Becoming a solicitor in the UK is unquestionably an appealing career option for many. Solicitors are an integral part of the judicial system, and their predominant administrative commitments bring forth, above all, clarity of legal matters in extending the course of justice. This article intends to present a comprehensive overview of the different aspects encompassed by the role of solicitors.
What is a Solicitor?
In general, solicitors are legally qualified practitioners in one or more jurisdictions that conduct tasks revolving chiefly around supplying their clients with relevant situation-personalised legal advice. Additionally, the meaning of this job also extends to administratively managing a case until the point where it is handed to barristers to argue it in court.
What do Solicitors do?
To enable one to understand the work obligations of solicitors, we will divide them into two categories:
- Contentious work refers to the process of litigation, or in simple words – the undertaking of legal action between at least two parties. Most commonly, litigation is associated with court proceedings, but there are also further mechanisms of alternative dispute resolution set in place. These are negotiation, mediation, arbitration, conciliation, and tribunal hearings.
- Non-contentious work relates to the tasks under the transactional side of solicitors’ practice, hence is distanced from legal disputes. Some examples of non-litigious activities are conveyancing, producing commercial contracts, doing advisory work, and drafting wills.
Daily Solicitor Tasks
One reason behind why the role of solicitors is so intriguing is the diverse range of day-to-day responsibilities these legal professionals undertake. Tasks can include, but are most definitely not restricted to:
- drafting legal documents;
- advising, interviewing and billing clients;
- negotiating and preparing documents on behalf of clients;
- carrying out legal research on points of law and cases;
- attending meetings and court/tribunal proceedings;
- filing cases and briefing barristers;
- representing their organisation;
- supervising and instructing others, such as trainees;
- partaking in holding graduate recruitment schemes; and
- running company-hosted events, for instance, lectures, talks and webinars.
How do I Become a Solicitor?
In principle, one’s qualification journey commences in securing GCSE and A-Level results. Qualifying as a solicitor is flexible and varies in the options available, namely through accomplishing a:
- Standard Law Degree. Backed up by the year-long Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), plus a Training Contract (TC) or Qualifying Work Experience stretching over 2 years, this is the most conventional qualification path for Law graduates. The TC does not necessarily have to be undertaken in a law firm – instead, the Crown Prosecution Service or local governing bodies could also act as the Legal Traineeship providers.
- Non-Law Degree. Completing any Degree, and following that with passing the Postgraduate Diploma in Law (colloquially known as the ‘conversion course’), the SQE, and obtaining a TC offer will not discourage anybody from qualifying as a solicitor.
- Solicitor apprenticeship. Growing vastly in popularity, this direct 6-year-long qualification method incorporates learning on-the-job whilst simultaneously completing an LLB in Legal Practice and the SQE. Some companies may require candidates to complete a 2-year paralegal apprenticeship at first before enrolling in the actual solicitor apprenticeship scheme for the remaining 4 years.
- Training Contract as a paralegal. A frequent qualification alternative for many, you can find information in greater depth about the process and its advantages here.
Solicitors’ Salaries
Advertised remuneration is typically branded as ‘competitive’, so unsurprisingly solicitors are amongst the most well-paid professionals in the UK. Albeit, solicitors’ honorarium prospects can differ in terms of the:
- Organisation’s size and location. The Law Society suggests that Greater London solicitors earn close to £90,000 each year – twice as much as solicitors in the North! Boutique, high street, capital-based, and international law firms diverge in their budgets, and so do their respective pay and bonuses on offer. For example, a high street Partner may receive the same wage as Associates in larger firms, where those occupying the Partner positions can earn upwards from several hundred thousand in the ‘Silver Circle’ companies to £1.7 million in the ‘Magic Five Circle’ businesses.
- Level of experience. This factor is widely influenced by the previous one, and as such, The Law Society’s broader database reveals that:
- Equity Partners earn £130,000 annually;
- Salaried Partners make £75,000 yearly;
- Associates’ median income exceeds £66,000; and
- Newly qualified solicitors can securely expect roughly £40,000.
- Practice area. There exist great financial disparities between the different services offered by solicitors. For instance, criminal solicitors are appraised at approximately £37,000 annually, in contrast to commercial solicitors earning between £47,000-£52,000 per annum on average over all stages of proficiency in the UK.
- Practice sector. Solicitors employed in the public sector (and/or pro-bono centres and law clinics) tend to earn less than their colleagues in private practice. In general, the latter make £62,000 yearly across the private sector’s legal services, whereas the former may find themselves earning less than the leading firms’ trainees!
Solicitor Skills
The complexities and dynamicity of a solicitor’s career demand a full arsenal of an extensive list of attributes. Solicitor job descriptions typically outline what personal and professional qualities candidates need to possess, yet for convenience purposes, the ensuing 10 essential skills have been summarised as it follows:
- Teamwork is indispensable when it comes to this role as solicitors do not only collaborate with officials from their organisations, but cooperate with various clients, such as banks, governmental structures, medical establishments, and private individuals.
