Stage One

If you hold a degree from an overseas university you should apply to the Solicitors Regulation Authority for a Certificate of Academic Standing. This is the process by which the Law Society confirms your eligibility to attend a law course in England and Wales and is evidence that your qualifications meet the minimum requirements for admission - usually equivalent to a lower second class honours or above and competency in the English language.

Stage Two

Next, you need to complete the Graduate Diploma in Law. Also known as the Common Professional Exam (CPE) or law conversion course the GDL enables students without a law degree or UK law degree to 'convert' their existing education to law and enable progression on to the next stage in qualifying as a lawyer.

The GDL is suitable both for recent graduates and more experienced graduates from diverse backgrounds who wish to change or develop their careers. The course is offered at institutions across the country and takes one year (full time) or two years (part-time).

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Stage Three

Well done you have completed one course now another, the Legal Practice Course. The Legal Practice Course is compulsory and will need to be completed whether or not you intend or have taken an Masters in Law in the UK.

The LPC is the final qualification needed to become a solicitor in the UK and is a practical course designed to ensure trainee solicitors have the knowledge and skills they need. The course is offered at institutions across the country and takes one year (full time) or two years (part-time).

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Stage Four

And finally, the Training Contract, which includes the Professional Skills Course, is the final stage on the path to qualifying as a solicitor. The training contract is a two-year period of practice-based training. The format of the training contract can vary, with larger firms tending to have a more structured programme in place than smaller firms.