JOBS & CAREERS SPRING 2018 - 88
work weekends and evenings, especially when it's busy, or you're dealing with a tough case. What qualifications do I need? If you have a law degree, you can take a legal practice course. If you have a degree in another subject, you can take a common professional examination/ graduate diploma in law (CPE/GDL). If you're not a graduate, you can join the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) and qualify while working in the profession. After finishing your degree or CPE/GDL, you'll need to pass the legal practice course (LPC) and get a training contract. How much can I earn? Trainee solicitors don't earn much more than the national living wage, but once qualified you can take home between £25,000 and £90,000 a year, depending on your experience. Partners can earn more than £100,000. Barrister Qualifying for a career in law takes time and money, so it's worth making sure it's the right choice for you Barristers are specialists who work on legal matters in different areas of law - commercial, civil, criminal and family. Usually self-employed, they work closely with solicitors, who give them instructions and any information relating to a case. When they're not appearing in court, they work in chambers to prepare their cases. Barristers spend time advising their clients on the strength of their case and then working on that case with them. They represent clients in court, setting out the case and crossexamining witnesses. They also negotiate settlements with the opposition's legal team when a dispute is resolved out of court. What qualifications do I need? Qualifying means getting a degree (2:2 or above), either an approved law degree in any other subject, and then gaining a postgraduate common professional examination/graduate diploma in law (CPE/GDL). There are two more steps to qualification. Firstly, a vocational step to achieve the bar professional training course (BPTC), which takes one year full-time or two years part-time. Finally, barristers take what's called a pupillage - one year spent working in an approved legal environment. You'll also need great writing and debating skills, be able to think clearly under pressure. How much can I earn? Barristers doing their pupillage won't get more than about £12,000 a year, but that rises rapidly once fully qualified. Within a few years, you could earn up to 8 8 /// J O B S & C A R E E R S £200,000, depending on what sector you're specialising in. Working in the CPS will land you between £30,000 and £90,000 a year, and salaries in private practice can exceed £750,000. Paralegal As a paralegal you'll help lawyers in your practice, doing some of the same work but without giving advice to clients. The duties of a paralegal vary according to the type of firm and practice area. You may research and draft documents, attend client meetings, look after documents and prepare reports. Some paralegals help to write contracts and mortgages, and prepare income tax returns and other financial documents. What qualifications do I need? There are no set entry requirements, but firms usually look for law graduates or non-law graduates who have done a CPE/GDL. Some larger firms look for graduates who have also passed the LPC. How much can I earn? Starting salaries are around £14,000 to £25,000, rising to over £40,000. Legal executive A chartered legal executive is a lawyer who specialises in one particular area of the law, such as conveyancing. They can prepare documents, draw up wills, advise clients and prepare bills. What qualifications do I need? You can work in a legal office whether you're a graduate or not, with the option to later qualify as a solicitor through further training. It's a tough option, but it means you can earn while you learn. How much can I earn? Salaries start at £15,000 to £28,000, but can rise to more than £100,000. Legal secretary You'll provide secretarial and clerical support to solicitors, barristers and the law courts, dealing with large quantities of correspondence and helping to prepare documents such as wills. What qualifications do I need? Most jobs will require you to have GCSEs grade 9 to 4 (A* to C) in English and maths. Experience of working in an office will stand you in good stead. How much can I earn? From £18,000, rising to £35,000 to £45,000 for supervisory roles. Find out more * Chartered Institute of Legal Executives cilex.org.uk * Institute of Legal Secretaries and PAs institutelegalsecretaries.com * Institute of Paralegals theiop.org * The Law Society lawsociety.org.uk