How to Become a Lawyer in the UK

Dreaming of becoming a corporate lawyer at a Magic Circle law firm or making your case at the bar? If you want to become a lawyer, there are a wealth of opportunities in the UK.

The UK is the largest legal services market in Europe and second only to the US globally. The legal profession is thriving and dynamic – but also highly competitive.

Solicitors in England and Wales usually qualify through the SQE and two years of Qualifying Work Experience, while barristers complete Bar training followed by pupillage. This guide explains each stage, from GCSEs and A Levels to university, work experience, professional training and qualification.

Solicitor or Barrister?

The UK legal profession is divided into two distinct branches: solicitors and barristers. In the UK, when you need to decide which type of lawyer you want to be, as each has a different qualification process.

Solicitors serve as the primary point of contact for clients, providing legal advice, negotiating on their behalf, and drafting legal documents. They can work for law firms, in-house legal teams, government bodies, and many other organisations.

Barristers primarily represent clients in court – typically in criminal or civil matters. Their work includes interviewing witnesses, conducting legal research, and making submissions to judges and juries. In England and Wales, barristers are usually self-employed and work from sets of chambers.

For a full comparison, see our guide to the role of a barrister vs solicitor.

What About CILEX Lawyers?

We slightly oversimplified in the previous section: there is in fact, a third type of lawyer in England and Wales. You can also qualify as a CILEX Lawyer through the CILEX Professional Qualification. This can be a flexible route for students who want to specialise in a particular area of law and may suit those looking for an earn-as-you-learn alternative to the traditional university route.

For the rest of this guide, we’ll focus on the solicitor and barrister routes, but we have a dedicated article on becoming a CILEX Lawyer which you can read if you want to learn more.

Step 1: GCSEs and A Levels

As for most subjects, most universities will expect you have a minimum number of GCSEs in core subjects like English and Maths. Beyond that, you’re not usually required to have studied specific GCSE or A Level subjects to apply for law at university. Nonetheless, certain subjects will help you develop the analytical and written skills essential for a legal career.

See our guides on the best GCSEs for law and best A Levels for law for subject recommendations and tips.

Step 2: Undergraduate Degree

There are two main routes into law at undergraduate level.

Law Degree (LLB)

The most common route is to study a Bachelor of Laws (LLB), a three-year undergraduate degree that provides the academic foundation for a legal career. To apply, you will need to go through UCAS. As a minimum, you’ll need to write a personal statement, but many of the best universities for law will also require you to sit the LNAT, and Oxford and Cambridge will interview you, too.

To be recognised as a qualifying law degree for barrister training purposes, an LLB must cover seven foundation subjects:

• Criminal Law
• Contract Law
• Land Law
• Equity & Trusts
• EU Law
• Tort Law
• Constitutional and Administrative Law

Note: under the SQE route to becoming a solicitor (see Step 3), a qualifying law degree is no longer required – any degree subject is accepted.

Non-Law Degree

It is not necessary to study law at undergraduate level to become a lawyer in the UK. Graduates of any degree subject can enter the legal profession. For the barrister route, non-law graduates will need to complete a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) – also known as the Senior Status LLB – before proceeding to Bar training. For the solicitor route via the SQE, no conversion course is required, though in practice many non-law graduates do end up taking one as the knowledge and skills you gain will make it easier to pass the SQE.

Step 3: Vocational Training

The SQE (Solicitors)

Since September 2021, the standard route to qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales is the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), introduced by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). The old route, the LPC, has been closed to new students.

To qualify via the SQE, you must:

• Hold a degree in any subject (or equivalent Level 6 qualification)
• Pass SQE1 – two sittings of multiple-choice assessments covering Functioning Legal Knowledge
• Pass SQE2 – written and oral assessments covering practical legal skills
• Complete two years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE)
• Meet the SRA’s character and suitability requirements

QWE is flexible: it can be gained across up to four different organisations, and includes paralegal work, pro bono work, and legal advice clinic volunteering – not just traditional training contracts. SQE1 is held twice a year (January and July); SQE2 runs in April, July, and October.

For a full breakdown of the solicitor pathway, see our guide on how to become a solicitor.

Note: the SQE applies to England and Wales; Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate solicitor qualification routes. For the rest of this guide, we’ll focus on England and Wales as it’s by far the largest legal market in the UK. Scottish solicitors usually complete a Scots law LLB, Diploma in Professional Legal Practice, and two-year traineeship. Northern Ireland trainees complete the IPLS Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Legal Studies alongside two-year indentures.

