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How do you become a Solicitor in England or Wales?

According to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), a person who wishes to be admitted to the roll of solicitors in England and Wales is required to complete the following stages of training:

(i) The academic stage of training (see below)

(ii) The vocational stage of training, which comprises

a) a recognised Legal Practice Course
b) two years' service under a training contract
c) a Professional Skills Course

Are there exemptions from the academic stage of training ?

The academic stage of training may be completed by one of several different routes.

All students are required to enrol as a student member of the SRA and obtain a certificate of completion of the academic stage of training before they may commence a Legal Practice Course.

To obtain a certificate of completion of the academic stage of training, the applicant must have either

(i) graduated with a qualifying law degree within the last seven years, or

(ii) passed a Common Professional Examination within the last seven years, or

(iii) obtained a recognised Graduate Diploma in Law within the last seven years, or

(iv) obtained a certificate of exemption from the Common Professional Examination. See http://www.sra.org.uk/documents/students/conversion-courses/exemptapplic.pdf

According to the SRA , NUI Galway's LLB is not deemed to be a qualifying law degree but may lead to full or partial exemption from the Common Professional Examination (CPE) for students enrolling from September 2004. This means LLB students must first get a certificate of exemption (see above) before starting the LPC, however you can apply for a place on the course before obtaining this certificate.

How do I apply for one of these courses?

Common Professional Examination (CPE), Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) and Legal Practice Course (LPC) applications are through the Central Applications Board.

USEFUL LINKS:

Trainee Solicitor Surgery	Unique inside perspective on the recruitment of trainee solicitors. Information on improving your training contract applications, the importance of legal work experience, how to get it and getting the most out of it, latest vacancies for trainee solicitors, TSS Blog including video. Includes ebook of tips.
Central Applications Board	Apply online for Common Professional Examination (CPE), Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) and Legal Practice Course (LPC)
Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)	All students are required to enrol as a student member of the SRA and obtain a certificate of completion of the academic stage of training before they may commence a Legal Practice Course.

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Details were correct at time of writing - April 2009.

The Career Development Centre offers advice and information in good faith and based on the best information available to it. The Service does not accept any responsibility for any decisions made by individuals based on such advice or information. The Career Development Centre does not take responsibility for the contents of any sites linked to from its pages.
Please check with the SRA before applying for courses.

Career Development Centre
National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland.
Phone: +353 (0)91 493589, Fax: +353 (0)91 494570
This page was last updated Monday, August 23, 2010