Although the LLB Degree is an essentially academic qualification, its vocational relevance is clear and the School views the question of careers seriously. Many members of staff have professional qualifications, some have had extended career experience in the legal practice and, in some cases, continue to practice.

Exemptions from professional examinations for law graduates

Students who graduate from the Law School with a mark of at least 40% in all the core units automatically gain exemption from the first part of the Bar and the Law Society Examinations. These exemptions are also available to students with the CPE Diploma in Legal Studies.

Becoming a barrister

Students intending to become barristers must join an Inn of Court. This can be done while studying for an undergraduate law degree. After Law School intending barristers must undertake a one-year full-time course, the Bar Vocational Course, and pass the second part of the Bar examination. Those who do this successfully do a year's pupillage, a form of apprenticeship in a set of chambers at the Bar.

Becoming a solicitor

Law graduates who intend to qualify as solicitors proceed to the Legal Practice Course (LPC), a one-year full-time course offered in a number of Universities around the country. Thereafter those intending to become solicitors do two years of further training with a firm of solicitors.

Our Graduate's Experience

Neil Coxhead cannot speak highly enough of his experience at UEA, describing his course as demanding but extremely thought-provoking and crucial in getting his first job at as a lawyer at Allen & Overy.

"The fact that I had a law degree was crucial in getting my first job as well as my training contract at Allen & Overy. A significant part of any law degree is research. Your research skills are honed considerably during your time at university and the ability to quickly find an answer, and to efficiently and effectively track and document the sources used, has been important in my legal career so far."

Neil Coxhead (Graduated 2005, LLB Law)

Information about careers

The bar and solicitor's profession

In advising on careers, the School works closely with the University's Careers Centre and also cooperates with the Student Law Society to organise events and introductions for those intending to pursue a career at the Bar or with a firm of solicitors. Those students who intend to become solicitors or barristers usually first seek advice from members of staff who have special knowledge of the training requirements. The need to make an early start in seeking a training contract or pupillage is stressed. The Careers Centre has useful information concerning professional firms.

Since its inception the School has maintained good relations with the local profession and the formation of the Law Advisory Board, involving a representative cross-section of the local profession, has done much to consolidate the existing contacts. For instance, the Law School has established special arrangements with both local sets of chambers for mini-pupillages.

Further information:

Becoming a barrister

The Council of Legal Education
4 Gray's Inn Place
London
WC1R 5DX

Becoming a solicitor

Directory of Bar Vocational Course Providers

Directory of Legal Practice Course Providers

The Law Society Education and Training Department
Ipsley Court
Redditch
Worcestershire
98 0TD

Other careers for law graduates

Of course, not all law graduates go on to become solicitors or barristers and the School certainly does not expect them to do so. A law graduate can be concerned full-time with legal matters even without a professional qualification by pursuing a career, for example with the police, in the probation service, or in other social services. A large number of law graduates choose to work for local government, either as a qualified lawyer or in some other capacity. Many barristers and solicitors have found employment with the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) which is responsible for the prosecution of most crimes in England and Wales.

Some law graduates find posts as legal librarians or information officers with large firms of solicitors. Others consider legal translation work, which is obviously dependent on possession of an adequate knowledge of the requisite foreign language. Legal publishing attracts a great many graduates, although vacancies are limited, and some law graduates continue with further studies with the intention of pursuing an academic career.

Those graduates who are drawn towards business may find openings in the legal departments of commercial, financial or industrial firms, although in many cases a qualified lawyer is required. Occasional opportunities arise in specialist departments dealing with, for example, licencing, or with patents and trade marks. Administrative work with a legal bias is also available in the company secretary's office of most major companies. A career as a personnel manager may appeal to an increasing number of law graduates as it is becoming ever more necessary for the personnel manager in every type of organisation to have a good legal knowledge.

More work with a legal bias can be found in banking and insurance, particularly in banking trustee work, in the legal departments of life assurance officers, or in the claims departments of insurance companies. On the other hand, a familiarity with specialist aspects of the law is necessary for those who enter the Tax Inspectorate, the Customs and Excise, the Health and Safety Executive and for trading standards work with a local authority, although most of these bodies do offer specific training to equip a graduate with the knowledge needed for the job.

It is importance to mention that a significant proportion of law graduates choose not to work with the law in any way. This is not to say that they have wasted their law studies. On the contrary, the law graduate possesses the assets of logical thinking and structured argument that are valued in an enormous range of occupations. It is widely recognised that law graduates are highly employable and that their studies provide a good basis for many types of work.

This account of employment prospects is far from exhaustive and the UEA Careers Centre is able to give more specific and detailed advice. The Centre holds substantial reference materials about careers and career vacancies.