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How to become a Lawyer

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Lawyer

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The role of a Lawyer

What does a Lawyer do?

Always winning arguments? Law could be for you…

Lawyers provide advice and representation for individuals, government agencies, and businesses. This title could also refer to Solicitors, Barristers, Advocates, Attorneys, or any other legal professional.

They could specialise in a wide variety of fields, from employment, finance, and environmental, to property, taxation, and family law – with specific duties varying depending on the setting, specialism, and nature of the case.

However, the role of a Lawyer will usually comprise of tasks such as negotiating with clients, researching case law, calculating claims, attending court (if necessary), and preparing and filing legal documents.

Other tasks and duties for a Lawyer include:

Preparing paperwork for court
Attending court hearings
Presenting cases to judges
Giving legal advice to clients
Gathering and analysing information to support legal actions
Developing strategies and arguments
Negotiating settlements

Is a career as a Lawyer right for me?

Aside from a flare for critical thinking and persuasion, you’ll also need to be a keen researcher with a passion for all things legal.

Additionally, interpersonal, problem solving, and analytical skills are an absolute must – whether you’re using them to build trusting relationships with clients, prepare a defensive argument in court, or analyse data to support a case.Some cases may also be more difficult to win, so it’ll be up to you to persevere and effectively fight your corner. In other words, if you tend to give up easily, a career in law might not be for you.

You’ll also need to be:

A good researcher
Excellent at public speaking
A precise and specific writer
Dedicated and committed
A great negotiator

What's it like to be a Lawyer?

"As an avid researcher with a passion for law, working in employment law is perfect for me. Not only is it extremely rewarding, it’s also really varied – involving anything from writing up legal documents to arguing a case in court. Whilst I’m primarily office-based, it’s also common for me to travel to meet clients or attend court, which only adds even more variety to my role. And, with a range of case types and clients, there’s never a dull moment."

Get qualified as a Lawyer

To start training to be a Lawyer, you’ll first need to be educated to degree level. You’ll then need to take the bar professional training course (BPTC) if you want to become a Barrister, or the Legal Practice Course (LPC) if you want to become a Solicitor. If your degree is in a non-law related subject, you’ll also be required to pass a conversion course, and/or take a Masters in order to specialise in a certain area of law.

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