The term ‘lawyer’ is a broad term that refers to anyone that is a qualified legal practitioner in the UK. Lawyers are licensed to give legal guidance to clients, including individuals, private companies, public sector organisations and more.

The two most common types of lawyer are barristers who represent clients in court and advise their clients on their case, and solicitors who provide legal guidance and support for clients and often specialise in an area of law. However, the areas that a lawyer can cover are wide-ranging. Some areas of law you can specialise in include:

The average salary for a lawyer in the UK is £49,592 per year, and wages can go as high as £140,000 a year at the top law firms. The amount you earn will depend on the experience you have and the area of law you are in, the location and the firm.

The typical route to becoming a lawyer in the UK is through university. You will need to have relatively competitive A-Level results such as A*s As and Bs. However, if you are currently looking for university law degrees, check the specific entry requirements to determine what you need to get. When at university, the most common lawyer qualification is a law degree (LLB). You can also undertake study in another area and then take a law conversion course.

To become a solicitor, after your degree (or degree and conversion course), you will need to take a Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) which is currently in preparation to entirely replace the Graduate Diploma and Legal Practice Course in law.
For barristers, the degree and/or conversation course aspect remains the same. Following that, however, you will need to pass the Bar Course Aptitude Test (BCAT) and join one of the four inns of court. These provide essential educational support and training for barristers and student barristers.

Whether you want to become a barrister, solicitor or chartered legal executive, there are some essential skills you need to become a successful lawyer. Some of the main skills include: