http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543 en How to becom a lawyer in the UK - LLM GUIDE Discussion Board Fri, 01 Feb 2008 20:55:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543/last#39543 Hi everybody I’ve been offered places to study for LLM at Nottingham, Durham and Manchester. Also I applied for UCL, KCL and LSE. I do have a Master’s Degree in international law from (France) and LLB in law from another non common law country. I would like to practice as a solicitor in the UK, so I would like have some advices about what should I do in order to practice as a solicitor and how to become a lawyer in the UK? Ps. I live in France but I do not have the French nationality Sat, 09 Feb 2008 11:08:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543/last#39978 anybody!!!!! helloooo!!!???? Sat, 09 Feb 2008 20:13:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543/last#40006 You need to do a 1 year GDL programme followed by a 1 year LPC (in case you want to practice as a solicitor) or a BVC (if you want to qualify as a Barrister). Hope this helped. Thu, 14 Feb 2008 07:31:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543/last#40264 Dear friend, I have finished my LLM from the University of Leicester, UK. If you are very serious in becoming a Solicitor of England and Wales better go for the LPC or BVC course of any one of the institutes like Nottingham Law School, College of London, or OXILP, Oxford for the course LPC or BVC (Bar Vocational Course). For any Indian Lawyer who is enrolled as Lawyer and have two years of experience as Advocate or Academic Lawyer or the job related to Legal he / she can apply for a conversion examination called Qualified Law Transfer Test (QLTT). Indian Lawyers have to write only one paper called Professional Conduct and Accounts. Since you have not done Law from Non Common Law country better apply for LPC one year instead of LLM and you can become a Solicitor of England and Wales. If you have any further clarification please contact me sathishpm@yahoo.com or satishpm@puthurinfotech.co.in Sathish P M I’ve been offered places to study for LLM at Nottingham, Durham and Manchester. Also I applied for UCL, KCL and LSE. I do have a Master’s Degree in international law from (France) and LLB in law from another non common law country. I would like to practice as a solicitor in the UK, so I would like have some advices about what should I do in order to practice as a solicitor and how to become a lawyer in the UK? Ps. I live in France but I do not have the French nationality Thu, 14 Feb 2008 07:33:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543/last#40265 Dear friend, I have finished my LLM from the University of Leicester, UK. If you are very serious in becoming a Solicitor of England and Wales better go for the LPC or BVC course of any one of the institutes like Nottingham Law School, College of London, or OXILP, Oxford for the course LPC or BVC (Bar Vocational Course). For any Indian Lawyer who is enrolled as Lawyer and have two years of experience as Advocate or Academic Lawyer or the job related to Legal he / she can apply for a conversion examination called Qualified Law Transfer Test (QLTT). Indian Lawyers have to write only one paper called Professional Conduct and Accounts. I suggest you that better apply for LPC one year instead of LLM and you can become a Solicitor of England and Wales. If you have any further clarification please contact me sathishpm@yahoo.com or satishpm@puthurinfotech.co.in Mobile : + 91-9740016100 Sat, 19 Apr 2008 11:27:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543/last#45976 hi satish im a final yr student of law from india can u tell me vats will b better llm or lpc. Sat, 19 Apr 2008 11:50:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543/last#45978 Dear Student, If your are looking for a legal profession as Solicitor of England and Wales, please don't go for LLM. You must apply for the LPC (for Solicitor) or BVC (Bar Vocational Course) Bar at Law to practice in High Courts of UK. Even if you do your LLM, you are eligible for work for one year and another one year extendable Work Permit Visa. Most of the companies of Law Firms need your eligibility to work in UK atleast continuously for a period of 18 months, (Means you must have a continuous working Visa for 18 months and more) otherwise they will not offer any job to you. In England a company or firm will apply for Work Permit for you, only under rare situations, and they wanted Highly Skilled Migrant programme (HSMP) Work Permit which allow you to work, do business or practice a profession. To get HSMP it is a very tough criteria and the main criteria being your income in India for the past one year. But if you complete LPC from any Legal Practice Institute like College of Law, London, OXILP, Oxford, Nottingham Law School etc after completing your LPC you can join as the Trainee Solicitor of any Law firm or even practive yourself as the Soclicitor. Then UK Home Office has to issue a Visa for Work to you. So LPC is all time better than LLM if you thinking of doing a legal profession in UK. Regards, Sathish P M B.Com, LLB, MBA, LLM (England), PGDIM, PGDMM, & DIM. Director - HR (Manpower Solutions) & Legal, Puthur Infotech Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore. E-mail : sathishpm@yahoo.com satishpm@puthurinfotech.co.in Web Site : www.puthurinfotech.co.in Mobile : 09740016100 (from India) Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:09:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543/last#46260 I am really surprised by the previous post!!! This information is totally wrong. If you do your LPC in England, You cannot become a soliciotr before working 2 years as a trainee in a law firm. Getting a training contract is very difficult sepcially for those who need work permit. It does not matter where you have done your LPC, it is very difficult to get a training contract, so do not believe that after finishing LPC you can have your own law firm or you can get a training contract straightly. Sun, 27 Apr 2008 14:43:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543/last#46439 My objective is