- Resilience, adaptability and perseverance can effectively simplify working under pressure, allow one to cope well with changing surroundings, and drive success even amid hurdles.
- Organisational and time management abilities are pivotal for solicitors in constantly managing and prioritising tasks, projects and processes to smooth and continue the flow of their work.
- Clear oral and written communication grants legal lucidity in that information is precisely shared, which avoids ambiguities.
- Client empathy and interpersonal skills facilitate solicitors in acknowledging client problems, but also create a more comforting environment for clients.
- Strong analytical, argumentative and critical thinking are the foundations of constructing unshakeable case-winning legal arguments by examining all possibilities of undermining one’s strategy.
- Computer literacy and dealing with documents are all-important because a significant part of solicitors’ work is digitalised nowadays. Besides, legal documents have to be flawlessly drafted, therefore, attention to detail is crucial for such a position too.
- Commercial awareness empowers solicitors in taking appropriate steps towards solving legal matters and providing accurate up-to-date legal advice by following current affairs.
- Proactiveness is vital for solicitors as an enterprising manner ameliorates the standard of services and engagement in charitable and pro-bono initiatives.
- Assertiveness and authority prove to be useful in ascertaining a client that they have relied on an experienced professional, so the trust bond between solicitors and legal services recipients strengthens as a result.
Solicitor Career Progression
Hard work, constant drive and the ambition to succeed as a solicitor will be recognised when doors for progressing further in one’s career open in:
- Climbing up a law firm’s hierarchy. Solicitors can move forward as Associates, Senior Associates, Partners, Senior Partners, Managing Partners (the equivalent of CEOs in the legal world), and Directors in law firms.
- Becoming self-employed. Focusing on singular private practice can bring client contact at a different level, and add more responsibility and case involvement as a result of a solicitor solely dealing with their client’s case. One must note that in order to appear in superior courts, solicitors will need to obtain a certificate for additional higher courts advocacy rights.
- Setting up a law firm. Both exciting and challenging, this presents solicitors with the plausibility of shaping a work environment according to their principles and standards, subsequently finding their unique way of delivering more impactful legal services and consultancy to clients.
- Advancing as a judge. 7 years of practicing as a solicitor will lead candidates to being admitted as inferior judges, which are District Judges, Recorders, and Circuit Judges, and additionally, Tribunal judges operating outside of the Courts System. Nevertheless, transitioning into superior judges (Puisne High Court Judges, Lord/Lady Justices of Appeal, and Justices of the Supreme Court) is also feasible once enough experience has been gathered prior to entering the higher-level courts.
- Legal teaching/tutoring. Although this may not be the most popular career choice, solicitors have indeed switched to academia, with The University of Law and BPP University being two major representatives of educational institutions employing solicitors as lecturers.
Regulatory Bodies That Oversee Solicitors In The UK
Safeguarding against wrongdoings and ensuring that the standard of the solicitor profession is maintained at a high level is carried out via the supervision of the:
- Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). In case of delinquencies or disciplinary problems, the SRA can either temporarily suspend or permanently strike off solicitors, whereby the latter corresponds to a loss of practice license. Additionally, the SRA:
- handles and investigates complaints about professional misconduct;
- directs complaints to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal;
- rebukes solicitors when appropriate and necessary; and
- can uphold complaints and/or fines.
- Law Society. It is compulsory for solicitors to join this specially designated governing body for them before achieving a formal qualification. After all, the Law Society labels itself as ‘the voice of solicitors’, which supports, promotes and represents these legal personnel, for instance, by bringing legal issues to the government’s attention. Moreover, the Law Society upholds the rule of law, thereby corroborating that no one stands above it, consequently uplifting the profession’s profile.
- Legal Service Board (LSB). Founded under the Legal Services Act 2007 and financed by the Ministry of Justice, the LSB is a public sector independent institution that controls the other regulators through self-defining and nurturing the following objectives:
- protecting and promoting the public interest;
- supporting the constitutional principle of the rule of law;
- improving access to justice;
- protecting and promoting the interests of consumers;
- promoting competition in the provision of services;
- encouraging an independent, strong, diverse and effective legal profession;
- increasing public understanding of the citizen’s legal rights and duties; and
- promoting and maintaining adherence (by authorised persons) to the professional principles.
- Legal Ombudsman. Set up concomitantly with the LSB, the Legal Ombudsman’s main purpose is to settle disputes between customers and providers of legal services, which covers solicitors as well. After conducting and sharing investigations of complaints, the Legal Ombudsman can:
- order a legal services provider to offer an apology to a client;
- initiate a return of documents to a client;
- refund or reduce legal fees; and
- adjure for one to pay compensation of up to £30,000.
By Georgi Minchev
