Step 1 Get your degree

A qualifying law degree is a first step on the road to becoming a solicitor. It will exempt you from the common professional exam (CPE) provided it covers all seven 'Foundations of Legal Knowledge' – obligations I (Contract) & II (tort); criminal law; equity and law of trusts; law of the European Union; property law; and public law. Once completed, and within seven years of graduation, you can apply for the Legal Practice Course (LPC).

Academic results are important and, with a few exceptions, a 2:1 is pretty much a minimum requirement (see law firm table), whether you have a law degree or not. Firms may not be as Oxbridge-dominated as they once were but most of the larger ones are still more impressed by 'red brick' graduates than those from the new universities and former polytechnics. GCSE and A-level results are taken into account as well as degree performance, but if you do have a good non-academic reason for choosing a new rather than an old university, this may be taken into account.

Some universities have arrangements with individual law schools whereby LPC places are guaranteed for students that achieve certain grades so it is certainly worth finding out if your university is one of these. Also look out for universities that run their own LPC courses. And there is no rest for the best because a summer placement is a good way of getting your foot in the door when it comes to applying for law school and training contracts.

Step 2 Those whose degree is not a qualifying law degree will have to take the Common Professional Examination (CPE) or post-grad Diploma in Law (PgDL).

How long? One year (full-time); Two years (part-time)
How much? Between £2,500 and £3,550
When to apply? Third/Final year of first degree

Although the main route to becoming a solicitor is via a law degree, there is growing evidence that law firms actually prefer candidates who go through the CPE/PgDL route due to the wider range of experience they are exposed to.

The CPE/PgDL comprises one three-hour examination in each of the seven Foundations of Legal Knowledge plus one other area of legal studies. The course is offered by a vast array of institutions across the country from universities to traditional law schools (details on Law Society website), but applications for full-time courses are made centrally to: CPE Applications Board, PO Box 84, Guildford, Surrey, GU3 1YX.

Forms can also be downloaded from www.lawcabs.ac.uk. Applications for part-time courses should be made directly to the relevant college. Competition for places on the course can be fierce. In the 2000-01 academic year, there were 2,852 places on CPE/Diploma of Law courses with nearly 4,000 applicants. The
minimum grade in most colleges is a 2:2, but the substantial majority of students hold a 2:1.

Full time students have three years in which to complete the CPE/PgDL and, except in extreme circumstances, a candidate cannot sit for an examination on more than three occasions.

Completion of the CPE/PgDL does not automatically guarantee a place on the LPC, but there are some institutions that do guarantee places if the CPE is passed at the same college, so check up on this when applying. It is also worth checking the law firm contacts that your CPE course provider has, as this can be helpful in attaining that all important summer placement.

As with a qualifying law degree, the LPC must be started within seven years of passing the CPE or PgDL, otherwise you will have to start again.

Step 3 Legal Practice Course (LPC)

How long? One year (full-time); two years (part-time)
How much? Between £4,500 and £7,675
When to apply? During the final year of a qualifying law degree or, for non-law graduates, at the beginning of your CPE/PgDL course. Application forms are available from September until the beginning of December in the year prior to your wanting a place. You are notified of placements in the following February.

While a law degree or CPE are academic, the LPC is a more practical approach to ensuring that trainee solicitors entering their contracts have the knowledge and skills they need in their first two years of practice. LPC courses can vary considerably in content and assessment methods, particularly at the elective stage, so it is important that you get a copy of the prospectus of the college(s) you are interested in before application.

However, the Law Society does lay down a basic framework and courses are broken down into five broad areas: Core, compulsory, elective, pervasive and skills. 'Core' covers ethics, basic skills, taxation, the European 'context' and probate/administration of estates. 'Compulsory' consists of litigation and advocacy, business law and practice and conveyancing. 'Pervasive' areas are those that should be considered in the context of the other areas of the course and is composed of professional conduct and client care, European Union law, revenue law and accounts.

The skills module will include practical legal research, writing and drafting, interviewing and advising and advocacy. Finally, elective, as the name suggests, requires that three subjects are studied from a range of corporate and private client topics. If you already have a training contract, your firm will probably give you some guidance as to which it expects you to take. For those without, tailoring your electives to the type of firms you are applying to will certainly help in future job interviews.

From September this year, three law schools (Nottingham, BPP and the Oxford Institute of Legal Practice) are offering a 'City' LPC, which contains electives specifically composed to meet the requirements of the largest commercial law firms.