to practice as solicitor in the UK or in France, otherwise working in the legal department of big multinational companies. As I mentioned I have a master’s degree in international law from France, even though that I do agree with Sathish P M, I think in my case that I should go for LLM before applying for the LPC, and that’s for many reasons (such as enhance my English skills, my knowledge in British and commercial laws, specially that I come from non common law country). Concerning training contract, I would like to know if it is really very difficult to obtain such a contract ;( I will be national of an EU country within the next tow years). Sun, 27 Apr 2008 16:12:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543/last#46441 Dear Ibrid It is difficult to get a training contract. But it does not mean that you cannot get it. you should start applying from now ,and they give you a place in 2010. About LLM, I strongly advise you not to do it before doing your LPC, LLM is not a routin path to become a lawyer in England, I have done my LLM in this country and trust me you would not improve your English skills. and you don't gain enough knowledge about commercial law.. LLM is for people who want an academic profession. Do not make my mistake. I am remorseful now that I haven't done my LPC. This is because of the fact that GDL and LPC make you much more ready for professional field than LLM does.after doing your LPC , you will be able to decide whether to do your LLM or not. Good Luck Farzaneh Sun, 27 Apr 2008 21:24:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543/last#46456 Hi Would you say that taking the QLTT and qualifying as a Solicitor of England and Wales for a lawyer from India would be a better option than doing the LPC? I already have 10 years work experience. Cheers Sun, 27 Apr 2008 21:59:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543/last#46459 Yes, Absolutely. But you should know that the law has changed and now you should work with an English lawyer to be registered as a soliciotr so bear in mind that you should first find the so called training contract for one year, but don't waste your time and money by doing LPC . Sun, 27 Apr 2008 22:15:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543/last#46462 Hi Farzaneh Thanks for the info but I didn't know the law has changed and the SRA didn't mention anything about working with a UK Solicitor when they replied to my queries about the QLTT. Maybe it's changed in the last 2 days. lol. I'll check it out. I'm trying for a qualified lawyer position but it's very tough. I've got 10 years work ex in India, so a training contract sounds a little redundant for me at this stage. lol. Sun, 27 Apr 2008 23:32:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543/last#46468 Hey, It is not like a TC but they say you should work with an English solicitor. I haven't seen it on theor website but the indian friends who are studying to take the exam in BPP, told me that. Research a little bit more may be the law hasn't changed yet but it will soon. who knows. Sun, 27 Apr 2008 23:35:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543/last#46470 Thanks. I'll find out from the SRA. Mon, 28 Apr 2008 06:43:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543/last#46485 I am really surprised by the previous post!!! This information is totally wrong. If you do your LPC in England, You cannot become a soliciotr before working 2 years as a trainee in a law firm. Getting a training contract is very difficult sepcially for those who need work permit. It does not matter where you have done your LPC, it is very difficult to get a training contract, so do not believe that after finishing LPC you can have your own law firm or you can get a training contract straightly. Mon, 28 Apr 2008 06:51:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543/last#46487 Dear Ms. Farzana, You need not be surprised. Before you comment please go through the question and then answer. I have never told in my reply that people can become Solicitor by passing LPC. The question was whether it is better to do LLM or LPC and I have answered that it is better to LPC to become a Solicitor rather than doing LLM. Am I correct ? Now regarding the second part of my reply I have told that once you do the LPC you can do training and can become Trainee Solcitor in any firm. Present Law in UK says that for any student after 2006 batch from India or any country can get two years Work Permit and so now a days Solcitor Firms are offering Trainee Solcitorship to the candidates who do LPC. I never mean that it is very easy to get Trainee Solcitor job. If I suggest something like that how you can infer that a student from India cannot get Trainee Solcitorship. It may be true in your case. There are several students from premier institutions in India like NLSIU and NALSAR offered Trainee Soclitorship along with scholarship for LPC by many law firms. I suggest you that before you make any negative comment please understand what others wanted to say and be patient, which should be a good quality for a lawyer. Regards, Sathish Mon, 28 Apr 2008 06:59:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543/last#46489 Hi Would you say that taking the QLTT and qualifying as a Solicitor of England and Wales for a lawyer from India would be a better option than doing the LPC? I already have 10 years work experience. Cheers Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:30:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543/last#46496 Now there are few College which offers LPC and LLM together. Check out This http://www.city.ac.uk/law/vocational/lpc_llm.html Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:14:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543/last#46504 Hi Would you say that taking the QLTT and qualifying as a Solicitor of England and Wales for a lawyer from India would be a better option than doing the LPC? I already have 10 years work experience. Cheers Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:17:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543/last#46505 Dear Friend, Definitely yes. Since you have ten years