Solicitor career path with the new SQE – While you are studying

Apply for Attwells‘ work experience programme. This will give you the opportunity to experience a medium-sized law firm that specialises in property. The work experience programme is aimed at giving you a look inside a law firm and testing your personal skills to see if you are a good fit as a lawyer. Feedback will be provided. To apply please visit https://www.attwells.com/site/media_centre/careers/work-experience/

Solicitor career path with the new SQE – After your degree

You may wish to take Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) preparation courses.

You will be looking at completing the SQE1 and SQE2 exams and information about these can be found on the SRA website.  These can be done while working in the legal profession or beforehand.

  • 12-24 months

Becoming a Junior Paralegal

You have been successful with your application and begin with “dipping your toe” into carrying out your own work for your own clients supervised at all times. You will have a small caseload and will be seeing your clients through from instructions to completion of their matter. You will now be responsible for your clients. Our CASE Management System will guide you through the requisite steps of the matter and your colleagues and supervisor will be there to answer questions as new situations arise. You will be paid the real living wage plus £1000.

To qualify as a solicitor you need to show you have 2 years of full-time experience as a paralegal at Attwells we will help to do this after 12 months. You will also be completing your SQE1 after working at Attwells for 12 months if you have not done so already.

  • 12 – 24 months

Become a Paralegal

Your caseload is now building as your familiarity and confidence grows. You will be requiring less support and indeed starting to give support to junior colleagues. You will be paid the Real Living Wage plus £2000.

You will now really be focusing on obtaining knowledge in different areas of law to fulfill the competency needed to be a solicitor.  You will also be completing your SQE2 if you have not done so already.

  • 12-24 months

Become a Senior Paralegal

As a Senior Paralegal, you are now an experienced fee earner at the Firm. You should not require daily supervision and you are likely providing support to other paralegals and legal assistants. You should have good experience of a wide range of work in your particular legal discipline.

You will now be in the last 6 months of your training with us. Attwells will be discussing where you would like to qualify and you will be developing in-depth knowledge in this area. You will be completing the character and suitability requirement and registering to be a solicitor the fees of this will be covered by Attwells.

  • 6 – 12 months
  • Solicitor approx. 2 -5 years from starting at Attwells depending on what experience and what SQE exams you have already undertaken.
Our blogs and articles are correct at the time of writing.
These have been created for marketing purposes only and should not be considered as legal advice.