Qualifications, Panels & Specialisations

Solicitors

What is a Solicitor?

A solicitor is a lawyer who has undergone rigorous training and attained a high standard of education, and who therefore has a thorough knowledge of the law.

But there is more to being a solicitor than this. Because solicitors are regulated by the Law Society — which lays down rules of conduct — a solicitor must:

	always act in the client's best interest
	declare any conflict of interest
	always keep clients' matters confidential
	protect clients' money
	honour all undertakings
	uphold justice

A solicitor who breaches any of the rules may be disciplined by the Law Society, and may even be struck off. This means that clients can totally rely on their solicitor to give them objective and confidential advice.

Training of Solicitors

So what does it take to become a solicitor?

Typically, a solicitor will have undergone the following training:

	a law degree, or a degree in another subject followed by a further training course (lasting one year full time or two years part time) known as the Common Professional Examination or Postgraduate Diploma in Law
	followed by
	Legal Practice Course — either one year full time or two years part time
	followed by
	A two year training contract — typically working in a firm of solicitors under supervision

After undertaking all the training and passing all the exams, the candidate may apply to the Law Society to be “admitted to the roll of solicitors”. At this point, the candidate's character comes under scrutiny and only if he or she is judged to be a “fit and proper person” will he or she be given a practising certificate — and can finally be called a solicitor.

However, it doesn't end there. For as long as they remain in practice, solicitors have to continue to undergo training each year in order to keep themselves in touch with developments and changes in the law.

After qualifying, a solicitor may also choose to specialise in a particular area of the law and perhaps join one of the Law Society's Specialist Panels, for which further formal training may be required.

Legal Executives

Not all lawyers are solicitors, and “Legal Executive” is a qualification in its own right.

The training and supervision of Legal Executives is undertaken by the Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX).

A legal executive is a lawyer who specialises in a particular area of law, and who will have trained to the same standard as a solicitor in that area.

Fully qualified and experienced legal executives are able to do many of the things that solicitors do. For instance, they will have their own clients (with full conduct of cases), they can undertake representation in court where appropriate, and can act as Commissioners for Oaths.

Legal executives must adhere to a code of conduct and, like solicitors, are required to continue training throughout their careers in order to keep themselves abreast of developments and changes in the law.

One difference between the training of legal executives and solicitors is that it is not necessary for a legal executive to have a law degree. Typically, a trainee legal executive will begin by being employed by a law firm and, working under supervision, combine practical experience with formal classes, and take examinations. This generally takes about four years and after the final exams are passed the candidate becomes a Member of the Institute of Legal Executives.

After two years of legal practice after passing the exams, the Member can apply to become a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives.

Article first published October 2002
Revised April 2007