The Bar Course (Barristers)

After completing an LLB or GDL, aspiring barristers must complete the Bar Course – a one-year vocational training programme offered by authorised providers. Fees vary between approximately £11,000 and £19,000 depending on the institution.

Before enrolling, students must also join one of the four Inns of Court (Lincoln’s Inn, Gray’s Inn, Inner Temple, or Middle Temple).

Note: the Bar Course Aptitude Test (BCAT), previously required for entry, was abolished by the Bar Standards Board in July 2022.

The Bar Course covers the specialist skills, procedural knowledge, and advocacy competencies needed to practise. After completing it, graduates must secure a one-year pupillage (see Step 5).

For a full breakdown of the barrister pathway, see our guide on how to become a barrister.

Step 4: Work Experience

Gaining good quality work experience is essential if you’re wondering how to become a lawyer – both for your development and your applications. See our dedicated guide on law work experience for a full overview.

The main types of placement are:

Vacation Schemes (Solicitors)

Vacation schemes are structured work placements at law firms, typically lasting one to four weeks. They give you first-hand experience of life as a trainee solicitor, an insight into the firm’s practice areas and culture, and a chance to build your network. Many firms use vacation schemes as a pipeline for training contract and QWE offers.

Tips for securing a vacation scheme:

• Research the firm’s practice areas and culture thoroughly before applying
• Track applications carefully – deadlines vary and some close months in advance
• Start applications well before the deadline; aim to submit at least two weeks early
• Attend open days, careers fairs, and webinars to get insight into what firms look for

Mini Pupillages (Barristers)

A mini pupillage is a short placement (typically one day to two weeks) shadowing a barrister. You may attend court hearings, client conferences, and review case papers. Most chambers require a mini pupillage as part of their pupillage application process.

Tips for securing a mini pupillage:

• Emphasise the core skills of a barrister (advocacy, analytical thinking, resilience) throughout your application
• Showcase extracurricular activities that evidence these skills
• Prioritise quality over quantity – a small number of strong applications outperforms many weak ones

Pro Bono Work

Pro bono work involves providing free legal assistance to individuals or organisations who cannot afford it. It is an excellent way to gain practical legal skills, demonstrate commitment to the profession, and make a meaningful contribution.

Examples include helping victims of domestic abuse draft witness statements, supporting litigants-in-person, representing clients at tribunals, or drafting responses to government consultations. Many organisations require volunteers to be LPC/Bar Course students or DBS-checked.

Step 5: Professional Training

Once you’ve passed the academic stages of the qualification process, you still have a way to go before you have become a lawyer. Once again, the requirements are different for aspiring barristers and solicitors.

Qualifying Work Experience – QWE (Solicitors)

Under the SQE route, the two years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) replaces the traditional training contract. QWE can be completed across up to four different organisations, and in a variety of settings – law firms, in-house legal departments, the Crown Prosecution Service, legal charities, and more. Unlike the old training contract, it does not need to be completed in ‘seats’.

Note: some firms continue to use the term training contracts. However, on the SQE route, QWE is the official term.

Pupillage (Barristers)

Pupillage is the final training stage for barristers, completed under the supervision of an experienced barrister in a set of chambers. It lasts one year, split into two six-month periods:

• First six (non-practising): you shadow your supervisor, assist with court documents, and conduct legal research. You must also complete a Pupils’ Advocacy Course and ethics training before proceeding.
• Second six (practising): you begin to take on your own cases under supervision.

Applications for pupillage are made exclusively through the Pupillage Gateway. It is a highly competitive process and securing pupillage often takes more than one attempt.

Step 6: Qualification and Registration

Solicitors

After passing both SQE assessments and completing two years of QWE, you apply to the SRA to be admitted to the roll of solicitors. The SRA will assess your character and suitability. Anyone with a relevant criminal record, a history of dishonesty, or who has been declared bankrupt may not be admitted.

Barristers

Once you complete pupillage, you may be offered tenancy. This is a permanent place in a set of chambers as a self-employed practitioner. Tenancy is awarded following a vote by chambers members, informed by recommendations from a tenancy committee and clerks. On being called to the Bar, you may also require a Certificate of Good Standing from the Bar Standards Board if you intend to practise in another jurisdiction.

Once you’ve passed this stage, congratulations – you’ve become a lawyer in the UK!

