CAREERS IN LAW: PATHWAYS, TRAINING, AND OPPORTUNITIES

The law shapes nearly every aspect of the society we live in, from public services to human rights. This article provides key information about careers in law and explores the different pathways available into the field.

What is a lawyer? Solicitor vs barrister

You’ll have heard people say they want to become a lawyer, but actually, “lawyer” isn’t a job title; it’s an umbrella term that covers different roles. In England, these are:

• Solicitor: someone who typically provides general legal advice, prepares documents, and interacts with clients. Sometimes they may represent clients, generally in lower courts (Magistrates Court, County Court), but sometimes in higher courts (High Court, Crown Court, Court of Appeal) where they are permitted to do so. Typically, solicitors are employed by firms or organisations.
• Barrister: a specialist who represents clients in higher courts and provides expert opinions on complex legal issues. Barristers are the lawyers who wear the traditional wig and gown in court. Unlike solicitors, they are usually self-employed, though some may work for the government.

So, in short, if you need someone to represent you in a big court, this would be a barrister. If you need help writing a contract, you might go to a solicitor.

Specialist areas of law

Lawyers often specialise in a particular field. This means they can offer more effective advice and representation. There are countless areas of specialisation, but here are a few examples: 

• Family law deals with family matters, such as marriage, divorce and child custody.
• Criminal law deals with the prosecution or defence of people who have been accused of a crime.
• Property & real estate law: anyone buying or selling a house always needs a lawyer. Property and real estate lawyers assist with the legal side of owning and using a property or land. 
• Immigration & human rights law is involved with issues such as migration, asylum, and the protection of individual rights and freedoms.

How can I become a lawyer? 

Traditional route:

The most common route into the legal profession is to complete an LLB, a law degree offered by many universities across the country. Alternatively, many people choose to complete an undergraduate degree in another subject, then undertake a law conversion course. This can be a great option because it provides additional experience that employers can value. 

Whether you completed an undergraduate law degree or a conversion course, you then proceed to the vocational stage. For solicitors, this is the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). Solicitors must also complete Qualifying Work Experience (QWE), which is practical experience separate from the SQE exams.

Future barristers must complete the Bar Training Course. They must also join one of the Inns of Court. These four historic institutions have the exclusive right to “call individuals to the Bar” (in other words, officially qualify someone as a barrister). The final stage of training to become a barrister is “undertaking a pupillage”. This is a year-long “apprenticeship” which is undertaken after passing the Bar course. It’s divided into six months of shadowing a barrister and six months of practice handling your own cases under supervision. 

Non-traditional routes:

Apprenticeships offer an alternative route into the legal sector. Though it’s not possible to become a barrister through this route, you can still qualify as a solicitor, paralegal, legal technician, or chartered legal executive. This is an attractive option for those wishing to avoid student debt, earn money whilst learning, gain practical experience, and have the support of an employer. 

If you want to become a solicitor, it will take between three and six years to qualify through the apprenticeship route. Solicitor apprenticeships actually deliver higher SQE pass rates than the degree route! At the end of your training, you will gain a Level 7 qualification- equivalent to a master’s degree. 

To undertake a Level 7 solicitor apprenticeship, you must have:

• Five GCSEs at grade C/4 or above
• Three A-Levels, with a minimum grade of C.

There are also graduate apprenticeships open to anyone with an undergraduate degree in any field. However, if your undergraduate degree is not in law, then you may need to complete a conversion course. Graduate apprenticeships last between two and three years, and can offer a quicker route to qualifying as a solicitor.

Other law careers

Studying law doesn’t restrict you to becoming a lawyer. In fact, there are several law-related careers that you can pursue if being a solicitor or barrister isn’t your goal:

• Paralegals: legal professionals who assist solicitors, barristers, or other lawyers with their work. This can include researching legal cases, drafting documents, and interviewing clients and witnesses.
• Legal secretaries/legal assistants: handle administrative work such as preparing legal documents and liaising with clients and courts.
• Legal clerks: work in courts, supporting judges and magistrates

These are just a few examples. There are hundreds of possible career paths you can follow with an education in law.

Opportunities in the Liverpool City Region

Law degrees 

Both the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University offer an undergraduate Law degree (LLB), as well as LLM courses designed to prepare for the SQE exam and develop practical skills.

Law apprenticeships

DWF Law LLP (Liverpool office) runs a solicitor apprenticeship (Level 7). Lasting 7 years with training delivered by BPP University, the programme includes rotations across different legal teams. They are currently recruiting for 20 positions to start in 2026, with a salary of £26,570. There are also several paralegal apprenticeship vacancies in the region, so remember to use the LCR BeMore apprenticeship vacancy search to explore current opportunities.

Find out more about careers in law on The Law Society website.