Becoming a solicitor with a sociology degree

thank you!
How are you finding it, is it quite intense and also after completing the LPC do you then become a solicitor or is there more training?

That's because I was asked about the process and timeline - not what OP should be doing now. I didn't deliberately leave out what OP should be doing now - I was just answering the question


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Hey there,

I taught for six years (TEFL) overseas so my experience may be of interest to you.

My advice, for what its worth, is go ahead and get your teaching qualifications now. Once you've done the PGCE, you have your safety net in place for life and you won't have to go through the angst that so may other post-grad, early-20s training contract hunters go through.

Moreover, after you've taught for a few years you will have tons of meaningful real life experience that will put you at a massive advantage over the thousands of other TC hunters out there. If you retain an interest in the law while teaching, you can eventually start applying for vacation schemes which are basically week-long interviews/ work experience and a chance for you to prove your worth and land a TC. If they do offer you a TC you won't have to worry about stumping up for the GDL and LPC without knowing whether its going to pay off. You might even get sponsored for both if you land a TC at a decent sized firm.

Obviously, I'd suggest teaching for long enough thus not appearing like a complete flake by jacking it in after a year or so. This may sound like a ridiculously long-term strategy, but trust me, your 20s are long and there's no shame in starting a TC when you are in your early 30s, as I will be.

On a side note- you also get the personal satisfaction of having more than one career, a sure fire way to guard against early onset midlife crisis!

Oh, and also, law firms are all about sector specialty and there's more money in the education sector than you think with all the academy conversions going on. If you are strategic with your applications and go for firms that have a strong education client base, you might find yourself a standout candidate.

thank you for the advice.
I need to get an insight to becoming a solicitor. My main aim was after my degree to become a teacher. However, recently I started researching and came across someone who was a trainee solicitor and was going to work in a field of a child specialist. This made me realize I have always wanted to help people and this occupation is great. However, it seems like a risk to me, so many questions of will someone take me on their firm for training I have no law background, will it work out, all that money being spent. It seems like teaching is a safe bet almost. However, I am a dedicated person who is passionate about achieving my goals and I do not want to regret not taking this opportunity of working as a solicitor. Therefore, my conclusion is to complete my degree in sociology then the pgce and then see after that if I could to the GDL AND PLC. However, start gaining experience and start reading. Hope this all makes sense.

I know if I did this it would damage the legitimacy of my claim to want to be a solicitor. It's one thing soldiering on to finish a degree you committed yourself to some four years ago, but another entirely to appear to have changed your plans within one year.

Of course, to commit to a PGCE and then start applying for TCs after one year of teaching would be insane.

However, the claim that it would 'damage the legitimacy of your claim to want to be a solicitor' flies in the face of the fact that numerous people, myself included, have changed careers and gone on to get TCs.

The important thing is that you can show that you (a) did well in your previous job and (b) have legitimate, sensible reasons for changing careers. Obviously, those applicants who have clearly been festering in a job they hated are less likely to get a look in.

Actually, it occurs to me that there may be a middle road if it interests you. You could TEFL in China, Korea or Taiwan where they pay graduates with no teaching qualifications or experience decent money and house you for a year- they'll even pay for your outward and return flights. You can find out if you like teaching and earn experience that will look good on your CV for TC applications or teaching.