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.

Reading time: 11 minutes

This article has been produced in collaboration with BARBRI.

If you're considering a career in law but don’t have a legal background, you’re not alone and you’re certainly not at a disadvantage. In fact, around half of all solicitors in the UK come from non-law backgrounds, bringing with them a wealth of diverse skills and perspectives that the profession values highly.

Whether you’re just starting to explore the idea of a legal career or you’re ready to make the leap, this guide will take you through everything you need to know. We’ll cover what a legal career actually looks like, how the qualification process works today and how you can start building your future with confidence.

Understanding the legal profession

Before thinking about qualifications, it’s helpful to picture the legal world you’re thinking of stepping into.

When people talk about lawyers in England and Wales, they’re usually referring to two main roles – solicitors and barristers:

• Solicitors are the lawyers you’re most likely to deal with in everyday life. They advise clients, draft contracts and legal documents, negotiate deals and manage disputes. Solicitors usually work for law firms, in-house legal teams inside companies or for public bodies like local councils. While many solicitors specialise in a particular practice area such as family law or criminal law, they tend to be more involved in the day-to-day management of cases and client relationships.
• Barristers by contrast, are court advocates. They specialise in representing clients in court and providing specialist legal advice when needed, often at the request of solicitors. Barristers are usually self-employed and work in groups called chambers. Again, they usually specialise.

Both paths are respected and rewarding. However, for non-law graduates, qualifying as a solicitor tends to be the more common route, simply because of the breadth of opportunities and structured training available early on.

What are the different types of legal employers?

If you’ve started looking into law firms, you’ll probably have heard terms like magic circle and silver circle. Here's what they all actually mean:

• Magic circle firms are among the largest and most internationally recognised UK-based law firms. They typically work on high-value, complex transactions and disputes involving multinational corporations and financial institutions.
• Silver circle firms are slightly smaller than the magic circle but remain highly prestigious, often focusing on a combination of domestic and international work, with particular strengths in areas like corporate law and private client services.
• US firms in London often offer higher starting salaries and work on major international deals, particularly in areas like private equity, finance and litigation. Working hours can be intensive depending on the practice area.
• Regional firms operate across the UK outside of London. They provide a wide range of legal services to individuals, businesses and public sector organisations. These firms may offer earlier client contact and a more regionally focused practice.
• Boutique firms specialise in specific areas of law, such as media, sports, intellectual property, immigration or family law. They’re often smaller and may provide opportunities for early specialisation and close client relationships.

Beyond traditional private practice, lawyers also work in-house (for example, inside banks, tech companies or healthcare providers), in pro bono organisations (offering free legal support), or for Alternative Legal Service Providers that focus on innovative ways of delivering legal services.

Law is a broad, flexible profession and there are lots of different environments depending on what interests and motivates you.

Understanding the legal career structure

Within law firms and legal teams, career progression typically looks like this:

• Trainee solicitor – your first two years of training after completing academic requirements, getting hands-on experience across different practice areas.
• Newly qualified solicitor – after passing your assessments and completing training, you qualify fully as a solicitor.
• Associate – as you gain more experience, you take on more responsibility and move up through associate ranks.
• Partner – a senior solicitor who partly owns and helps run the firm.

You might also hear terms like paralegal (a legal assistant who supports solicitors but isn’t yet qualified), or legal executive (a qualified legal professional via a slightly different route).

If you're curious about typical salaries at each stage, the Law Society is a helpful resource.

What areas of law can I work in?

One of the great things about a career in law is how diverse it is. You might find yourself working in an area of law such as:

• corporate law, advising businesses on mergers, acquisitions and commercial contracts;
• family law, helping clients going through divorce, child arrangements and adoption;
• technology and data law, advising on privacy, cybersecurity and emerging tech;
• employment law, helping resolve disputes between employers and employees; and
• criminal law, prosecuting or defending individuals accused of crimes.

There’s no pressure to choose your specialism right away and many lawyers start broadly and narrow down their interests as they gain experience.

Beyond traditional legal practice, qualifying as a lawyer can also open doors to a wide range of careers. Some qualified solicitors move into roles like legal education and training, lecturing at universities or designing professional courses. Others use their expertise in industries like compliance, risk management, consulting, policy advisory work or even journalism. Legal training is highly respected across sectors because it develops analytical thinking, communication skills, and commercial awareness – all of which are valuable beyond the legal industry. Wherever your career takes you, a legal qualification offers a strong, flexible foundation.

How do I convert to law as a non-law graduate?

Until recently, non-law students followed a fairly rigid path to become solicitors. First, you needed to complete the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), which is an intensive one-year course condensing a law degree, followed by the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and then secure a training contract with a law firm.

Now, that pathway has changed. The Solicitors Qualifying Examination is the main route to becoming a solicitor in England and Wales – and it’s open to graduates from any academic background.

You no longer need a law degree or formal conversion course to start the process. Instead, to qualify, you’ll need to complete two key assessments and gain some practical experience in a law firm or similar obtaining what is known as qualifying work experience (QWE).

Here’s how the SQE works:

• SQE1 assesses your legal knowledge across key areas like contract law, criminal law and business law, through multiple-choice exams.
• SQE2 tests practical skills such as client interviewing, advocacy, legal drafting and case analysis.

Read this Feature for everything you need to know about the SQE.

