LAW conversion?

After completing a normal 3/4 year degree in an unrelated subject, for example physics, how many years would it take after that to become a lawyer as a postgraduate? Just wondering how much extra time i would have to spend if i want to choose this later on...

Reply 1

username6990201

Original post by AlexWestlake

Hi, I didn't do the LNAT this year becuase during last summer I was set on doing a gap year and didn't want to have toredo it a year later. I applied to uni this year to see what offers I could get. Naturally, I could not apply to the best and wasaccepted into all but Warwick. I have been accepted into Manchester. Lets say that I got A* A* A* A with one of the A*'sbeing the international bac. Should I accept Manchester or should I be looking for somewhere stronger? If so where?Becuase Warwick rejected me with A* A* A A.

Hi Alex, I don't know if you meant to post this in this thread, but you might have better luck getting responses if you make this it's own post.

Reply 2

UniofLaw Student

Official Rep

Original post by sound-famous-

Hi @sound-famous-

It differs if you want to become a solicitor or a barrister and, even then, there is no straight answer as many people end up taking additional years to get required experience to be successful in applications or to fund the courses.

If you wanted to become a barrister, after your undergraduate course you would have to do a conversion course. This is usually one academic year if done full-time. After your conversion course, you would have to do the BPC which is another academic year (so if all runs smoothly 2 academic years of more traditional university-style study). Once you have completed the BPC you need to complete pupillage. Pupillage is a paid position in a chambers which lasts 12 months. You can apply for pupillage whilst studying your law conversion as many of the positions start 18 months after being accepted (although it is uncommon to secure pupillage before doing the BPC due to the competitiveness of it). After completing pupillage you would be a qualified barrister.

If you want to become a solicitor, after your undergraduate course you could technically go straight into sitting your SQE exams. However, due to the pass rate it is usually advised to do a course with a university to prep for these. Saying you wish to do a prep course, then you would likely have to do a law conversion (1 academic year), then the SQE prep course (1 academic year). Once you have passed your SQE exams you then need to do 2 years of qualified work experience at a firm such as working as a paralegal or under a training contract. After this, you would be a qualified solicitor.

If you didn't want to do a prep course then there wouldn't, in theory, be a need to do a conversion course or a prep course for the SQE exams. However, you would have to self-study for the exams so it is hard to say when you would be ready to sit them. If you did decide to do this, and were successful, then you would do the 2 years of qualifying work experience after passing the SQEs as previously explained.

I hope this helps!

(edited 11 months ago)

Reply 3