Most UK training contracts Orrick. Fried Frank. King & Spalding. Payne Hicks Beach. Wiggin. Haynes and Boone. Katten. Winston & Strawn.
It involves dedication, years of study and work experience, and ongoing professional development. It's a highly respected profession and requires a varied skillset, from working alongside clients, public speaking, research and analytical skills to planning legal strategies and more.
Starting salaries for newly qualified solicitors in private practices typically range from £28,000 to £69,000. This can rise to between £35,000 and £65,000 for those with one-to-three years' experience and around £38,000 to £85,000 for those with four-to-eight years' experience, depending on your location.
At 24-years-old, Victoria Zinzan became one of the youngest qualified solicitors her firm had ever seen. The average age of a qualified solicitor in the UK is believed to be around 29 years old, but high-flying Victoria is ahead of most.
This route includes the completion of a law degree and usually takes around 5 to 6 years. You'll need your employer's support to join it. You'll also need to pass the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE), which has 2 parts, and do 2 years' qualifying work experience. The apprenticeship will prepare you for the SQE exams.
Depending on the firm and area of law, applications can be extremely competitive. There's about a 18.63% success rate to get a training contract per year (30k candidates, 5500 places). Bear that in mind.
If you didn't study law you'll need to factor in studying for a law conversion course and/or an SQE preparation course, both of which can extend the training period. Becoming a barrister takes five years - including three years for your law degree, one year for a Bar course and a one-year pupillage in chambers.
Depending on the firm and area of law, applications can be extremely competitive. There's about a 18.63% success rate to get a training contract per year (30k candidates, 5500 places). Bear that in mind.
Salaries for newly qualified lawyers across the rest of the UK are in the region of £40,000 to £70,000. If you become the partner of a firm you can expect a six-figure salary in a small, regional firm and a seven-figure salary in Magic Circle and USA-based firms.