Leaving the Bar
updated on 30 September 2003
Dear Oracle
I'm an employed barrister working for a government department outside London, practising solely in criminal law. I'm thinking of re-qualifying as a solicitor - particular interests are real estate and technology. How can I go about converting?The Oracle replies
The procedure for converting from barrister to solicitor is laid down by the Law Society. Write to its Legal Education and Training Department with a detailed analysis of your experience and qualifications to date. Law Society rules require that to you must have two years experience in a solicitor's office in order to convert, but certain experience can be offset against this (eg, pupillage). The Law Society reviews each application on an individual basis, so do give them as much information as possible. Once you have been assessed you will be sent a Certificate of Eligibility to sit the Transfer Test, and if there are any requirements for you to gain extra experience, these will be added as clauses in the certificate. You will be delighted to hear though that you will not have to undertake a training contract!You don't indicate whether you've been able to get yourself up to speed in the areas of work that interest you. It's important to market yourself on the skills and experience that are easily transferable between the two branches of the profession (eg, managing files, caseloads, client and communication skills). If you know people in the commercial sector, network and try and set up some informal chats to explore ideas. Don't be afraid to contact partners in your chosen areas to set up some meetings. Don't rely solely on responding to adverts as these are usually much more specific in requiring experience in a particular field. In all, go for a very proactive approach!
