SQE / training contract route
Solicitor
Qualify through the SQE and QWE, at high street, regional and in-house firms, not just the City.
Explore this route →Bar course / pupillage routeBarrister
The academic and Bar-course stages, pupillage, and the Inns, with the real bottleneck made clear.
Explore this route →Chartered Legal Executive routeCILEX
Qualify as a lawyer by working, without a degree and without the degree-and-LPC debt.
Explore this route →Paralegal routeParalegal
A real career in its own right, and qualifying work experience toward becoming a solicitor.
Explore this route →Licensed conveyancer routeConveyancer
Qualify as a specialist property lawyer through the CLC, degree-optional and earn-as-you-learn.
Explore this route →Solicitor apprenticeship routeSolicitor Apprenticeship
Qualify as a solicitor while employed and paid, with training funded rather than borrowed.
Explore this route →Interviews: how they actually got in
An Interview with Emma Lilley: How to Get an In-house Training Contract
TSLThe Student Lawyer · 4 min
Qualifying Without a Training Contract: An Interview with Commercial Property Solicitor Oliver Byrne
ZHZainab Hassan · 7 min
Training In‑House, Building Commercial Awareness and Balancing the LPC: An Interview with Trainee Solicitor Jahed Hussain
ZHZainab Hassan · 6 min
Cross‑Qualifying, Advocacy and Life at the Bar: An Interview with Clive Moys of Radcliffe Chambers
SAStephanie Anais · 6 min
A Day in the Life of a Newly Qualified Solicitor: An Interview with Saima Islam of Freeths LLP
ZHZainab Hassan · 7 min
Interview: Family Barrister Malvika Jaganmohan on Mental Health, Resilience and the Realities of Legal Training
ALAnu Lal · 8 min
Insight, Tax, Training Contracts and Writing with Purpose: An Interview with Helen Broadbridge
SAStephanie Anais · 7 min
Interview with Tracy Tsao, a future trainee solicitor at Rosenblatt
TSLThe Student Lawyer · 9 min
2020- Interview with Charlie Madill, trainee solicitor at Herbert Smith Freehills
TSLThe Student Lawyer · 8 min
Interview with Mark Robinson, a Former Consultant Solicitor and a Police Station Representative
TSLThe Student Lawyer · 4 min
Interview with Ruth Reid, Barrister at Three Temple Gardens Chambers and founder of Cake & Counsel
TSLThe Student Lawyer · 11 min
A 2020 Interview with Alicia Loh, trainee solicitor at Shearman & Sterling
TSLThe Student Lawyer · 4 min
A 2020 Interview with Hari Pannum, future trainee solicitor at Clifford Chance
TSLThe Student Lawyer · 5 min
Interview with Sophie Shaw, a newly qualified solicitor at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
TSLThe Student Lawyer · 19 min
Interview with Yoon So Lee, future trainee solicitor at White & Case
TSLThe Student Lawyer · 4 min
“Finding My Path”: An Interview with Future Trainee Solicitor Hannah‑Mei Grisley
TSLPrince Fater Audu · 7 min
Interview with Folu Babatope: Trainee Solicitor at DLA Piper
TSLChimere Nwaegbu · 6 min
“Your Journey Is Your Strength”: An Interview with Future Shearman & Sterling Trainee Zara Khanche
TSLGabrielle Long · 6 min
Interview with Future Allen & Overy Trainee Solicitor Hafsah Nawaz
TSLGabrielle Long · 7 min
Interview with Mukuma: From Manchester Law Graduate to Future Herbert Smith Freehills Trainee
TSLGabrielle Long · 7 min
Interview with Georgia Davies: From St Andrews to a Training Contract at Shearman & Sterling
TSLGabrielle Long · 7 min
Interview with Nadine Owusu-Ansah: Future Linklaters Trainee and Founder of @legallydiverse
TSLGabrielle Long · 7 min
Interview with Amelia Mah: Trainee Solicitor at CMS and Founder of See Through Law
TSLGabrielle Long · 8 min
Interview with Jasmine Cracknell, a trainee solicitor at Shoosmiths: Training Contracts, Secondments and Advice for Future Solicitors
TSLGabriel Long · 9 min
Interview with Constance Campbell, a Trainee Solicitor at Winckworth Sherwood LLP
TSLThe Student Lawyer · 6 min
“Law or Nothing Else”: An Interview with a Lagos State University Law Student
TSLAdebodun Sulaimon · 5 min
“Closer to My Goals Every Day”: An Interview with Trainee Solicitor Simranjeet
TSLDiya Gupta · 6 min
Interview with Milan Pandit: Training at a Regional Firm, Building Confidence and Navigating Early Responsibility
TSLDiya Gupta · 7 min
Interview with a Solicitor Apprentice: Navigating an Alternative Route into Law
TSLElfie Farrant · 4 min
Interview with a Future Trainee Solicitor: Navigating an International Path into Law
TSLElfie Farrant · 6 min
Interview with Oscar Davies: Non‑Binary Visibility, Advocacy and Life at the Bar
COBChristianah Omobosola Babajide · 7 min
Interview with Emily, Founder and Former President of the 93% Club Sheffield, and Future Trainee Solicitor.
