The Beginner’s Guide to a Career in Law

Welcome

The Beginner’s Guide to a Career in Law, sponsored by The University of Law

Read the guide now

Becoming a solicitor

Discover what you need to do to become a solicitor

Visit the Solicitor hub

First-year opportunities

Find out which firms have open days and insight schemes for first-year students

Read the Feature

Your non-law student hub

You don’t need a law degree to become a lawyer - visit LCN's non-law student hub!

Your non-law student hub

Welcome Becoming a solicitor First-year opportunities Your non-law student hub

Kickstart your legal career with these upcoming events!

LawCareers.Net masterclass: starting out in law – what you need to know

In this LawCareers.Net masterclass we’ll cover the basics of launching a legal career, including what you should do in the first year of university, how to research and apply to future employers, and practical advice for getting work experience.

LawCareers.Net masterclass: understanding legal practice – intellectual property (IP)

This LawCareers.Net masterclass, sponsored by Bristows LLP and more firms TBC, will discuss what it’s really like to work in intellectual property (IP). From patents to trademarks, find out what IP means, the kinds of work lawyers in this area undertake and the types of clients you’ll be dealing with.

LawCareersNetLIVE 2025 – the prestigious legal conferences

Apply now for a chance to network with top law firms in London, Manchester or virtually this winter!

Sponsored by

The Beginner's Guide to a Career in Law

Your essential first step to a career in law

Sponsored by

Key law career questions

Find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about a career in the legal sector

Sponsored by

Key law career deadlines

Discover several key events and deadlines that you need to diarise

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Reality check

Without wanting to detract from the exciting and challenging legal career on offer, here are some things to bear in mind

Beginner's Guide

First steps checklist

Here's what you can do even before you start university

First-year checklist

Find out what you should be doing in your first year at university as a law or non-law student

Meet the Lawyer

Read how today's lawyers went from student to qualified lawyer

Legal career paths

Take a look at our simple career timetable

Solicitor versus barrister

What's the difference and which career would suit you? Use this guide to get you started

Meet the Lawyer

Asia Munir

Asia Munir talks Legally Blonde, securing a training contract and becoming director, and outlines her career in real estate and housing litigation.

Meet the Recruiter

Anna Rutowicz

Early careers recruitment advisor Anna Rutowicz offers application advice, details on Hogan Lovells’ vacation scheme and discusses the firm’s DE&I strategy. Plus, find out why demonstrating commercial awareness is so important in your applications.

Meet the Lawyer

Asif Patel

From trainee to partner at Devonshires, Asif Patel tells the story of his journey to partner, what makes Devonshires stand out and how you can be successful at a training contract interview with the firm.

Meet the Recruiter

Molly Hill

Find out about White & Case’s vacation scheme, assessment centres and the training contract application process in this Meet the Recruiter profile with Molly Hill. Plus, Molly outlines what White & Case’s solicitor apprenticeship programme involves!

Videos

See more videos

LawCareersNetLIVE Manchester 2024: trainee panel

Practice Area Profile | Indhu Birdy - Baker McKenzie

LawCareers.Net masterclass: commercial awareness

Meet the Lawyer | Hebe Thorne - Burges Salmon LLP

Masterclass | researching law firms – identifying the firm for you

Vacation Scheme Insiders

Durham University

Philosophy

Spring 2024

Vacation Scheme Insiders

Jamie Baum

University

University of Leeds

Subject

Economics and politics

Started

Summer 2025

Vacation Scheme Insiders

Luke Stamp

University

University of Manchester

Law

Spring 2024

The Law Apprenticeships Guide 2025

"Where should I start?"

Practice areas

Find out what life is like in practice

Becoming a solicitor

Find out what becoming a solicitor involves

Becoming a barrister

Find out what becoming a barrister involves

Becoming an in-house lawyer

Find out what becoming an in-house lawyer involves

Useful content!

Feature

Starting a legal career from a non-law background – a step-by-step guide

Curious about becoming a lawyer without a law degree? Here's everything non-law students need to know about legal careers, qualification routes and getting started.

Ask the Oracle

What career choices do I have with a law degree?

I’m about to graduate from my law degree but don’t want to work at a law firm. What are my options?

LCN Says

Dimitar Dimitrov - Five tips for flawless LawCareersNetLIVE applications

Dimitar Dimitrov

To secure a place at one of our prestigious LawCareersNetLIVE student conferences you must submit a top-class application. These applications are similar to training contract applications – but don’t let that intimidate you.

About the legal sector

What lawyers do

Learn more about the branches of the legal profession, areas of law, and practice areas

Types of lawyers

Read our table of key facts to help you distinguish between the different types of lawyers

Paralegals

Find out about this distinct group of legal professionals

Work experience

Find out about the various work experience opportunities available for aspiring lawyers

News

Major law firms reveal latest trainee retention rates

Several leading law firms have announced their autumn 2025 trainee retention figures, with Baker McKenzie, Pinsent Masons LLP, Bird & Bird and Lewis Silkin all confirming how many newly qualified (NQ) solicitors will be staying on.

News

NALP launches first Ofqual-regulated Level 5 Diploma for paralegals

The National Association of Licensed Paralegals (NALP) has launched the Level 5 Diploma for Senior Associate Paralegals, the first Ofqual regulated qualification for paralegals at this level.

News

Junior lawyers leaving law firms in record numbers amid mounting pressures

An increasing number of lawyers are leaving the legal profession, with new research based on responses from more than 800 law firm leaders across the UK and US revealing that associate attrition has nearly doubled in the past year.

News

Addleshaw Goddard keeps NQ salaries firm during pay war

City law firm Addleshaw Goddard has announced that its salaries for newly qualified (NQ) lawyers will remain at £100,000, as it opts to allocate an extra £1 million to bonuses at the company instead. The firm’s bonus pot is now worth a total of £19 million.

Beginner's Guide to a Career in Law

Kickstart your legal career with these upcoming events!

Beginner's Guide

Videos

"Where should I start?"

Useful content!

About the legal sector

More insights

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Podcasts

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