Law is the UKs fastest growing career – with an estimated 26,655+ students applying to study law at undergraduate levels – with 18,850 being accepted into courses. Law has been popularised as a well-paid, exciting, and dynamic career path – though it requires several years of dedicated study before they can be called to the Bar. In this article we’ll examine what’s required for success in the field of law and what you’ll need to do to become a Criminal Justice Lawyer.
What exactly does a criminal lawyer do?
Criminal solicitors or criminal lawyers glasgow perform a wide range of duties. The category comes with many different job titles.
A criminal defence solicitor for example provides legal advice to people accused of crimes. They provide advice from beginning to end of the proceedings – making them an invaluable asset to any defendant.
Criminal prosecution solicitors on the other hand provide advice to help prosecute an accused in court and will represent victims.
Barristers provide evidence to the court to persuade a jury.
Solicitors tend to work in office settings – barristers on the other hand tend to represent clients in court. There are exceptions, however.
How much is a criminal lawyer paid?
Work as a solicitor is widely regarded as well paid. Of course, the salary varies based on a number of factors.
The national average salary for a solicitor is around £44,464 per year. Salaries of course, can vary. Construction solicitors make around £58,000 a year – whereas family solicitors only make around £41,536.
It can also vary by location – for example, solicitors in London make around £57,675 a year, whereas in York it is around £39,951 a year.
The Undergraduate Degree
All law fields (including criminal law) require a bachelor’s degree.
It is not necessary for the undergraduate degree to be in law however – the qualifier is that the programme must,
- Have a broad scope
- Provide a student analysis, writing, and listening comprehension skills
- Focus on problem-solving, time-management and speaking skills
These are all vital skills a lawyer must possess.
Many undergraduates aiming for law school choose specific fields hoping to aid with specific law specialisations. These include economics, business, and political science. If offered, a law degree at undergraduate level is also an obvious choice.
The Law Degree
If a bachelor’s degree wasn’t law, students can study law via a paralegal apprenticeship. In Scotland this conversion course is known as the Graduate Entry (or Accelerated LLB). For anyone aspiring to become a criminal lawyer, it is necessary to choose a course whose framework focusses on criminal law elements.
Many people choose a Graduate Entry or Accelerated LLB because it puts them ahead of their peers when seeking a training contract with a firm.
Becoming a Solicitor or a Barrister
The next step in the process is becoming either a solicitor or barrister. In Scotland, this is called an advocate.
Becoming a solicitor requires you to complete a Legal Practice Course, and then to sign onto a training contract at a solicitor’s firm. If you’ve an interest in criminal law, it is good to choose a firm with strong experience handling criminal law cases.
Becoming a barrister requires you to finish the Bar Professional Training Course before undergoing a pupillage.
There are multiple routes you can take. Many potential lawyers, rather than applying to law school, will wait one or two years to gain experience. Because law school admissions are incredibly competitive, GPA and experience will be judged harshly – and as such having strong experience is invaluable. Factors such as professional affiliations, community service, and leadership roles will be looked for.
Experience is an invaluable factor which must never be discounted, especially given that the increasing numbers of applicants will only make admissions more and more competitive.
A Career in Criminal Justice
A newly licenced lawyer will usually work under an experienced solicitor. Graduates who wish to become criminal justice solicitors should look for firms with experienced criminal justice solicitors in them – as this will be beneficial to the development of their skills – and allow them to even open their own firms in the future (or will enter public offices).
Finding a firm which specialises in criminal law
It’s important to find a firm which actually specialises in criminal law; law is a broad field and it’s important you find a firm which specialises in your chosen area of expertise.
Becoming a criminal justice solicitor requires an immense amount of hard work, commitment, and dedication. There are years of study involved and the field is increasingly competitive. Many skills are valued in the field – to name a few are. Analytical abilities, writing ability, logical reasoning, persuasiveness, and attention to detail. There are multiple exams involved and many of these are extremely tough.