Alternative Routes To Becoming A Solicitor Without A Law Degree

If you want to become a solicitor without a law degree, there are several alternative routes you can take. The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is the new system of qualification for solicitors in England and Wales, and does not require a law degree or equivalent. You can also complete a non-law degree and then undertake a conversion course, such as the Common Professional Examination (CPE) or a Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL). Alternatively, you can complete an apprenticeship, or join the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) and seek to become a legal executive.

Join the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx)

Joining the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) is a route to becoming a solicitor without a law degree. CILEx is the UK's largest professional body for legal executive lawyers, paralegals, and other legal practitioners. It is also the only membership body that independently regulates them.

To join CILEx, you must have at least four GCSEs (including English) or equivalent qualifications. You will need to pass exams to qualify as a member and then as a CILEx fellow. You will also need to be in a CILEx-approved job in law.

If you do not have a degree, you will need to take the full CILEx route, which includes a Level 3 qualification (set and assessed at A-Level standard) and a Level 6 Qualification (set and assessed at honours degree level). Alongside these qualifications, you must complete three years of qualifying employment to qualify as a legal executive. If you work in a legal environment while studying, this will count towards this requirement. To become a fellow of the CILEx, with the right to call yourself a legal executive, at least two years of employment must be completed after achieving your CILEx qualification.

The CILEx route allows you to obtain the required qualifications to go on to complete the Legal Practice Course and attain a training contract to become a solicitor. This route may be longer than the traditional route of obtaining a law degree, but it is a valuable opportunity in the modern legal industry, where obtaining training contracts is highly competitive.

The official legal education that CILEx provides as a route into the legal profession is the CILEX Professional Qualification (CPQ). It is designed to produce CILEX Lawyers, CILEX Advanced Paralegals, and CILEX Paralegals. CILEX has more than 17,000 members, all eligible to use the appropriate designatory letters depending on their membership grade and demonstrating their commitment to professional and ethical standards in the legal profession.

Complete a non-law degree

If you've started or finished a degree in another discipline, you can still pursue a career in law. Legal firms accept applicants from all backgrounds, including engineering, history, economics, and English. While these degrees will require you to complete additional qualifications to become a solicitor, they can also provide you with other important skills, such as research and numeracy, or relevant information regarding certain sectors or industries.

If you have a non-law degree, you can proceed to take the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). This is the new alternative route for England and Wales, which began in 2021 for holders of both law and non-law degrees. The SQE is an examination, not a course of study, and assesses both theoretical and practical understanding of the law.

The SQE consists of two levels: SQE1 and SQE2. SQE1 tests your legal knowledge through multiple-choice questions based on real-life scenarios. SQE2 tests your practical legal skills, including advocacy, legal writing, drafting, case and matter analysis, legal research, and interviewing.

Before attempting SQE2, you must pass SQE1. You have a six-year time frame and three attempts to pass both. There are four exam sittings per year: in January, April, July, and October. It is recommended that non-law graduates undertake a law conversion course before attempting the SQE, as the assessments will be difficult to pass without legal knowledge.

After completing the SQE, you will need to gain two years of qualifying work experience (QWE). This can be completed with up to four different employers for varying lengths of time. Many law firms offer two-year 'training contracts' that fulfill the QWE requirements.

Once you have completed your QWE, you can apply for admission to the roll of solicitors.

Complete the Common Professional Examination (CPE)

The Common Professional Examination (CPE), also known as the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), is a postgraduate law course for non-law graduates who want to qualify as lawyers and practice in England and Wales. It is a conversion course that covers the same core subjects as an undergraduate law degree, and it is designed to ensure that candidates meet the academic requirements to work in the legal profession.

The CPE is a one-year full-time course, with options for one-and-a-half to two-year part-time courses. It is also available online as a distance learning course, with varying durations. The course fees depend on the institution, its location, and whether you are a Home/EU or international student.

