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Meet Laura, 28, who is a solicitor in Kendal. Part of our Bitesize world or work series.

What is your job?

I am a civil litigation solicitor. A solicitor is a qualified legal professional who acts for businesses and individuals. They provide legal advice in a broad variety of matters, for example buying and selling property, writing wills and dealing with someone’s estate (their money and belongings) after they have died, drafting employment contracts or advising employees… the list goes on and on!

A civil litigation solicitor deals with a wide range of civil disputes. These are things like disagreements between neighbours, recovering money owed, claims for faulty good purchases, company disputes and landlord and tenant disputes, to name but a few. There’s generally not a month that goes by that I don’t come across something totally new that I haven't dealt with before.

Describe a ’typical’ day for you

My job is very office-based. First, I will check my emails and respond to any pressing matters. Then I work through my to-do list, which tends to change or grow as the day goes on. It could include drafting a letter, reviewing case law to give a client advice, or drafting court documents.

As a solicitor, you have to record all the time you spend on a client matter, so I have to keep on top of that daily too. Quite often there will also be new enquiries that come through over the phone. I will have a free initial consultation with that person regarding their enquiry and provide a fee estimate for the work if it is something I can assist with.

Occasionally I will attend court to represent clients in low value claims and possession claims where a landlord is seeking to evict his/her tenant. For larger value or more complex claims, solicitors tend to instruct barristers to attend court hearings. Barristers are legal professionals who are trained in advocacy – a specialist skill of speaking in court.

What skills do you use?

Communication

As a solicitor, communication is an extremely important skill. You need to be able to communicate with your client in a way that they can understand, communicate with other parties to put your client's point of view across as strongly as possible, and to be able to work effectively with your colleagues.

Organisation

Organisation is also very important as you act for a number of different clients. Being able to locate relevant documents, having a record of all your communications with clients and other parties, and having key dates in the diary for reminders of deadlines are extremely important.

Keep calm under pressure

Another important skill as a solicitor is being able to keep calm under pressure. It can be a very stressful job but extremely rewarding getting the best outcome for your client.

What subjects did you study?

In sixth form I studied Business Studies, Law, Geography and English Language. At degree level, I studied Law with Criminology and then went on to do the Legal Practice Course.

How did you get your job?

I secured a trainee solicitor role whilst doing the Legal Practice Course. The application process for that firm was a covering letter and CV, followed by an interview. I was then kept on at the firm when I qualified two years later, before taking a job closer to home.

The interview process for legal jobs tends to depend upon the size of the firm. Other firms I interviewed at had assessment days, group tasks and a two-stage interview process.

What are the job prospects like for solicitors?

Generally, solicitor firms recruit two years in advance for trainee solicitors. The job opportunities are out there but it is something you need to persevere with and you should expect knock-backs – I experienced my fair share! Once you are qualified, there are good job prospects for newly qualified solicitors.

Any top tips for people wanting to become a solicitor?

Attend as many law events/career events as you can and make enquiries about volunteering at a local Citizen’s Advice Bureau or Law Centre. Work experience is extremely important and employers will be looking closely at your employment history. Remember skills are transferable. All my years working in the hospitality industry as a teenager meant I was confident in communicating, and used to working in busy environments and as part of a team.

Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Ask around to see if any family or friends know of any legal professionals and get in touch with them for a chat. If you’re lucky they might let you shadow them and help you get your CV to stand out.

What to expect if you want to be a solicitor

• Solicitor average salary: £25,000 to £100,00 per year
• Solicitor typical working hours: 37 to 50 hours per week

What qualifications do you need to be a solicitor?

You could get into this role via a university course or a degree apprenticeship. You'll need three A-levels, or equivalent, for a degree. Alternatives to A-levels include taking a T-level in Legal Services (England-only, from Sept 2023), which is equivalent to three A-levels. Check with your course provider which alternative qualifications they accept. Other routes include doing a solicitor degree apprenticeship, which usually takes around five to six years and you'll need your employer's support to do it. You could also work towards the role with a legal firm and do on-the-job training, or if you started a qualifying law degree, Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) or Legal Practice Course (LPC) before 2021, you will be able to continue to qualify as a solicitor by the traditional route until 2032.

Sources: LMI for All, National Careers Service, .

This information is a guide and is constantly changing. Please check the for the latest information and all the qualifications needed and the for more on T-levels.

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