Family Law

I am a sixth form student interested in family law and I was wondering how I would go about getting into this field of law. Are there any solicitors apprenticeships available for this? In my own research I have only found apprenticeships into corporate or financial law so I am struggling to see how I would be able to become specialised in this area?

Reply 1

Stiffy Byng

Study for a degree in law, or in any other subject followed by a PGDL. Seek a training contract with a firm that does family work.

Apprenticeships are offered mainly by large firms. Most family work and private client work is done by smaller firms.

Reply 2

UoL Students

Official Rep

Original post by Jasmine_25

Hello,

Family Law can be very difficult to get into both because of how popular it is and the private nature of this area of law. Legal apprenticeships are also very new and so are still not the mainstream way of becoming a lawyer.

What would be the best way into a career in family law would be doing a qualifying Law LLB degree which although may not focus entirely on family law, it will give you the foundations of legal knowledge needed to be a solicitor. You should then be able to pick family law as an optional module. At the University of Leicester we also have a legal advice clinic where some students, myself included, specialise in family law and so this is a really fantastic way into this area of law.

After your degree you would be required to do the SQE and then a training contract before specialising in family law. If you didn't want to do a Law degree, before the SQE you would likely have to do a law conversion course.

I hope this helps and gives you some guidance, if you have any further questions please do let me know.

Charlie
Law LLB Student