Contract Management/Law Training

Law: Overview

There are many different career paths in the legal field. These are however, key skills common to all:

• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Evidence of strong commercial awareness
• Stamina and resilience
• The ability to assimilate large amounts of information quickly, analyse it and apply it appropriately
• An even temperament and the ability to remain calm under pressure
• Confidence

A number of large companies recruit solicitors into their in-house legal departments. In the main, they look for solicitors who are both qualified and experienced in a specialist area, but there are some large corporations that recruit trainees and train them as commercial solicitors in this environment.

Expected Salary

Salaries vary depending on experience and reputation. Starting salaries are:

• £16,000 - minimum starting salary
• £17,000 - £18,000 - minimum starting salaries in London
• £40,000 - US-owned firms operating out of the UK
• £100,000 - senior level/with experience

Training

On completion of the Legal Practice Course (LPC), trainees normally undertake a two-year training contract. This involves spending a period of approximately six months in each of four or five different areas of practice, known as seats. Often, the final seat reflects the particular area of practice in which the trainee will specialise.

Non-Law Graduates must take a one-year conversion course called the Common Professional Examination (CPE) or a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL).

Law graduates and non-law graduates after taking their CPE/GDL, intending to be solicitors must take the one-year Legal Practice Course (LPC) before starting a two-year training contract with a law firm.

The training contract period is monitored by the Law Society, which requires that specific elements are included. This is reflected in the range of seats offered. Trainees are also required to complete the Professional Skills Course (PSC), which teaches skills required in practice, such as client care and finance and business skills.

The Law Society requires that individual members take responsibility for their own professional development and that this should be recorded and accredited by them by way of Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Both firms and the Law Society offer opportunities to develop areas of professional practice through seminars, external courses (diplomas, masters programmes) and research facilities.

Underoak lists many short courses to aid you in your career progression. These may be funded individually or through your company. To search these courses, simply type the relevant key words and click on ‘request information for free’ to send your enquiry direct to the trainer.

Related Careers

• Chartered Accountant
• Civil Service Fast Streamer
• Company Secretary
• Investment Banker (corporate finance)
• Legal Executive (England and Wales)
• Patent Attorney
• Solicitor - Non-commercial
• Solicitor - Private Practice (Northern Ireland)
• Solicitor - Scotland
• Tax Adviser

Useful Links

Core Skills

Non-law graduates must take a one-year conversion course called the Common Professional Examination (CPE) or Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL).

Solicitors who qualify in England and Wales are automatically allowed to practice in Northern Ireland, but in Scotland must first take the Intra UK Transfer Test. A good honours degree at 2:1 or higher, with consistently high academic performance throughout, is required and also a good A-level grades (or equivalent) are often required.

Job Sites

Average working hours per week

Job Spotlight

Commercial Solicitor

The Role

A commercial solicitor acts for businesses of all sizes. Caseloads range from general company/commercial work (such as advising small start-up businesses) to large, complex corporate transactions (such as mergers and acquisitions), often referred to as corporate law. Commercial solicitors advise on specialist areas of law and represent clients where there is a business-related dispute.

Most commercial solicitors specialise in particular areas of law, such as:

• Property
• Tax
• Employment
• Finance
• Intellectual property
• Competition law

Generally, commercial solicitors work as part of a team on highly complex and intellectually demanding work, which requires the ability to meet exacting deadlines and work under considerable pressure.

Work activities vary according to the type of case and specialist area of work, but typically involve:

• Meeting clients to establish the suitability of the work in relation to the firm's specialism's and fee structure
• Advising clients on the law and how it may affect their case
• Drafting documents and contracts relating to the client's case
• Negotiating with clients and other professionals to secure the desired objectives
• Researching documents and case history to ensure the accuracy of advice and procedure
• Supervising the implementation of agreements
• Coordinating the work of all parties involved in each case
• Acting on behalf of clients in contentious matters and representing them in court if necessary
• Supervising more junior members of the team
• Checking all documentation prior to signing and implementing
• Organising further contact with the client to negotiate work and contracts and to gather information to assist in the preparation of case materials
• Instructing advocates for representation if necessary
• Keeping up to date with changes and developments in the law by reading journals and attending courses, often as part of continuing professional development (CPD)

Salary:

Career Development

Promotions can be obtained in various levels depending on the performance. This is more common in light of the introduction of the Age Discrimination Act 2006, so that post qualification and experience is becoming increasingly irrelevant.

More and more firms are recognising that not all solicitors are looking to become partners therefore more flexible options and job titles are appearing as a consequence. It is now common to see titles such as 'associate director' or 'counsel' to denote a more senior position.

There is no set time for promotion to partnership, the earliest time for consideration being around six years after qualification. Partners are expected to develop the business and be involved in the management of the firm, as well as using their legal skills.

There are also options to move firms to build specialist experience, set up their own firm, or work as solicitors outside professional practice.