The qualifications you need to get started in this sector
Studying law can be expensive; the following options exist to help cover the cost
If you have not studied a law degree, but would like to qualify as a lawyer, you will need to take a conversion course. These are sometimes called Graduate Diplomas in Law (GDL) or Common Professional Examination (CPE). Usually these courses are one year long although they can be done part time
According to English and Welsh Law, the following professions are allowed to carry out legal work
| Profession | Rights of audience | Conduct of litigation | Reserved instruments | Probate activities | Notarial activities | Administration of oaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solicitor | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Barrister | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Notary | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Legal Executives |
Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Licensed Conveyancers | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Patent Attorneys | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Trade Mark Attorneys | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Law Costs Draftsmen | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
Yes |
The first step to getting qualified as a lawyer is usually to qualify with a Law Degree or Graduate Conversion Course such as a GDL or CPE
What you do after this depends on where you want to go
Here's our information on how to qualify for different legal professions
An LLM is a Master's in Law
Some conversion courses and Legal Practice Courses have the option of upgrading to an LLM by completing a dissertation
