL are being a disadvantage for students from poorer families, how else is this a criticism of the training process?

Answer 22

Many students may take out loans and start the training period with a large debt

Question 23

How have financial problems been made worse?

Answer 23

due to the increasing fees charged by universities for the basic degree courses which is currently £9,000 since 2012

Question 24

How does the CPE help would-be solicitors?

Answer 24

the CPE can be taken as a part time course over 2 years which allows students to work as well as taking the course

Question 25

during the part time CPE course what will the work the student will usually be doing as well as the course?

Answer 25

often work will be as a para-legal in a law firm so that the student is also gaining practical experience at the same time

Question 26

What is a criticism of the training process regarding the lack of knowledge for non-law graduates?

Answer 26

non-law graduates do only one year of formal law for the CPE or GDL as opposed to the whole university duration

Question 27

What % of solicitors have not taken a law degree?

Answer 27

25%

Question 28

One has a critic posed the question of in favour of law-degree route only to becoming a solicitor?

Answer 28

the public wouldn’t be satisfied with doctors who have only studied medicine for one year yet this is precisely what is happening in the legal profession

Question 29

What is a problem for many students who have passed the LPC?

Answer 29

many are unable to obtain a training contract

Question 30

Why is an over-supply a criticism of the training process?

Answer 30

as during times of economic crisis legal firs will be cutting back rather than recruiting