Training Contracts: How to Pick a Law Firm
Preliminaries So you've decided that you want to become a solicitor. Excellent. But what next? It is important to note that there are a number of steps and qualifications you need before you will be a qualified solicitor. Firstly, you need a law degree or to have completed a general diploma in law (GDL). Then, you need to complete the Legal Practice Course (LPC), a practical qualification. Done yet? No. After you have done the LPC, before you can call yourself a qualified solicitor, you need to complete a period of recognized training or a 'training contract'. This involves working at a law firm for two years as a trainee solicitor. It is after you have done this that you will be a qualified solicitor. So, to summarise, to become a lawyer you need to: 1. Complete a law degree (three years), or the GDL (one year on top of your degree) 2. Complete the LPC (one year normally, or six months if you do an accelerated version) 3. Complete a training contract (two years)...