Original post by Skari97
I have 2 GSCES (Maths and English Language) and a L2 BTEC which is equivalent to 4 GSCES. Is there any chance for me to become a solicitor or barrister if i do well in my a levels and degree?
You can become a solicitor through various means. You can only become a barrister, as far as I know though a law related degree (LLB or PGDL).
If you want to become a solicitor, you can do any of the following:
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Do CILEx up to Level 6 (equivalent of a degree in law)
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Do an LLB
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Do a PGDL after a degree in a random subject
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Do a law apprenticeship (which will likely involve CILEx)
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Go into an SQE straight after a bachelor's degree in any subject
The key GCSEs for LLBs are Maths and English Language (more often the latter than the former, since there's little maths if any at all).
Should you do an undergrad in anything other than law, then it would depend on the individual degree but generally Maths and English Language GCSEs are required. For some STEM degrees, you might even need specific GCSEs or equivalent in science.
CILEX Level 3 (entry level) doesn't have any entry requirements as far as I know.
Whether you can get hired as a trainee solicitor or barrister is a completely different matter though. As I am not a solicitor or barrister, you should get a second opinion from the trainees who are, but the general impression that I have is that:
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Competitive law firms would be hiring from top universities that do LLBs
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LLBs are preferred over other qualifications
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At the very least have a PGDL if you don't have an LLB
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Becoming a barrister is a lot more competitive than becoming a solicitor
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Although you can do an SQE straight after a bachelor's degree in any subject, many law firms still insist on doing a PGDL or LLB for some reason
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People getting into a law apprenticeship is incredibly rare
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You would practically be fighting over training contracts, the thing that actually counts to becoming a solicitor or barrister
So no, you are not disadvantaged from a qualifications and legal standpoint. Whether it's competitive enough in order for you to get hired into a law firm and secure a training contract or pupillage is another matter entirely.
See the following for further information:
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/barrister
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/solicitor
Reply 2
Aspirant solicitors do training contracts, aspirant barristers do pupillages.
About half of the lawyers in the UK have non-law degrees. There is no preference for law degrees amongst law firms and barristers' chambers.
Some undergraduate law degrees are BAs, for example those awarded by Oxford and Cambridge.
Taking a PGDL before the SQE is recommended for non-law graduates in order to provide a foundation in legal knowledge needed for the SQE. A PGDL teaches the core subjects of a law degree in one year.
OP, you will need strong A levels and a good degree to be competitive as an aspirant lawyer. Your GCSEs will not matter when seeking professional training, but they may impede you in seeking access to university. Predicted A level or IB grades plus other factors will however be more important than GCSEs.
Entry level legal recruitment is increasingly done university-blind, but graduates from leading universities tend to out-perform other graduates. This is because the most selective universities attract the most academically inclined students. The law requires strong academic skills.
About half of the lawyers in the UK have non-law degrees. There is no preference for law degrees amongst law firms and barristers' chambers.
Some undergraduate law degrees are BAs, for example those awarded by Oxford and Cambridge.
Taking a PGDL before the SQE is recommended for non-law graduates in order to provide a foundation in legal knowledge needed for the SQE. A PGDL teaches the core subjects of a law degree in one year.
OP, you will need strong A levels and a good degree to be competitive as an aspirant lawyer. Your GCSEs will not matter when seeking professional training, but they may impede you in seeking access to university. Predicted A level or IB grades plus other factors will however be more important than GCSEs.
Entry level legal recruitment is increasingly done university-blind, but graduates from leading universities tend to out-perform other graduates. This is because the most selective universities attract the most academically inclined students. The law requires strong academic skills.
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