The College of Law is also offering a new LPC tailored to those aiming to work in commercial practices and will also introduce a new elective course aimed at those contemplating a career as in-house lawyers.

For full-time courses, applications for the course are handled centrally and are available from: LPC Central Applications Board, PO Box 84, Guildford, Surrey, GU3 1YX and can be downloaded from www.lawcabs.ac.uk. For part-time courses, application should be made directly to the relevant college (details of colleges are on the Law Society website). You will have to enrol with the Law Society as a student member before commencing the course – the society will send you the necessary forms on enrolment for the LPC.

Last academic year (2000-01), there were 7,119 full-time places available on the LPC and 8,909 full-time applications were made. The more popular schools – such as The College of Law and Nottingham Law School – are considerably more over-subscribed. The primary consideration when awarding places is academic achievement and the minimum degree grade is a 2:2, but the majority of students have a 2:1.

Step 4 The Training Contract

How long? Two years.
How much? They pay you! Law Society
recommended minimum salary is £12,000.
When to apply? In the second year of a qualifying law degree or the final year of any other degree.

The bonus of winning a training contract is that, with the larger firms at least, you get your CPE/LPC fees paid and often an additional maintenance grant of up to £5,000. However, it is not game over if you do not get taken on by the time you leave university, because substantial numbers of people do start the CPE and LPC without a training contract.

The format of the training contract can vary quite substantially, with larger firms tending to have a more structured programme in place than smaller firms. Law Society guidelines stipulate that in all cases, you must be allocated a 'training principal' (who must be a partner or solicitor of equivalent status) who monitors and appraises your work and keeps training records, although it is recommended that you keep your own training diary in case of Law Society spot-checks – or for your CV should you decide to apply elsewhere later. The training principal can then delegate your day-to-day monitoring to a supervisor.

The Law Society has a 'checklist' of training requirements which should be completed by the end of the training contract (a copy is available on the Law Society website). Your supervisor is responsible for providing the trainee with sufficient, balanced and useful work, to answer your questions and give guidance and give feedback on your performance.

Whether you train in a large or small firm, your experiences should be varied. In a larger firm, you usually get the advantage of experiencing a variety of departments and different supervisors but, wherever you train, by the end of the contract, you should have been allowed the opportunity to practice communication skills, practice support skills, legal research, drafting, interviewing and advising. Additionally, you should have gained experience in negotiation and advocacy and oral presentation skills. A minimum of three practice areas must be experienced (the list is on the Law Society website) incorporating both non-contentious and contentious work and an 'appreciation and understanding' of litigation.

Brush up on the research skills that you learned at law school because they will be called upon often and remember that other things which were not part of your academic curriculum are just as important – the right attitude, for instance.

Do not be seduced by the legal culture of long hours merely for the sake of appearance, but by the same token, try not to be the first out the door.

Present yourself as enthusiastic and willing to learn and do not be put off by the mystique surrounding many legal concepts – nothing is actually that difficult and explanation is just a question away. You have been taken on as a trainee, not a consultant, so questions are expected.

During your training contract, you will have to complete the Professional Skills Course (PSC) before you can be admitted as a solicitor. The course is divided into three compulsory components; financial and business skills, advocacy and communications skills and ethics and client responsibilities.

Although the number of applications has fallen a little in recent years and the number of training contracts on offer has been growing, many firms can receive thousands of applications for relatively few training contracts. Law Society figures show that 4,627 students passed the LPC in 1999. In the same year, there were 4,827 training contracts on offer.

The availability of training contracts compared with the number of people passing the LPC has improved considerably compared with past years. Five years ago, there were three LPC graduates for every two places. But there are plenty of people who passed their LPC in previous years still competing for contracts. There is not, as the figures might suggest, one training contract available for every student. As well as solicitors firms, training contracts are also offered by the public sector and in the in-house legal departments of large companies.

According to our survey, most firms retain 90%-100% of their trainees. But that does not mean that surviving the training contract is easy. The same qualities that will see you through the recruitment process will be needed during the training contract.

