Solicitor.

About the Role

A solicitor provides confidential expert legal advice to clients in respect of the particular area of law they practise. Such advice may cover a range of situations, such as:

• Dealing with everyday issues, such as providing expert guidance on buying or selling houses, or drawing up wills
• Promoting business by providing specialist legal advice on transactions, such as a corporate takeover or the purchase of a portfolio of properties
• Protecting the rights of individuals, such as in respect of human rights violations or providing legal advice on matters of immigration
• Supporting the community by providing free legal advice for those unable to pay for legal services, in their own time

The majority of solicitors work in private practice, whether as a sole practitioner, part of a high street firm, or a multinational firm with hundreds of partners and numerous offices. Solicitors can occasionally represent clients personally in the lower courts, and with specialist training, in the higher courts, though most solicitors’ day-to-day work centres on advice, drafting and negotiation rather than advocacy.

A growing number of solicitors work in-house, employed directly by a single organisation rather than a law firm — anything from a bank or large company to a charity or government body. In-house solicitors sit inside the business they advise, providing ongoing legal support on matters such as contracts, compliance and employment issues, and are often closely involved in the organisation’s wider strategy and decision-making. In-house legal teams range from a single solicitor at a smaller organisation to large departments headed by a General Counsel — the organisation’s most senior in-house lawyer — at major corporations and financial institutions.

Routes to Qualification

Since September 2021, almost all new solicitors qualify via the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE):

1. 1

   Hold a degree in any subject, or an equivalent Level 6 qualification – a law degree is no longer required.

2. 2

   Pass SQE1 (functional legal knowledge) and SQE2 (practical legal skills).

3. 3

   Complete two years’ Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) – this can be built up across up to four employers, and includes paralegal work, pro bono work and law clinic placements.

4. 4

   Meet the SRA’s character and suitability requirements.

Alternative: Solicitor Apprenticeship (Level 7)

Earn while you learn, with no tuition fees:

• From A-levels: six years, combining a law degree with SQE preparation and QWE.
• Graduate apprenticeship: two to three years for those who already hold a degree.

Both apprenticeship routes lead to the same SQE1 / SQE2 / QWE endpoint as the university route.

Good to know: Government funding for apprenticeships (via the employer’s apprenticeship levy) is now restricted to those starting aged 21 or under, following a change from January 2026. The school-leaver route is largely unaffected, since most start around 18; the graduate route is more likely to need the employer to fund it directly.