If you have studied law or are a qualified lawyer outside the UK, there are steps you need to take in order to qualify as a lawyer in England and Wales.
Every day in the legal press, you will read about UK firms opening offices in new countries and merging with overseas firms to further increase their international dominance. In addition, many international firms are also opening offices in the UK as it offers a bridge from the US to mainland Europe and beyond.
The UK legal market has been and will continue to expand both rapidly and globally and UK firms need the experience and language skills non-UK nationals can offer. 52% of the 7,247 solicitors admitted to the Roll in 2003/04 had law degrees, while 18.5% had taken non-law degrees and 23% had transferred from a different jurisdiction or career, according to Law Society statistics. Ten years ago, 64.3% of those entering the profession had come through the traditional route and studied law. The market for overseas qualified lawyers is strong as always in the UK and law firms need international lawyers and students.
To find out what you need to do to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales, click on the statement that best reflects your current situation:
The above information is reproduced with the kind permission of LawBritannia (© LawBritannia). For impartial, practical and expert law careers advice for non-UK nationals, visit LawBritannia.
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