Qualifying work experience

In addition to passing both parts of the SQE, you’ll need to complete two years’ worth of QWE.

QWE is designed to give you practical experience of real legal work before you qualify. It can be gained in up to four different organisations over the course of two years, and there’s a lot of flexibility about where and how you complete it.

Work that counts as QWE includes tasks like:

• drafting contracts and legal documents;
• conducting legal research;
• attending client meetings;
• assisting with case management; and
• observing negotiations or court proceedings.

You can complete QWE in a traditional law firm, an in-house legal team within a company, a charity’s legal department or even a university law clinic. It doesn’t have to be paid work, volunteering at a legal advice centre, for example, could still count as long as the experience exposes you to real legal services provided to clients.

To meet the requirements, your QWE needs to be confirmed by a solicitor of England and Wales (or a compliance officer for legal practice, known as a COLP) at the organisation where you gained the experience. They’ll need to verify that you undertook relevant legal work, but they aren’t assessing your performance – they’re simply confirming your experience.

This new system is far more flexible than the old training contract model, making it easier to build up experience in ways that fit your circumstances and give non-law students greater opportunities to enter the profession.

Do I still need a conversion course?

No, the introduction of the SQE means that non-law graduates no longer need to complete a formal conversion course like the old GDL. The pathway is now open to all graduates, regardless of their academic background.

That said, if you're coming into law without any previous legal study, it's highly advisable to take on preparatory learning to build your confidence and understanding before attempting the SQE1 exam. The assessments are rigorous and assume a strong grasp of core legal principles.

To support this, providers like BARBRI offer tailored Foundations in Law course, which is designed specifically for non-law students and introduces key legal concepts and terminology. It’s a useful steppingstone that helps you start SQE prep on a solid footing.

BARBRI’s Flexible SQE1 Prep course then prepares you fully for the assessments, offering structured study plans, interactive materials, tutor support and practice exams, which are all designed to fit around your existing commitments. Once you complete and pass your SQE1, you can proceed onto the SQE2 preparation and sitting.

Why your non-law background is a strength

As mentioned earlier, around half of trainee solicitors come from non-law backgrounds. Not to labour the point, but it’s for good reason. Law firms don’t just want legal knowledge, they value problem-solvers, adaptable thinkers, clear communicators and team players – all skills non-law students often bring.

Whatever your degree subject, you’ve likely developed abilities and skills that transfer well to law, such as:

• analytical thinking and research – from essays, data analysis or lab work;
• communication and persuasion – built through presentations, writing or group discussion;
• commercial awareness – developed through jobs, internships or entrepreneurial projects;
• organisation and attention to detail – from juggling deadlines, projects and extracurriculars; and
• teamwork and empathy – from group work, volunteering or client-facing roles.

If you want more advice on how to showcase your strengths and build confidence, take a look at our guide: Why non-law students make really great lawyers.

How can I start preparing now?

If you’re feeling inspired to pursue a legal career, you might be wondering what to do next, especially if you haven’t studied law before. The good news? There are plenty of simple, practical steps you can take now to start building your confidence and getting closer to your goal.

1. Explore the profession

Start browsing firm websites, reading practice area guides and attending open days or university law fairs to get a feel for the kinds of firms and legal work that interest you. Don’t just focus on prestige, think about culture, location, size and whether a firm’s values align with your own. The right fit matters.

2. Start building your network

Networking is easier (and more important) than you might think. However, you don’t need a long list of legal contacts – simply attending a webinar, joining a virtual Q&A or chatting to graduate recruitment at an event is a great place to begin. If you’re not sure where to start, BARBRI’s free HeadStart portal is a brilliant resource for non-law students. It offers webinars, CV support, career advice and more to help you build confidence and connections.

3. Gain legal experience (formal or informal)

Volunteering at a legal clinic, shadowing a solicitor or even working in a client-facing role can all help develop relevant skills. Law firms value curiosity and initiative, not just formal legal knowledge, so anything that gives you insight into the profession is worth doing.

4. Think about funding early

While the SQE pathway is generally more affordable than the old GDL and LPC route, it’s still an investment. Start exploring financial support options early on. Check out BARBRI’s SQE funding overview, which is a helpful resource, outlining a range of scholarships, payment plans, and funding initiatives, including BARBRI Bridges to help make your legal journey more accessible.

5. Stay curious

Finally, start immersing yourself in the legal world, even in small ways. Like reading legal news sites, following law firms on LinkedIn, or listening to law-related podcasts, which can help you get used to the language of the profession and stay informed about what’s happening in the industry. It’s a great way to show curiosity and commercial awareness – two things employers really value.

Taking the next step with confidence

Considering a move into law from a non-law background might feel like a big step, but it’s absolutely achievable. Many successful lawyers began their careers studying something entirely different, and their diverse experiences are exactly what the profession needs.

The SQE route has made qualification more flexible and accessible than ever, opening the door to candidates from all academic backgrounds. With the right preparation and support, your existing skills can become a real strength as you explore this new path.

So, whether you're still weighing up your options or ready to take that next step, trust that you already have more to offer than you realise – this could be the beginning of a meaningful and fulfilling legal career.

For more on converting to a career in law, check out LawCareers.Net’s Non-law hub, sponsored by BARBRI.

Claire Flores is the head of student sales at BARBRI.