To become a solicitor in England and Wales, you need a degree in any subject or an equivalent qualification, pass both parts of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE), complete 2 years of full-time qualifying work experience and meet the Solicitors Regulation Authority's character and suitability requirements. You can also qualify through a Solicitor Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship.
Your degree doesn't have to be in law. The flexible part most people miss is where your work experience can come from.
This guide uses the National Careers Service job profile for solicitors and the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) page on qualifying work experience, both read on 26 October 2026. It's a careers guide, not legal advice.
Solicitor pay and hours at a glance
| Measure | National Careers Service figure |
|---|---|
| Average starter salary | £30,000 a year |
| Average experienced salary | £80,000 a year |
| Typical hours | 37 to 50 a week |
| When you could work | On call at short notice |
Those salary figures are as of October 2026, from the National Careers Service profile.
The routes compared
| Route | What it involves |
|---|---|
| University (SQE) | Degree in any subject, SQE parts 1 and 2, 2 years' qualifying work experience, SRA character checks |
| Solicitor apprenticeship | Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship, usually around 5 to 6 years, including a law degree; you still pass the SQE and do 2 years' work experience |
| Work your way up | Start at a legal firm and train on the job, for example with the CILEX Level 6 Professional Diploma in Higher Law and Practice |
| Traditional route | Only if you started a qualifying law degree, GDL or LPC before 2021; it runs until 2032 |
The apprenticeship needs your employer's support, and it usually asks for 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4, including English and maths. A Paralegal Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship can lead into it.
The SQE route, step by step
- Get a degree in any subject, or an equivalent qualification. Some universities ask you to sit the Law National Aptitude Test (LNAT) if you choose law.
- Build legal knowledge, because you'll need it to pass the SQE even if your degree isn't law.
- Pass SQE part 1 and SQE part 2.
- Complete 2 years' full-time qualifying work experience, or the part-time equivalent.
- Meet the SRA's character and suitability requirements and apply for admission.
The detail most people miss: work experience is flexible
Qualifying work experience doesn't have to be a single 2-year training contract at one firm. The SRA says it can be gained in up to four organisations, in paid or volunteer work, across a wide range of organisations that provide legal services. You only need to register your 2 years by the time you apply for admission as a solicitor.
The SRA's examples include a placement during a law degree, work in a law clinic, a voluntary or charitable organisation or a law centre, paralegal work and a training contract, and it can even be gained overseas. It's the part of the route that gives career changers the most room.
What solicitors do
Solicitors advise clients about the law and act on their behalf in legal matters. With experience, you could become a partner in a private practice, run an in-house legal department as a commercial solicitor, or specialise in areas such as employment, criminal justice, corporate or family law.
Competition is strong, so the National Careers Service advises showing consistently good grades and getting work experience in different legal settings. There are diversity work experience schemes to encourage under-represented groups into the profession, and The Law Society offers professional development and contacts.
If you're exploring the wider legal job market, our guide to finding remote legal jobs as a solicitor or paralegal covers flexible roles, and these ChatGPT prompts for solicitors and law firms show how firms use AI day to day.
Skills that help you qualify and get hired
The National Careers Service lists the skills solicitors use most, and they're worth building before you apply for training or jobs:
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
- Legal knowledge, including court procedures and government regulations.
- Thoroughness and attention to detail.
- Excellent verbal communication, since you'll work with very different people.
- Clear, logical thinking under pressure.
Research and drafting are a big part of the early years, and so is managing clients who may be going through something difficult. Any role where you write carefully, explain complex information simply and deal with people under stress will help your applications.
Choosing between the SQE route and an apprenticeship
The apprenticeship suits you if you'd rather avoid university fees and can find an employer to back you: you study while you work and the training prepares you for the SQE. The degree route suits you if you're already at university or changing careers with a degree behind you. Both end at the same place, with both parts of the SQE and 2 years of qualifying work experience. Whichever you choose, the SRA character and suitability check comes at the end, so it's worth reading those requirements early.
My verdict
The SQE has made becoming a solicitor more open than it used to be: any degree, 2 exams and 2 years of work experience that can come from up to four organisations. Starting pay averages £30,000, rising to £80,000 with experience, as of October 2026, and the hours can be long. If you can find an employer to back you, the Level 7 apprenticeship lets you earn while you qualify; if not, start collecting qualifying work experience as early as you can, because it's usually the slowest part to complete.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a law degree to become a solicitor?
No. You can take a degree in any subject, though you'll need legal knowledge to pass the Solicitors Qualifying Exam.
What is the SQE?
The Solicitors Qualifying Exam has 2 parts, and you must pass both to qualify as a solicitor through the SQE route.
How long is qualifying work experience?
Two years full time, or the equivalent part time.
Can qualifying work experience be at more than one firm?
Yes. The SRA says it can be gained in up to four organisations, in paid or volunteer work.
How much do solicitors earn?
The National Careers Service gives an average of £30,000 for starters and £80,000 for experienced solicitors, as of October 2026.
Can you become a solicitor through an apprenticeship?
Yes. The Solicitor Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship usually takes around 5 to 6 years and needs your employer's support.
