Careers in Law
There are a number of different legal roles in society which need to be filled.
Solicitor
Advise and assist individuals and organisations on legal matters is what solicitors do, and they are the first point of contact for those seeking representation. In most cases solicitors either work privately for law firms, as part of an ‘in house’ legal team for a company or within the government at a central or local level.
Those with an up-to-date law degree can qualify as a solicitor by taking a one-year post graduate university course.
Barrister
Barristers give legal advice, as well as appearing in court to represent their clients. They are informed and instructed about a case by a solicitor, or sometimes a member of the public. When not actually appearing in court they work in chambers drafting and preparing their arguments.
In order to qualify as a barrister law graduates must complete the same post graduate course as solicitors, followed by a further vocational course and 12 months of training with an experienced barrister.
Paralegal
Paralegals are often law graduates looking to gain experience within a law firm before going on to qualify as lawyers themselves. They work within law firms and the public sector – citizen’s advice bureau, charities etc, and assist barristers and solicitors in all aspects of their work.
Minimum requirements to work as a paralegal vary between organisations; law graduates are usually considered qualified. Many employers offer in-house training, and paralegal training courses are available from several different organisations.
Legal Executive
Legal executives are fully qualified lawyers who specialise in one area, and carry out a similar role to a solicitor in that area, or in another one if supervised. They can also become qualified to speak on behalf of a client in court, but are more limited in this respect than either barristers or solicitors.
Anyone with a minimum of four GCSEs can train as a legal executive through their governing body, ILEX.