How to Become a Lawyer in UK?

The United Kingdom has one of the best education systems in the world and also leads the charts for academics in law. With over 10,000 law firms employing international law students each year, the competition to get accepted into the top law universities in the UK is a difficult and lengthy process. In this blog, we will help you through the details of the courses from undergraduate programs, and cost of living to job opportunities and skills. Here is your complete guide on how to become a lawyer in the UK. 

Why Study Law in the UK?

Becoming a lawyer in the UK is one of the most prestigious and highly respected careers. More than 25,000 students chose to study law in the UK. Moreover, the UK is considered one of the countries with the best education system. England follows Common Law which is over 900 years old and is globally applicable. More than one-third of the countries in the world have a law system based on the English Common Law. Here are the reasons why you need to study law in the UK.

Your Qualifications Will be Recognized Worldwide

When you choose reputed universities in the UK to pursue your higher education in law, you will be able to gain some mind-blowing qualifications that will be recognized by the top law firms in the world. When employers see that you’ve graduated from a well-known UK university, they will prioritize your resume.

The Law System in the UK is Special

As mentioned earlier, the law system in the UK developed more than 900 years ago. More than one-third of the worldwide population resides within common law jurisdictions. If you have a superb interest in the international law system, English commercial law will prove helpful for you.

You Can Gain More Knowledge

Most reputed universities in the UK will not only make you more employable but also provide you with high-quality lecturers and study materials. The professors in these law universities will help you gain more knowledge as well as real-life skills to become a successful lawyer. This is one of the best reasons why you should pursue law at UK universities.

You Can Build a Better Future

When you complete your law degree at a UK university, you will be able to make sure your future is more secure and brighter. You don’t need to worry about getting a job. In addition, with hard work and practice, you can become a successful lawyer within a few years.

Skills Required to Become a Lawyer in the UK

We discussed how there is a great demand for lawyers in the UK. But with great demand comes high competition against lawyers. The acceptance rates in the top universities are lower in the UK compared to other countries. Therefore, you must consciously decide whether you have the skills required to be a lawyer before you read forward on how to become a lawyer in the UK. 

• Teamwork– If one of the biggest firms in the UK, CMS, hires 1377 lawyers each year, imagine the need for all lawyers to work in teams. If you possess the quality of cordially working in teams, you can become a lawyer. 
• Problem-solving skills– A lawyer is typically a problem solver who tries to bring the best out of a circumstance. You should be able to come to a consensus with your client and your colleagues in cases. 
• Writing strength– As a lawyer, you have to draft agreements, letters to clients, contracts and such written documents. With a huge responsibility on your head, little grammatical errors can make or break your case. 
• Refusal skills- If you’ve heard your parents complain about how you argue till you are proven right, the law is the profession for you. Your verbal communication skills have to be up to the mark always. 
• Work under pressure- There is a lot of pressure a lawyer has to go through. Especially in the UK, where the inflow of international students is much more than the ones who get placed. 

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Types of Lawyers in the UK- Solicitor or Barrister 

If you want to know how to become a lawyer in the UK, you have to first know the types of lawyers you can become.

Solicitor 

A solicitor is a lawyer that handles the case from the very start. The first reading, writing letters on the client’s behalf and everything. A solicitor is either working in a private firm owned by him or in a partnership or generally employed by a private firm. The job role of a solicitor is as follows:

• Advising clients and even in writing
• Communicating the case details at every point
• Writing to you regularly
• Writing to the other party or their solicitor
• Draft court papers, statements and applications for court proceedings

Although the barrister has the right to represent you, in most cases a solicitor can exercise his right to the audience and represent you in court. The average salary of a solicitor in the UK is £60,142 or ₹61.6 lakhs per year.

Barrister

If a solicitor does all your paperwork and works behind the scenes, a barrister represents you in court. A barrister defends people in court and wears a wig and gown. The key responsibilities of a barrister are as follows:

• Represent clients in court
• Advise at strategic points in a case

A solicitor drafts a brief (summary of the case) for the barrister to make correct arguments to defend the client. While solicitors work in private offices, barristers work in chambers which means shared offices with other barristers. The average salary of a barrister in the UK is £89,400 or INR 89 lakhs per year. 