Case study: CPE/PGDL
Alex Stout, 23
Studied: Cambridge University (Degree in economics and management, Postgrad diploma in computers, Masters in land economy)
CPE/PgDL: Nottingham Law School
LPC: Nottingham Law School
Training contract: Simmons & Simmons

"Although the PgDL was quite taxing academically, the overall experience was an enjoyable one. The workload was heavier than in my previous studies, but I expected that given that you have to fit the core subjects of a law degree into just one year. There are seven subjects each having one lecture and one tutorial a week. I would spend another two to three hours a day on tutorial preparation and, on top of that, there was other coursework to fit in.

There is a lot to do, but if you are able to manage your time well and keep on top of it all, it is very do-able.

"The PgDL gives you grounding in both substantive law and its realistic application. What appealed to me most about the course was the logical approach of law – you are given a practical scenario to which you have to find and apply a legal solution. This approach has prepared me well for the LPC; I am surprised that I seem to be faring as well as people coming from a three-year degree course. I think the practical grounding will also prepare me for my training contract.

"Although there were a lot of legal concepts to get your head around on the course, the structure of the weekly programme made it manageable. The most difficult part of the year was the exams at the end. There were seven exams, which were each three hours long and required essay-based advice answers to fact patterns. It was difficult adjusting your mind from one core subject to another in such quick succession, but I suppose even that must be good preparation for practice.

"So did I make the right choice? Well, both of my parents are solicitors, which actually put me off law initially, because I was exposed to its hard working side and knew it was not all glamour and money. I now feel that I have made a conscious decision to go into the law rather than being swept into it. So yes, I think I did make the right choice."

Case study: LPC
Suzanne Padmore, 25
Studied: Bristol University (Law)
LPC: Oxford Institute of Legal Practice
Training contract: Fox Williams

"The LPC is very different to a university law degree. It is much more practical and based on application of the law to case studies and meeting a particular client's needs, rather than learning the law.

"The Oxford Institute LPC has a smaller number of students, which makes for a good learning environment. The lectures are smaller than at university, you can ask questions during them and you develop a good relationship with teachers and other students.

"The LPC is taught in a very straightforward way and there is a lot of group work which I found to be a good way to learn – I never felt held back by others in the group who may not have prepared as much as me.

"The LPC ran on a four-day week and the timetable would change from week to week. Sometimes the day would run from 9am to 6pm and on other days there would only be one or two contact hours.

"Regardless of lectures and seminars, there would always be plenty of your own work to do. Preparation for a seminar would typically take me one-and-a-half hours.

"The overall volume of work was the difficult part of the LPC. I found business tax and accounting quite mentally challenging and I noticed that some of the students who had done a CPE felt that they still wanted to focus more on the academic side of the law.

"Although it is quite demanding, I really enjoyed the advocacy exercises. These are videotaped and although it can be strange to see yourself on screen it does encourage you to look at yourself and helps you to learn more from the constructive feedback that is given. A large range of court applications are covered.

"Because I had worked as a paralegal before the LPC, I had both a practical and academic background in law. I could tell that a lot of what we learned on the LPC was relevant to practice and I enjoyed the practical element of the course."

Case study: Training at a City firm
David Costa D'Sa, 25
Studied: Bristol University (Law with French)
LPC: Nottingham Law School
Training contract: Linklaters

"I chose to do my training contract at Linklaters after I had done a summer vacation scheme here. I did a two-week placement in corporate and real estate and was included in both departments as much as possible.

"What I liked about Linklaters was the atmosphere, the people and opportunities offered. There is such a degree of choice in the many different departments and offices incorporated by the worldwide alliance. The breadth of the firm means that you can guide yourself through the departments. You can match your character to the area that you want to work in.

"When I finished my LPC I had a rough idea where I'd like to work. Linklaters was helpful because it actively introduced us to different areas of practice by showing us theories of presentations of the work each department does.

"My first seat was in capital markets. It was a good place to start because from day one you are part of a team, so it is easy to get to know people.

"While I was still in my first seat, I asked for a recommendation for my second. I chose to go to the financial markets group because it would complement what I had learned in capital markets. It is a natural progression. You work more one on one with your principal and you are given more responsibility for your own matters.

"I am finishing my third seat now, which is in mainstream corporate. While in this seat, I have worked on a £1bn private M&A deal. The deal closed at midnight, but we were up all night tying up the loose ends. At 8am when we had finished, the partner took the whole team straight to the pub for some pints and a fry-up!

"My fourth seat is going to be financial markets in Hong Kong and I want to do this because of the valuable international exposure I will get. I do not know with any certainty where I will specialise. I have enjoyed all my seats and can see myself going into any of them. I didn't expect to enjoy them all."

