What is the fastest way to become a lawyer?

Nov 15, 2022

Written By Panashe Nyadundu

The question of how fast you can become a lawyer can only be answered depending on your educational background. In this article we’ll uncover the different starting points of your legal journey, and the fastest way to qualify within each category.

Law Degree

If you have chosen or are thinking of undertaking a law degree to become a lawyer, you must complete three stages to qualify as a lawyer.

In England, those who take up a law degree will take six years to qualify as a lawyer. Two three-stage processes as follows can be chosen to gain the necessary qualifications to qualify.

- Stage 1: Complete a three-year LLB degree.

- Stage 2: Carry out the year- long Legal Professional Course (LPC)

- Stage 3: Complete a two-year traineeship with a law firm

- Stage 1: Complete a three-year LLB degree.

- Stage 2: Carry out two years of qualifying work experience (QWE) in the legal sector

- Stage 3: Complete the SQE exams (can be done before, during or after legal work experience)

Note you can only choose the first option if you completed, started, accepted an offer of a place or paid a non-refundable deposit for a training contract, LPC or law degree before September 1, 2021.

Non-Law Background

If you come from a non-law background and are looking to switch careers into the legal sector, it will typically take seven years to complete. This is calculated from the day you started your non-law degree, it will take four years if you’ve already graduated.

Following the same three-stage outline above, the typical route for a non-law graduate is similar to a law graduate. If you completed, started, accepted an offer of a place or paid a non-refundable deposit for a training contract, LPC, CPE or GDL before September 1, 2021, you can choose between the LPC and GDL route, or the new SQE route. Otherwise, you'll need to follow the SQE route.

- Stage 1: Complete a year long Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)

- Stage 2: Carry out the year- long Legal Professional Course (LPC)

- Stage 3: Complete a two-year training contract with a law firm

- Stage 1: (Optional) Take the Postgraduate Diploma in Law or SQE Prep Course to give yourself a foundation in law

- Stage 2: Carry out two years qualifying work experience (QWE) in the legal sector

Stage 3: Complete the SQE exams (can be done before, during or after legal work experience)

What To Consider

Whilst all the above-mentioned routes display the quickest routes to become a lawyer, students should note that gaining these qualifications in a short amount of time can be stressful. Studying, work experience and applying for jobs requires a lot of time, patience, and motivation.

Don’t feel like you must qualify in this time frame. It’s more than okay to study part-time or take some time out between courses.

Becoming a Lawyer