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How to Become a Lawyer in the UK: Undergraduate 

Here’s the step-by-step guide on how to become a lawyer in the UK at an undergraduate level. 

Step 1: Choose your university and course

The first step towards becoming a lawyer in the UK is to choose a university. You can either pursue an LLB or BA in Law for 3 years at the undergraduate level. 

Step 2: Check whether you are eligible or not

Law universities in the UK require you to have a minimum of 65% in your 12th for you to be eligible. This minimum cutoff can also be as high as 85% for the University of Oxford. In case of a lower score, you can apply for the LNAT (Law National Aptitude Test) as an added academic qualification. You will also be required to submit your IELTS/TOEFL score to be eligible to study in the UK. 

Step 3: Apply to universities

After appearing for the aptitude test and English test, attach your important documents along with your CV, Letters Of Recommendation and Statement of Purpose. You will have to wait for 2 to 3 weeks to hear of acceptance from universities 

Step 4: Apply for Student Visa for the UK

After you have completed all the above steps in how to become a lawyer in the UK, you have to now apply for a UK student visa. The visa application process should start 6 months before your course starts and will take 3 to 4 weeks to process.

How to Become a Lawyer in the UK: Graduate

If you want to pursue a master’s in law in the UK, the minimum requirement is to hold a bachelor’s degree in law (LLB or BA Law). If you hold this degree, you should follow the given step-by-step guide on how to become a lawyer in the UK: Graduate. 

Step 1: Check out the universities with the best LLM courses in the UK 

LLM can be a 1 to the 2-year-long course in universities in the UK. The University of Cambridge and Oxford are the top universities for LLM in the UK. 

Step 2: Eligibility requirements 

To do post-graduation in law in the UK, you have to give GMAT or GRE as an aptitude test along with your IELTS/TOEFL as proof of English proficiency. 

Step 3: University Applications

Send out your applications along with the aptitude and English proficiency test mark sheet, CV, LORs and SOP. You will have to wait for 4 to 5 weeks to hear from the applied universities. 

Step 4: Apply for the UK Student visa 

After being accepted by either one of the universities, you can apply for a UK student visa. Make sure you read the UK Visa questions before you go for your interview to avoid rejection. 

Can you Practice Law in India after Studying in the UK?

As we discussed, the Indian Law System is inspired by the English Common Law. Therefore, if you want to work in India after studying law in the UK, the Bar Council of India recognises degrees from the following UK Universities. Indian law firms are keener on employing lawyers who become lawyers in the UK. 

• Buckingham University
• City University of London
• Council for National Academic Awards
• Hull University
• Inns of Courts School of Law
• Leeds University
• Leicester University
• London University
• Oxford University
• Cambridge University
• University of West London
• University of Wales College Of Cardiff
• University of Birmingham
• University of Lancaster
• University of Hertfordshire
• University of Durham
• University of Liverpool
• University of Warwick
• University of Bristol
• East Anglia University
• Nottingham University
• University of Manchester
• Bangor University
• Kingston University, London
• University of Wolverhampton School of Legal Studies
• School Of Law, University of Sheffield
• Kent Law School, University of Kent, Canterbury
• School Of Law, University of East London
• School Of Law, University Of Southampton
• University Of Westminster
• Brunel Law School, Brunel University, West London
• School Of Law, Birmingham City University
• Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne
• Lancashire Law School, University Of Central Lancashire, Preston

A solicitor drafts a brief (summary of the case) for the barrister to make correct arguments to defend the client. While solicitors work in private offices, barristers work in chambers which means shared offices with other barristers. The average salary of a barrister in the UK is £89,400 or INR 89 lakhs per year. 

 Admission Process for Law Universities in the UK

The admission process in for a law degree at UK universities is extremely overwhelming as you’re going to pursue the most fundamental part of the law. However, when you contact Leverage Edu, the professionals will help you with the admission process. Let’s discuss the eligibility criteria to become a lawyer in the UK.

