Law: solicitor or barrister
Two different jobs. Solicitors advise clients and run cases. Barristers argue cases in court. Both start the same way: GCSEs, A levels, then a degree.
These rules are for England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland train their lawyers separately.
ONS
- Checked
- 9 Oct 2026
Medians for full-time employee jobs. ONS hides estimates it rates unreliable (CV over 20%).
View sourceBSB
- Checked
- 9 Oct 2026
SRA
- Checked
- 9 Oct 2026
6,315 candidates sat both parts; 5,012 were first-time sitters.
View sourceSRA
- Checked
- 9 Oct 2026
7,863 candidates sat both parts; 6,760 were first-time sitters.
View sourceSolicitor SRA
Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
- SchoolGCSEs + 3 A levels
Or equivalent qualifications.
NCS
Solicitor — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 9 Oct 2026
- DegreeA degree in any subject
Law is not required, or an equivalent level 6 qualification.
SRA
Qualifying as a solicitor through the SQESolicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)- Checked
- 9 Oct 2026
- ExamSQE1
Part 1 of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam.
SRA
Qualifying as a solicitor through the SQESolicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)- Checked
- 9 Oct 2026
- ExamSQE2
Part 2. You must pass both parts.
SRA
Qualifying as a solicitor through the SQESolicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)- Checked
- 9 Oct 2026
- Work2 years qualifying work experience
Full time, or the same amount part time.
SRA
Qualifying as a solicitor through the SQESolicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)- Checked
- 9 Oct 2026
- GoalAdmitted as a solicitor
After passing the SRA's character and suitability checks.
SRA
Qualifying as a solicitor through the SQESolicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)- Checked
- 9 Oct 2026
- No degree?
- The Solicitor Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship takes about 5 to 6 years and includes the SQE.
NCS
Solicitor — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 9 Oct 2026
Barrister BSB
Regulated by the Bar Standards Board.
- School2 to 3 A levels
Or equivalent, for a degree.
NCS
Barrister — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 9 Oct 2026
- DegreeLaw degree, or any degree + conversion
Degree at least a 2:2.
BSB
Becoming a barristerBar Standards Board (BSB)- Checked
- 9 Oct 2026
- CourseBar training course
About one year full time.
NCS
Barrister — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 9 Oct 2026
- InnJoin one of the four Inns of Court
Each Inn has its own entry rules.
NCS
Barrister — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 9 Oct 2026
- TrainingPupillage
About a year: usually 6 months not practising, then 6 months practising.
BSB
Becoming a barristerBar Standards Board (BSB)- Checked
- 9 Oct 2026
- GoalPractising barrister
With a practising certificate.
BSB
Becoming a barristerBar Standards Board (BSB)- Checked
- 9 Oct 2026
- Already a solicitor?
- You can apply to switch with BSB approval and a Bar Transfer Test.
NCS
Barrister — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 9 Oct 2026
At school
GCSEs (Years 10–11) and A levels (Years 12–13), or equivalents.
- A levels
- 3 A levels or equivalent for a degree. No subject is required.
NCS
Solicitor — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 9 Oct 2026
- UCAS points
- An A* = 56 points. Most law courses ask for grades (like AAA) instead of points.
UCAS
The new UCAS Tariff: ten things applicants need to knowUCAS- Checked
- 9 Oct 2026
An A* at A level is worth 56 Tariff points. Only about a third of courses use Tariff points in their entry requirements; most ask for grades.
View source
Pay by region
Pay is in pounds (£) per year, before tax, for full-time employees. ASHE counts employees only, so self-employed people (most barristers, many contractors) are not in these figures.
Solicitors and lawyers SOC 2412
- UK median £56,977
- Bottom 25% under £42,015
- Top 25% over £77,509
| Region (where people work) | Median pay | Jobs | How exact |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | £78,034 | 38,000 | Good |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £59,921 | — | Rough estimate |
| South East | £53,276 | 11,000 | Rough estimate |
| Scotland | £50,160 | — | Rough estimate |
| North West | £48,882 | 11,000 | Rough estimate |
| West Midlands | £48,093 | — | Rough estimate |
| East Midlands | £46,184 | — | Rough estimate |
Regions where ONS did not publish a reliable figure are left out. "Rough estimate" = ONS rates it CV 10–20%: use it with care. A region is listed only where ONS published a median for that job.ONS
Barristers and judges SOC 2411
ASHE counts employees only. Most barristers are self-employed, so this figure misses most of them.
- UK median £50,915
- Bottom 25% under £30,085
Starting vs experienced (National Careers Service)
- Solicitor: starter £30,000 · experienced £80,000
NCS
Solicitor — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 9 Oct 2026
- Barrister: starter £24,000 · experienced £250,000
NCS
Barrister — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)- Checked
- 9 Oct 2026
Moving between countries
Does this qualification count in another country? Only official rules; each source shows the date we checked it.
-
Law degree from a common-law country (India, UK) to New York bar exam
Degree check + maybe LL.M.- New York accepts law degrees from countries whose law is based on English common law.
- The degree must match a U.S. J.D. in length and content. If it does not, a U.S. LL.M. of at least 24 credits (with set subjects) can fill the gap.
- Some routes also need you to be admitted to practise in your home country first.
Source:NY rule
22 NYCRR 520.6: study of law in a foreign countryNew York Court of Appeals (via Cornell LII)- Checked
- 9 Oct 2026
-
Lawyer qualified outside England and Wales to Solicitor of England and Wales
No 2-year work rule- Pass SQE1. SQE2 too, unless the SRA gives you an exemption.
- Qualified lawyers do not need the 2 years of qualifying work experience.
- You still need a degree (any subject) or equivalent, and the SRA's character checks.
Source:SRA
Qualified lawyers: becoming a solicitorSolicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)- Checked
- 9 Oct 2026
-
Lawyer qualified abroad to Barrister of England and Wales
Limited right now- Overseas lawyers may be exempt from some or all barrister training.
- But for now the BSB only takes transfer applications if you have a pupillage starting before 1 January 2029, or a job that needs a practising certificate.
Source:BSB
Becoming a barrister: transferring qualified lawyersBar Standards Board (BSB)- Checked
- 9 Oct 2026
Trained outside the UK?
LLB students and graduates, and lawyers already qualified in India or elsewhere. Every step, exam and deadline in order, with official links.