Solicitor

Career path and progression

With experience, you could become a partner in a private practice firm of solicitors. As a commercial solicitor, you could manage an in-house legal department.

You might also wish to specialise in a particular area of law.

Examples include:

• employment
• criminal justice
• corporate
• family

You could use your legal training to work as a legal officer in the armed forces. You can find more information at:

• Army
• Royal Air Force

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• excellent verbal communication skills to work with different people
• active listening skills
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• knowledge of English language for explaining legal matters to non-experts
• excellent written communication skills
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Law - Solicitors work with the law every single day – advising clients on their legal rights, drafting contracts, and researching case law and legislation. A deep understanding of legal principles, court procedures, and how the justice system works is the foundation of this entire career.
• English Language - Solicitors draft legal documents, contracts, and confidential letters that must be precise and unambiguous. They also need to explain complex legal matters in plain language to clients who may have no legal background, so strong written and verbal communication skills are essential.

Also relevant

• Politics - Solicitors need to understand how government works, how legislation is created, and how political decisions shape the laws they work with. This is especially important for those specialising in areas like employment law, human rights, or public law where policy and politics directly affect their clients.
• Business - Solicitors who work in corporate or commercial law advise businesses on mergers, contracts, and regulatory compliance. Understanding how businesses operate, how they are structured, and how financial decisions are made helps solicitors give practical, relevant advice to their clients.
• Economics - Solicitors working in corporate, property, or financial law regularly deal with economic concepts like market regulation, taxation, and commercial transactions. Understanding how the economy works helps them advise clients on the financial implications of legal decisions.
• History - Solicitors research legal precedents and case law, which involves tracing how laws have developed over time. History builds skills in analysing sources, constructing arguments from evidence, and understanding how past events shape current legal frameworks.
• Psychology - Solicitors work closely with clients who may be stressed, vulnerable, or in conflict, so understanding human behaviour and motivation is genuinely useful. In areas like family or criminal law, psychological insight helps solicitors manage sensitive situations and build trust with clients.
• Mathematics - Solicitors manage client finances, calculate settlements, and prepare financial documents for court proceedings. In areas like property, tax, or commercial law, being comfortable with numbers and financial calculations is a regular part of the work.