TSLThe Student Lawyer · 5 min
Interview with Liam Murray, Third-Seat Trainee Solicitor at Addleshaw Goddard
TSLThe Student Lawyer · 6 min
Interview with Daniel Sokol, barrister, founder of Alpha Student Hub, and semi-professional magician!
TSLThe Student Lawyer · 8 min
Interview with Bradley Darbyshire, a future trainee solicitor at Clifford Chance
TSLThe Student Lawyer · 5 min
Interview with David Milner, an in-house litigation lawyer
TSLThe Student Lawyer · 3 min
Reading on the routes
Mini-Pupillages: the Advantages and my Experiences
TSLThe Student Lawyer · 4 min
Warning! This Post Contains Maths – Solicitors' Accounts
TSLThe Student Lawyer · 6 min
Preparing for the GDL and a Career in Law
CCCharlotte Cassells · 9 min
Law Across the Border: Qualifying in England with a Scots Law Degree
TSLFiona Todd · 10 min
The LPC: An Overview
TSLThe Student Lawyer · 8 min
Experiences of a Paralegal
TSLThe Student Lawyer · 6 min
Marshalling and Why Every Aspiring Barrister Should Experience It
TSLThe Student Lawyer · 6 min
What is the Legal Practice Course (LPC)?
TSLThe Student Lawyer · 6 min
Mini Pupillages: A Comprehensive Guide
HFHannah Forsyth · 7 min
Becoming a Barrister: Malcolm Waters QC on Advocacy, Career Choices and the Future of the Bar
SAStephanie Anais · 7 min
Pupillage in Lockdown: Remote Advocacy, New Pressures and the Future of Training at the Bar
TSLThe Student Lawyer · 7 min
Solicitor or Barrister: Understanding the Two Routes into Legal Practice
MLMeagan Leightley · 6 min
My Journey into Law, Founding CEL Solicitors and Learning to Love Rejection
EKEnakshi Khasriya · 7 min
A Day in the Life: Burges Salmon Trainee Solicitor Ellen Robinson on Secondment in Brussels
TSLThe Student Lawyer · 5 min
From History Graduate to Future Trainee: Natasha Parsons on Breaking into Commercial Law
TSLGabrielle Long · 8 min
Personal Conduct and Professional Reputation: Why the SDT Says Private Lives Still Matter
AKAqua Koroma · 5 min
Q&A with Jess Burton
TSLThe Student Lawyer · 9 min
Five Essential Tips For SQE1 Success
AMAnna Mueller · 7 min
The SQE Explained: Key Facts, New Pathways and What Candidates Need to Know
THTammy Ho · 5 min
Embracing An Alternative Route to the Legal Profession
TSLHana Ingram · 5 min
From Civil Service to Partnership: An Employment Lawyer’s Unconventional Journey
TSLElfie Farrant · 4 min
SQE2: Five Essential Tips for a Strong Exam Strategy
TSLThe Student Lawyer · 6 min
From Bottom Sets to the Commercial Bar: Julius’ Journey to Pupillage
TSLElfie Farrant · 6 min
Mini‑Pupillages: Are They Giving Students the Insight They Expect?
JTJonathan Tsang · 6 min
Training at Deloitte Legal: Jack Moore's Trainee Journey Through Business Law, the SQE and Manchester’s Growing Legal Market
TSLElfie Farrant · 7 min
Why Mentoring Matters For Aspiring Barristers From Diverse Backgrounds
SJSonia Jassi · 4 min
A Review of the Pupillage Gateway Report 2024: Has Diversity at the Bar Improved?
LCLevon Curtis · 5 min
A Litigator’s Journey: Career Decisions, Skills Development and Insights into Modern Practice
TSLDiya Gupta · 9 min
In Conversation with Jacqui Rhule‑Dagher: Litigation, Intersectionality and Lesbian Visibility in Law
COBChristianah Omobosola Babajide · 5 min
A Practical Guide to Working as a Family Law Paralegal
CBChristianah Babajide · 7 min
Choosing Between Becoming a Solicitor or a Barrister
IInaya · 4 min
5 Top Tips for the Ultimate PGDL Personal Statement
CMChris Mallon · 7 min
Which One? SQE or LPC?
DADemi Akande · 4 min