What are my options after a law degree?

With the recent civil unrest in towns and cities across the country, the workings of the UK justice system is in the news more than ever and it may have you thinking about a career in the legal profession. Understandably, you may have some questions about your undergraduate prospects. So, let’s see if we can help by looking at your options more thoroughly.

Barrister

If you want to spend time advocating for clients in court, becoming a barrister is a great choice. Barristers offer legal advice but also spend a lot of time preparing case files and information to represent clients in court. Once you have your degree, you will need to complete the Bar Practice Course, and then your pupillage; a period of practical training (usually 12 months) where you will work under the supervision of experienced barristers.

How much can I expect to earn as a Barrister?

A newly qualified Barrister in the UK earns on average £40,000-£50,000 in their first year, depending on their area of specialism. This offers quite a bit more than the average graduate salary in the UK which is currently £33,229. Most barristers are self-employed and work in chambers, although government roles with the Crown Prosecution Service (for example) are possible.

Solicitor

Another option, if you want to practice law, is to become a solicitor. Solicitors generally don’t spend as much time in court but still offer legal advice, represent clients outside of the courtroom and prepare documents for case hearings. Once you have an undergraduate law degree, you will then begin a Legal Practice Course (LPC) which is usually studied full-time for one year. After this, you will undertake the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) which includes at least two years of full-time work and two schedules of assessment.

How much can I expect to earn as a Solicitor?

The Law Society recommendations lay out that trainee solicitors should earn a minimum of £24,320. If you are based within London this increases to £27,418. With 85% of law firms reporting an increase in recruitment, becoming a solicitor offers good employment prospects.

Corporate Legal Director/Manager

A lot of larger private companies have their own legal team. Usually, the industry where the organisation operates will determine the field of expertise you will need, but often your role will include employment matters, corporate legal affairs and operational regulations such as contracts and intellectual property. The benefit of this is you can choose your industry. So, you could be working within the legal profession whilst also working in a business that interests you.

How much can I expect to earn as a Corporate Legal Director/Manager?

Corporate Legal Managers earn between £46,000-£72,000 per year. As you may expect, this climbs with experience and you could potentially be earning £100,000+ after 5-10 years. There are even Legal Managers in the CPS if you don’t want to work for a company.

Paralegal

This offers a good compromise between practising law as a qualified legal professional and taking on more of a support role. Becoming a paralegal is a popular career move exactly for this reason. You will help a wider legal team with important tasks such as research, administrative support, drafting documents, caseload management and client care. And the great news is that you can get work in a wide range of settings, from a law firm or chambers to the public sector and charitable organisations.

How much can I expect to earn as a Paralegal?

A graduate Paralegal can earn £18,000-£25,000 per year. This can vary depending on experience, education and location, with London, Norwich and Reading paying the highest salaries. With experience, this can go as high as £32k per annum.

All these career paths require real focus and determination, but certainly offer impressive earnings potential and will result in you being an integral part of the UK legal system.

Go straight into work, and use your degree to get a head start in an alternative industry

If more studying isn’t for you, there are many transferable skills and knowledge your undergraduate qualification provides that set you up perfectly for a role in a different sector.

There are plenty of careers that a law degree can help launch you into. These include:

• Policing
• Politics
• Banking & finance
• Civil service
• Teaching

Find more information on the Benefits of an LLM Degree here.

There are so many interesting careers law graduates can explore. We can help you find the right course to launch your legal career. Talk to us at 01204 952 747 or email enquiries@bolton.ac.uk to get started and experience #UniAsItShouldBe.