Qualification checklist for law graduates

First year

1. Choose your options for your second and third years, ensuring that you cover the foundation subjects:
   • Obligations including Contract, Restitution and Tort
   • Criminal Law
   • Equity and the Law of Trusts
   • Law of European Union
   • Property Law
   • Public Law including Constitutional Law, Administrative Law and Human Right.
2. Talk to career advisers, they will have information on the profession, career fairs/open days and work placement schemes.
3. Find vacation placement work - this will give you an insight in to the different types of firms and assist you in knowing whether the profession is right for you.
4. Give thought to where you want to work and the area of law you would wish to practise.

Second year

1. Make full use of your careers service to discuss the profession generally to ascertain whether the profession is right for you.
2. Talk to members of the profession.
3. Explore funding possibilities for your legal training.
4. Apply for vacation placement work – this will give you an insight into the different types of firms and assist you in knowing whether the profession is right for you. This will also demonstrate to recruiters that you are serious about a career in law.
5. Attend law fairs / open days. This is your opportunity to meet firms face to face.
6. Research the type of firm or organisation that interests you and prepare your CV carefully.
7. Apply for a training contract in your final term.

Third/final year

Autumn

1. Attend interviews for a training contract.
2. Apply for a place on the Legal Practice Course.

Spring term

1. Enrol as a student member of the Solicitors Regulation Authority. This must be done before you start the LPC.
2. Obtain a certificate of completion for the academic stage of your training.
3. Apply for a training contract if not already secured.

During the LPC year

1. Apply to firms for a training contract if not already secured.
2. Check for advertisements in the Law Society Gazette.
3. Talk to members of the profession.

Starting your training contract

1. Sign your training contract and ensure that the registration form is sent to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
2. Attend the Professional Skills Course.

At the end of your training contract

1. If the firm is not keeping you on after completion of the training contract, apply for a post as an assistant solicitor.
2. Apply for admission to the roll of solicitors in England and Wales.