What Qualifications Do You Need To Be a Lawyer?

Thinking about a career in law as an adult learner? It helps to know exactly which qualifications you need, and in what order. This guide breaks it down into simple steps, so you can see the full picture without getting lost in confusing detail.

Step 1: Understand The Overall Route

Becoming a lawyer follows a clear path made up of a few stages. You will usually 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. It is worth seeing the full requirements to become a lawyer laid out clearly, so you know what each stage actually involves.

Step 2: Get The GCSEs You Need

There is no exact list of GCSEs that every university asks for, but your results still matter, since universities use them as an early sign of how you learn. As a general rule, aim for at least five GCSEs at grade four or above, with a strong grade in English Language being especially important given how much reading and writing a law course involves. The most competitive universities tend to look for grades closer to seven and above. You can check the full GCSEs required for law to see exactly what different universities expect.

Step 3: Consider Functional Skills Instead

If GCSEs are not the right fit for you as an adult learner, Functional Skills Level 2 in Maths and English is a genuinely useful alternative. A pass counts as equal to a GCSE grade four, it can be studied and taken fully online, and results usually come back within around ten working days. At Functional Skills Maths Level 2, we know how important it is to find a route that fits around your existing commitments, which is why we always recommend looking closely at the full qualifications to study law before deciding which option works best for you.

Step 4: Choose Strong A Levels

Most law degrees ask for grades somewhere between BBB and AAB, and the most competitive courses may ask for AAA. You do not need to have taken A Level Law itself, and many successful law students have not. What tends to matter more is picking subjects that involve plenty of essay writing and analysis, such as English Literature, History, Politics or Economics. Take a look at the A Levels needed to become a lawyer to see which subject combinations tend to work well together.

Step 5: Complete Your Law Degree

After A Levels, most people move onto a Bachelor of Laws degree, usually known by its short name, LLB. This normally takes three years and covers the main areas of law such as contract, criminal, and public law. If you study a different subject first, that is fine too, since a one-year conversion course afterwards gives you the same core legal knowledge as an LLB. When comparing universities, the UCAS law guide is a handy place to see everything set out clearly in one place.

Step 6: Qualify As A Solicitor Or Barrister

Finishing your degree is not quite the end of the road. From here, you will 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 to see what these roles actually look like day to day, the national careers service law page is a helpful place to get a clear picture of the job.

Final Thoughts

Every stage on this list can feel like a lot to take in at once, but you do not need to plan it all today. Take it one step at a time, starting with whichever exams are right in front of you. When you are ready, you can sit your exams with Pass Learn and begin working through the qualifications you need for your future in law.

Written by

Pass Functional Skills Team

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