A career in law is a desirable choice for many students. Every year more and more students apply to law schools in hopes of gaining access to the career of their dreams. The industry seems to become more competitive every year, but this is not stopping students from pursuing one of the most fulfilling, lucrative, and exciting careers out there.
Impact of Being a Lawyer
There are many benefits to being a lawyer. A career in law can be very fulfilling. A lawyer can positively impact people’s lives, contribute to changes in society, and help businesses grow. There is great potential to meet new and interesting people and make long-lasting relationships. A career in law can be very lucrative, depending on the type of law and the experience in the field.
Something that many do not know about lawyers is that lawyers gain a wide range of transferrable skills during their legal careers. This allows them to easily transfer to other careers after law, making experienced lawyers into desired professionals in a variety of industries.
What is a Lawyer?
When talking about lawyers, many think of either solicitors or barristers, and in fact, that is correct, because these two careers reflect the traditional understanding of what a lawyer is. However, legal apprentices, paralegals, and Chartered Legal Executives also perform much of similar work as solicitors and barristers. All these careers have many similarities, such as:
· Interviewing clients and taking instructions from them.
· Understanding the law and becoming a specialist in an area of law.
· Knowing legal procedures.
· Combining legal and commercial knowledge to assist clients
· Developing and using interpersonal skills.
Qualifications Needed to Be a Lawyer
There are a few options to become a lawyer. The traditional route is to complete a law degree. After that, if you want to qualify as a solicitor, you will have to complete the Legal Practice Course or the SQE and a two-year training contract or QWE. If you want to qualify as a barrister, you will have to complete a Bar Vocational Course and a 12-month pupillage.
You can also qualify as a solicitor or a barrister without a law degree. Non-law graduates must complete the Professional Graduate Diploma in Law before commencing the LPC and the Bar Vocational Course.