Case study: Training at a regional firm
Tamsin Fernie, 24
Studied: Hull University (Law)
LPC: Nottingham Law School
Training contract: Wragge & Co

"I chose to do my training contract at Wragge & Co in Birmingham because it is a very friendly firm and the retention rate for trainees is normally around 100%. It has also won a number of awards, which influenced my decision to train here – it was named Law Firm of the Year in the year that I applied for a training contract and also came 14th on The Sunday Times list of the top 50 companies to work at across the UK.

"I had done some work experience around Birmingham before I started my training contract. I worked at barristers' chambers, where I decided more or less on the spot that I did not want to be a barrister! I also worked at a small firm where I realised that I would like to be part of a bigger team. By the same token, I knew that I did not want to work at a huge firm where you can become 'just a number'. So when I did a placement at Wragge & Co, it seemed ideal because it fitted in between.

"I wanted to work in Birmingham in part because I grew up here and have seen the city undergo massive redevelopment for the better. There is more to do here year by year loads of places to go out and lots of swanky shopping.

"I immediately felt welcome as a trainee and have been given access to high quality work from the very start. My first seat was in general commercial litigation where I was given loads of files that I could get my teeth into right away. My supervisor was excellent and we sat in the same office so help was always nearby. My second seat was in property development and my third seat was in intellectual property. My fourth seat is in banking and finance, which I began two weeks ago so I am still settling in.

"Quite a lot of what I learned on LPC has been reaffirmed in my training contract. There is an extensive training scheme at Wragges – the attitude is, you are here to learn and we're here to teach you, so internal training is considered to be very important."

Case study: training at a specialist firm
Cassandra Manita, 26
Studied: Kings College London (Law)
LPC: Oxford Institute of Legal Practice
Training contract: Harbottle & Lewis

"I trained as a professional contemporary dancer and now I want to give something back to the entertainment world in a legal context. So when I was looking for a training contract, I targeted entertainment firms. Harbottle & Lewis is one of the best with a strong theatre practice.

"The firm is keen not to attract star-struck trainees. When I was interviewed for a training contract they stressed the importance of this being like any other legal job, nothing particularly glamorous, and where the clients are like any other law firm's clients.

"I think that the difference between working here and working at a magic circle firm is the close-knit atmosphere.

"There are only five trainees in my intake, so it is a very close and friendly group and we have a lot of support. Everyone at Harbottle & Lewis knows each other's names and all professional staff, from partners to paralegals, sit together at lunch.

"I also think that trainees get more responsibility with their work. I have friends working for City firms who are very surprised at the level of client contact I have and the number of files I get to manage.

"I feel that I have benefited from the exposure I get at Harbottle & Lewis to all aspects of the firms work rather than at some firms where the bulk of your time is spent doing small tasks on large transactions where you do not get to see the full picture.

"My first seat was in property, which was a mix of commercial and residential work and my second was a corporate seat in the new media group. That involved IT contracts, advice for website terms and conditions, domain-name assignments and general corporate work for US computer game companies. Then there was a lot of standard trainee stuff such as transferring shares and exit agreements for shareholders leaving companies.

"Now I am doing a litigation seat with a music bias. I have only been in this seat a week, but have already been before a Master in the High Court twice. The team deals with copyright disputes, such as the current action between Ludlow Music and Robbie Williams, in which I hope to get involved.

"My next seat is in entertainment, which will cover music, film & television and sport doing copyright work, assignments and franchise agreements, sale and leaseback agreements and merchandising agreements.

"I am not sure yet which area I would like to qualify into. Once you are in a firm like Harbottle & Lewis, an entertainment element to the work is assured. It does not matter if I am negotiating a lease for a theatre in the property department, or protecting artists' rights in the entertainment department, there will always be contact with the entertainment industry."

Useful Contacts
Law Society Legal Education Division: 020 7242 1222
Law Society Student and Trainee
Services: 0870 606 2555
CPE/Diploma in Law Courses Central Applications Board: 01483 451080
LPC Central Applications Board: 01483 451080
Equal Opportunities Committee: 020 7320 5800
A full list of CPE/Diploma in Law and LPC course providers is available at www.lawcabs.ac.uk
More detailed information can be found on the Law Society website at www.lawsociety.org.uk
Trainee Solicitors Group www.tsg.org.uk