Career Progression

Qualification is just the beginning of your career as a lawyer. As your career develops, you may choose to specialise in a particular area of law, such as commercial litigation, family law, criminal law, employment, or public law. Building expertise in a niche can strengthen your client base and increase your earning potential.

Both solicitors and barristers are required to maintain their competence throughout their careers. The SRA requires solicitors to identify their learning needs and address them through ongoing activities such as secondments, mentoring, research, and accreditations. The Bar Standards Board has equivalent requirements for barristers.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Lawyer?

The honest answer is: it depends on your route and whether you’re training as a solicitor or a barrister. As a rough guide, both routes take 5-7 years of education and training beyond secondary school. It’s worth understanding the timeline before you commit.

Solicitors

Following the SQE route, law graduates typically qualify as a solicitor in five to six years. Non-law graduates who take a conversion course can expect five to seven years:

• 3 years: LLB undergraduate degree (or 3–4 years for a non-law degree, plus 1 year for the GDL conversion)

• 6–12 months: SQE preparation and assessments (SQE1 and SQE2 can be taken in separate sittings; many candidates sit SQE1 first, then SQE2 several months later)
• 2 years: Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) – this can run concurrently with SQE preparation or alongside part-time work, so it doesn’t always add two full years on top

One meaningful advantage of the SQE route is flexibility. Because QWE can be completed before, during, or after the SQE assessments, and across up to four different organisations, candidates who are already working in a legal role can often compress their overall timeline.

There is also the solicitor apprenticeship route, which combines a law degree, SQE preparation, and qualifying work experience in a single programme. Trailblazer apprenticeships typically take five to six years to complete and can be started post-A Level, offering an alternative to going straight to university.

Barristers

For the barrister route, a typical timeline runs:

• 3 years: LLB (or 3–4 years non-law degree + 1 year GDL)
• 1 year: Bar Course
• 1 year: Pupillage

That’s a minimum of five years from starting university, and often six or more for non-law graduates. Importantly, pupillage is highly competitive – many Bar Course graduates apply multiple times before securing a place, and around two-thirds of Bar Course students and graduates never go on to secure a pupillage. This is a critical factor to consider when deciding which type of lawyer you want to become.

How Much Does It Cost to Become a Lawyer?

Becoming a lawyer is a significant financial undertaking. As a very rough guide, the full cost including tuition fees is £50k-80k over the span of the qualification process from undergraduate degree to qualified lawyer. However, you are unlikely to have to pay all of this upfront yourself.

The costs vary considerably depending on your route, where you study, and how much of your preparation you fund yourself versus through employer sponsorship or scholarships.

Undergraduate degree

In 2025/26, undergraduate tuition fees are a maximum of £9,535 per year in England – so a three-year LLB will cost up to around £28,600 in fees alone, covered by a student loan for most UK students. Non-law graduates who need to complete a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) can expect to pay an additional £9,000–£14,000 for that conversion course.

Solicitor route (SQE)

The SRA exam fees for both SQE assessments currently total around £5,000. These are the minimum unavoidable costs – on top of this, most candidates pay for a preparation course. The total cost to qualify via the SQE route ranges from around £10,000 to £40,000+, depending on how you approach preparing. Self-study with quality resources is at the lower end; a structured course from a major provider in London sits at the higher end.

The good news is that many firms – particularly larger ones – sponsor their candidates through SQE preparation, covering course fees and sometimes paying a maintenance grant on top. If you can secure a firm’s backing before starting, your out-of-pocket costs can be substantially reduced or eliminated.

Barrister route

The Bar Course is the biggest single cost on the barrister path. Fees for Bar courses range from just under £15,000 to just over £17,000 for 2025/26. Costs are generally lower outside London.

Some financial relief is available. The four Inns of Court collectively provide approximately £4 million per year in scholarship funding for Bar training, available to students regardless of where they study.

Once in pupillage, the picture improves: as of January 2026, the minimum pupillage award is £25,863 per year in London and £23,504 outside London. Prestigious chambers typically pay more.

The bottom line

For solicitors, total training costs (excluding undergraduate fees) are typically £5,000–£20,000, with employer sponsorship common at larger firms. For barristers, the Bar Course alone can cost £15,000–£21,000, and there is no guarantee of securing pupillage at the end of it.

Factoring in undergraduate fees and living costs, the full investment across both routes can reach £50,000–£80,000 or more. This makes researching student loans, scholarships, and employer sponsorship an essential part of planning your legal career.

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