Solicitor
Advise people and organisations about the law. Help with legal processes like buying a house.
Also known as: legal counsel, solictor advocate, lawyer
About the job
What it's like
You would advise people and organisations about the law. You’d help them when they need to complete a legal process like buying a house or signing a business contract.
Depending on where you work you would:
Advise clients about legal matters
Represent clients in court, or instruct advocates to act for your clients
Draft letters, contracts and documents
Research similar cases to guide your current work
Keep financial records
Attend meetings and negotiations
Prepare papers for court
You would work for individuals, groups of people or companies in a variety of roles. You would often choose to specialise in a particular area of law.
If you work in a private practice you would help people to:
Buy and sell a house
Make a will or set up power of attorney
Get divorced or adopt children
Seek compensation for an injury or accident
Set up a business
You could also defend a person in certain courts and tribunals if they are accused of a crime or civil offence, or are involved in a legal dispute. If you do extra training to become a solicitor advocate you could also present cases in higher courts in Scotland and the UK.
If you have a job with a commercial practice you would advise businesses. You’d work on legal issues and processes related to contracts, tax, employment and company sales and mergers.
Some solicitors work as in-house lawyers for a specific company or organisation, a government department or agency or a local council. For example, you could be legal counsel for an offshore wind farm. You'll help wind projects secure the permits, licences and regulatory approvals they need.
You could also join the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service where you would examine evidence to decide whether to bring cases to court and prosecute cases.
Legal situations can be stressful and upsetting for people, so tact and empathy would be important. You’d also need to keep information confidential.
Hours
Environment
Travel
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Related industries
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Financial and professional services
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From February 2024 to February 2025.
- lawsuits
- conveyancing
- tax planning
- providing legal advice
- estate planning
- personal injury law
- property laws
- commercial laws
- asset protection
- labor law
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- negotiating
- time management
- developing a plan
- sorting
- attention to detail
- empathising
- researching
- written communication
- verbal communication
- building relationships
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Classical Studies
English
Latin
Modern Studies
People and Society
Philosophy
Religious Moral and Philosophical Studies - RMPS
Sociology
You will need an LLB honours degree (SCQF level 10) in Scottish Law or an LLB ordinary degree (SCQF level 9) with distinction in Scottish Law which can be studied at ten universities in Scotland.
It is possible to undertake the LLB part-time or full-time, and there is also an online/distance learning option.
Dundee is the only law school in the UK to offer fully qualifying law degrees for the legal profession either in Scotland or in England and Wales, and Northern Ireland and a dual qualifying degree in both Scots and English Law.
You must also complete a Diploma in Professional Legal Practice (SCQF level 11) which can be undertaken at six universities in Scotland followed by a traineeship - the period of paid, in-office training.
To enter a LLB (law degree) you will need at least four Highers at B or above, some courses require Advanced Highers and some courses will ask that qualifications are gained in one sitting.
You may also be required to sit a National Admissions Test for Law (LNAT).
You can apply for entry to an accelerated LLB course, usually involving entry to the third year of study, with a relevant degree or honours degree (SCQF level 9/10).
Alternatively you can complete Pre-Diploma Training while working with a qualified solicitor to gain Law Society of Scotland qualifications. If you take this alternative route you are still required to obtain a Diploma in Professional Legal Practice (the Diploma) and undertake a traineeship.
If you are a qualified as a solicitor outwith Scotland, transfer tests are in place for solicitors from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and other parts of the European Union who wish to re-qualify as Scottish solicitors: the intra-UK transfer test is applicable to solicitors qualified in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The aptitude test for EU-qualified lawyers applies to all other European Union qualified lawyers.
Any qualifications that demonstrate understanding of the law and the ability to gather organise and present information such as BTEC Diploma in Public Services.
The Law Society of Scotland offers events and activities for students at school considering studying the law.
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