Hi,

I would appreciate if someone can inform me on how to become a UK qualified lawyer (what are the steps to take) if you have LLB from a civil law country and an LLM from the UK .

Thx

I think your first step would be the GDL/CPE, which is a year long course which will give you basic coverage in the UK system (I think it is 7 modules altogether) and last 1 year.

Next, you will have to take the LPC/BVC (depending on whether you want to be a solicitor or a barrister). This also lasts a year and will give you practical lawyer training.

Finally, you will serve an apprenticeship at a firm or in a set of chambers. Training contracts at solicitors firms last 2 years I believe and a pupillage in chambers lasts 1 year. If you successfully complete the apprenticeship, you will be a qualified lawyer within England and Wales.

Thanks S-Dimelow,

Are the 2 years mentioned above on a full time basis?
or can someone work in the meantime?

Thx

If you are referring to the GDL and LPC/BVC years then, depending on whether the provider you opt for supplies the course part time, you could work as well.

If you are referring to the apprenticeship stage, you will be working full-time and being paid handsomely so I wouldn't worry!

so with the LLM it would take 3 years (full time) to be qualified...?

thx

No, with an LLM you would take 5 years to be fully qualified, and at a great deal of expense (LL.Ms can cost up to about £18 000-£20 000 for home students and more for international students, GDL/CPE costs could be at something like £12 000- £15 000 (depending on where you study, maybe more) and LPC/BVC will cost something similar to the LL.M. It will take you 3 years full time before you could start working as a trainee.

It is also worth considering that most consider there to be little use of an LLM in soicitors firms in the UK. Often they are considered as a wasted year and don't really help you gain work so it would certainly be worth contacting gradaute recruiters.

ok, so the qualification is out of question for me....