To take the CPE, you need to be a graduate with a degree in a non-law discipline or a non-qualifying law degree. The entry requirements vary by institution, with some requiring a 2:1 degree classification, while others ask for a 'high' 2:2. It is worth checking with your chosen institution to see if you are eligible for any exemptions.

The CPE covers seven core foundation modules that satisfy the academic requirements for a legal education in England and Wales. These include compulsory modules in Contract Law, Criminal Law, Equity & Trusts, EU Law, Land Law, Public Law, and Tort Law. There will also be a range of optional modules offered by each institution.

After completing the CPE, candidates can proceed to the second stage of their legal training. Previously, this involved taking the Legal Practice Course (LPC) to become a solicitor or the Barrister Training Course (BTC) to become a barrister. However, as of September 2021, the new Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) has replaced the LPC and BTC. To qualify as a solicitor, candidates now need to pass the SQE1 and SQE2 exams and complete two years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE).

The CPE is a great option for those who want to switch to the legal profession without having to complete a full undergraduate law degree. It provides a solid foundation for the next stages of legal training and can enhance your career prospects in the field of law.

Complete the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE)

The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is a new centralised way to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. It will eventually replace the Legal Practice Course (LPC) route. The SQE is divided into two parts – SQE1 and SQE2.

SQE1

SQE1 assesses your ability to apply fundamental legal knowledge, such as criminal law, contract law and tort, as well as ethics, through multiple-choice, single-best-answer questions. The SQE1 assessment comprises just over 10 hours of closed-book single-best-answer questions. These are multiple-choice questions requiring an informed choice between several viable options. You must pass SQE1 before being eligible to sit the SQE2 assessments.

SQE2

SQE2 assesses your practical legal skills, such as client interviewing, legal drafting and advocacy, in conjunction with legal knowledge through assessments including role-play and written exercises.

Preparation

To pass SQE1 and SQE2, most individuals will want to undergo a course of professional training, such as the SQE1 Prep Course and the SQE2 Prep Course. There are also SQE preparation courses for law and non-law graduates.

Timing

You have six years and three attempts to pass both SQE1 and SQE2. There are four exam sittings per year: in January, April, July, and October. The timing of when you take each exam is flexible.

Qualifying Work Experience (QWE)

In addition to passing the SQE1 and SQE2 assessments, you will need to undertake a minimum of two years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE). QWE is similar to a training contract and can be completed at any point during the qualification process (although it is anticipated that most students will complete this after SQE1). QWE may be completed with up to four different legal employers. The type of work that qualifies as QWE includes placements while studying for your degree, time spent as a paralegal or working in a law clinic, as well as working for a two-year period within a single law firm.

Gain work experience

Gaining work experience in law is crucial for aspiring solicitors. It helps to build the necessary skills and determine if this is the right career path. There are various ways to gain this experience, and it can be done before, during, or after completing the required academic qualifications.

One way to gain work experience is through formal work placements, such as vacation schemes at law firms. These are typically two-week programmes offered during academic holidays and aimed at specific groups of students, like second-year law students or final-year non-law students. Many firms tend to hire a significant portion of their future trainees from these vacation schemes. Larger law firms also offer insight programmes, especially for first-year students, which often lead to fast-tracked interviews for their vacation schemes.

Organising informal work experience with high street legal firms before starting university is another option. This could involve work shadowing a solicitor and assisting with general office duties for a couple of weeks. Such placements can enhance your university applications for law degrees.

During your studies, you can also gain experience by participating in pro bono work, where you provide legal advice and representation to people on a voluntary basis. Court marshalling, which involves sitting with a judge for a few days, and joining your university's law or debating society, are other valuable ways to develop relevant skills.

Online platforms like Forage offer recognised work experience and certificates that are highly regarded by law firms. Additionally, Citizens Advice provides excellent training and the opportunity to assist members of the public facing challenging circumstances.

It's worth noting that some master's degrees include guaranteed qualifying work experience as part of their syllabus. This can be a great way to gain practical experience while pursuing your degree.

Frequently asked questions