Eligibility Criteria 

If you successfully want to become a lawyer after completing law courses from UK universities, make sure you met the following requirements:

• Depending on your previous academic qualification, you need to submit the mark sheet. If you’re going for PG courses, you need to submit a UG mark sheet.
• Make sure you pass the GRE test.  
• If you’re planning to enrol in a foreign university, you must score at least 6.5 on the IELTS exam and 88 on the TOEFL exam. 

Application Process for MSc in Accounting 

The application process might seem a little complicated, but you don’t need to worry as we’re here to guide you through. You just need to ensure you’re completing the university application process properly so that you don’t face any barriers. Here are the important points you need to consider:

• During the submission process, you need to answer different questions regarding your career. After submitting experience certificates which aren’t mandatory, you need to submit the application fees. 
• After that, supportive information is required such as a personal statement, CV, GMAT/GRE results, and English language test results.
• You might be interviewed by the university as they will ask questions to determine whether you’re a perfect candidate or not.

Required Documents 

The documentation process is one of the most essential steps you should consider. But making some common mistakes will jeopardize your application. The documents you need to submit are::

• Educational certificates. As you’re going for the highest fundamental degree in law, you need to provide your other mark sheets such as the 12th mark sheet, UG mark sheet, etc.  
• Letter of recommendation
• Letter of intent 
• Financial documents 
• Statement of purpose 
• Passport
• Visa

Career and Job Prospects

Upon completing your law degree from a reputed university in the UK, you will undoubtedly make yourself more attractive to potential employers. Employers will differentiate your resume from the rest by looking at your CV. But you need to make sure you’ve secured great marks in your exams.

Job Opportunities as a Lawyer in the UK

We’ve seen how to become a lawyer in the UK, now let’s look at the jobs you can apply for as a law graduate. 

Job Profile	Average starting salary per year
Arbitrator	GBP 28,000 (INR 28.68 lakhs)
Barrister	GBP 51,000 (INR 51.22 lakhs)
Barrister’s clerk	GBP 18,000 (INR 18.44 lakhs)
Chartered legal executive	GBP 15,000 (INR 15.36 lakhs)
Company Secretary	GBP 59,000 (INR 59.44 lakhs)
Costs lawyer	GBP 20,000 (INR 20.45 lakhs)
Detective	GBP 25,000 (INR 25.38 lakhs)
Licensed conveyancer	GBP 41,000 (INR 40.98 lakhs)
Paralegal	GBP 28,000 (INR 28.30 lakhs)
Solicitor	GBP 35,000 (INR 35.85 lakhs)

Top Legal Recruitment Agencies in the UK

When you have a great academic background, you will be hired by the top legal agencies in the UK such as:

• Douglas Scott
• Chadwick Nott
• Nobel
• Mia Global
• JMC
• GR Law
• GMK
• Law Absolute
• EJ

How Much Do You Need to Spend?

You need to pay a significant amount of money to study law in the UK. Not to mention, you also need to consider the accommodation costs. Depending on the city, the accommodation costs might go higher or lower.

Cost of Studying Law in the UK 

This table will help you understand the cost of becoming a lawyer in the UK. 

Type of Expense	Average Cost
Tuition fee	Undergraduate: GBP 12,000 – GBP 23,000 (INR 12.31 Lakhs – INR 23.5 lakhs) per year Postgraduate: GBP 14,000 – GBP 30,000 (INR 14.37 Lakhs – INR 30.79 lakhs) per year
Visa application	GBP 350 (INR 35,000)
GMAT/GRE Exam fee	₹18,000/₹16,000
LNAT Exam fee	₹5,000
IELTS/TOEFL Exam fee	₹15,000/₹13,000

FAQs

If you want to get into a high-ranked university, you’ll need more than just good grades; you’ll also need flawless application because the competition is fierce. You may enlist the assistance of Leverage Edu specialists to assist you with the application process so that you can realise your goals.