Entering the world of Law

Solicitors are lawyers who deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers, and a lawyer will usually only hold one title.

In Canada, New Zealand and most Australian states, the legal profession has fused together which allows lawyers to hold the title of "barrister and solicitor" and practice both, the distinct difference between barristers and solicitors is still retained but many legal graduates start off as one and then decide to become the other.

UK Solicitors must pay an annual fee to obtain a Practicing Certificate, the fee is paid to the Law Society of England and Wales who represents the profession. The Solicitors Regulation Authority and The Law Society together complete the system of professional regulation for solicitors. Complaints about solicitors if not satisfactorily resolved by the solicitors' firm may be made to the Legal Ombudsman.

There are two graduate routes of entry into the profession, solicitors holding a qualifying law degree proceed to enroll with the Law Society as a student member and study the Legal Practice Course. Those holding a non law degree but must complete a conversion course qualifying degree prior to enrolling on the Legal Practice Course.

Once the Legal Practice Course has been completed, the prospective solicitor must then undertake two years' apprenticeship, known as a training contract. Fully qualified solicitors can work in any law firm; there are many small solicitors in Maidstone and across England where newly qualified solicitors can start practicing their profession.