What Qualifications Do You Need To Be a Lawyer?

If you’re an adult learner weighing up a career in law, you’ve probably got a few questions about exactly what’s required and where to start. This guide answers the most common ones in plain, straightforward terms, covering everything from GCSEs to professional training.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the overall route into law?

Becoming a lawyer isn’t a single qualification, it’s a sequence of stages. You’ll typically need GCSEs or an equivalent Level 2 qualification, followed by A Levels or another Level 3 qualification, before moving onto a law degree or conversion course and then professional training. You can see the full qualifications required for law mapped out if you want the complete picture before diving into each stage.

What GCSEs do I need?

There’s no exact list of GCSEs that every university insists on, but your results still count for a lot, since universities use them as an early indicator of your ability. As a rough guide, aim for at least five GCSEs at grade four or above, with a strong grade in English Language being particularly important given how much reading and writing law involves. The more competitive universities tend to want grades closer to seven and above. Have a look at the GCSEs needed to become a lawyer to see exactly what’s expected.

Is there an alternative to GCSEs?

Yes, and it’s worth knowing about. Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths and English is generally treated as equal to a GCSE grade four, it can be studied and sat entirely online, and results usually land within around ten working days. It’s a genuinely handy option if you need something faster or more flexible. It’s worth checking the current requirements for law before settling on which route to take.

What A Levels should I pick?

Most law degrees ask for somewhere between BBB and AAB, with the most competitive courses sometimes wanting AAA. You don’t need to have taken A Level Law itself, and plenty of people who’ve gone on to succeed haven’t. What tends to matter more is choosing essay-based subjects that show off analytical thinking and written argument, like English Literature, History, Politics or Economics. Take a look at the A Levels for law to see which combinations tend to work well.

What happens after A Levels?

From there, most people move onto a Bachelor of Laws degree, usually just called an LLB, which normally takes three years and covers the core areas of law such as contract, criminal, and public law. If you studied something else first, that’s not a problem either, since a one-year conversion course afterwards gives you the same core legal grounding as an LLB. When you’re comparing universities, the UCAS guide for law is a genuinely useful place to see everything laid out clearly.

What professional qualifications come next?

Finishing your degree isn’t quite the finish line. From here, you’ll train as either a solicitor or a barrister. Solicitors sit the Solicitors Qualifying Examination and complete two years of supervised work experience, while barristers complete the Bar Practice Course followed by a period called pupillage. If you want a clearer idea of what these roles actually involve, the national careers law page is a good place to get a realistic picture of the job.

At Courses and Exams, we know how much easier it is to stay motivated when you can actually see the whole path laid out ahead of you, which is why we always recommend working out your full route before booking anything. When you’re ready to get started, you can look into Pass Learn exams to see what’s available.

Written by

Courses and Exams Team

We help thousands of students each year with revision, courses and online exams.