experience in India and now the QLTT exam centre is available in India for the lawyers in India please write this. You can practice as the Solicitor of England and Wales and the Law Society of UK give registration for the practice. You have to write only one paper Professional Conduct and Accounts. I advice you to get enrolled for a course for preparing this examination, because it is not that easy for you. Regards. Sathish Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:24:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543/last#46506 Hi, I am in my final year LLB in Mumbai, India and planning to LLM from UK directly after my studies get over. Can anyone tell me that is it possible for me to get a job after LLM and then appear for QLTT to become a solicitor after 2 years experience in UK. Somebody told me that you need to work for 2 years in your own country to qualify for appearing for QLTT. By looking at the posts here, I understand that it is viable to do LPC and get a training contract which is also not easy. Rather I would work for 2 years, get eligible for QLTT then do LLM and appear for QLTT and work. Can anyone suggest the ideal route to become a solicitor in UK for an international fresher lawyer straight out of Law School? Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:32:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543/last#46520 Thanks for your suggestions Satish. Pratish apply for a training contract and work 2 years with a UK law firm if you can get the training contract. But a better way would be to postpone your LLM and work 2 years in India and then take the QLTT before doing your LLM. Chances of getting a job will improve if you're already qualified as a Solicitor of England and Wales before you go for the LLM. Hope that helps. You can also write to the SRA and ask them directly. They are quite helpful. Cheers Prash Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:40:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543/last#46557 Prashant, My main query is that if I need to work in India only to qualify for QLTT or if I manage to get a job in UK then that work ex will also qualify me for QLTT. My main to reason to LLM directly after my LLB is that I want to finish of my studies and then just concentrate on work. and one more thing is that I didnt get a quality LLB education in my college. Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:56:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543/last#46558 Dear Pratish, QLTT is the process for the Common Law Country lawyers and not for those practice in UK because you cannot practice as a lawyer in England without doing LPC or BVC. So if you wanted to practice as a lawyer in England, please practice for two years or work in a company as Legal Officer or work as Academic Lawyer then apply for the QLTT from India. Other wise the route is GDL then LPC or BVC from UK and then try for training contract etc. This is a very difficult process believe me. I did LLM from England but I have got a job not because of this but my experience in England. I suggest you the QLTT route or better join for LPC than LLM. Regards, Sathish Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:02:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543/last#46559 Hi Pratish You can check out these links below: http://www.sra.org.uk/solicitors/qltt.page http://www.sra.org.uk/documents/solicitors/qltt/qltt-experience.pdf http://www.sra.org.uk/solicitors/qltt/transfer-regulations.page http://www.sra.org.uk/documents/solicitors/qltt/qltt-regulations.pdf These should give you the required information. See Clause 11 of the QLTT Regulations carefully. My own view is that you need 2 years work experience in both contentious and non contentious work within the past 5 years. Whether you acquire that in India itself or outside India probably does not matter and will possibly qualify you to take the QLTT but that decision is taken by the SRA. Write to them directly at info.services@sra.org.uk and ask them before taking a decision. If you gain your experience in India then all you need to do is clear the Professional Conduct and Accounts paper and send them a certificate from your law school stating that you studied in English in order to get an exemption from the Principles of Common Law paper of the QLTT. This is of course assuming that the SRA grants you the Certificate of Eligibility to appear for the QLTT. Let me once again reiterate that it is not easy to get a job in UK, so don't bank on it. I've done extensive research on this in the past 2 months and have received answers from a number of law firms and recruitment consultants in UK. 100% of the answers were negative about getting a job after the LLM. Your reason for doing the LLM is logical but you may want to consider that doing the LLM after some amount of work experience might be a good idea as you can then decide exactly which areas of law you want to specialize in for the LLM. Working for a little while before doing the LLM may help you identify the practice areas which you really enjoy. Hope this helps you. Let me know if you need any other info. Cheers Prashant Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:05:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543/last#46560 Satish Saw your post after I had submitted mine. Maybe you're the right person to advise Pratish. :) Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:07:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543/last#46561 Dear Prashanth, QLTT is the provision outiside the UK countries only. Once you have the eligibility to work in UK in the legal field then QLTT is not applicable. But if you want to do the Solicitorship either you have to take LPC route or QLTT by practicing in India. I have LLM Degree from UK but I cannot practice unless I do LPC or apply through QLTT. One of my batch mate is now doing LPC in UK after doing LLM. If you wanted to get a job in UK it is not easy and you have to try after taking HSMP Work permit. Regards, Sathish Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:01:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543/last#46567 Thank you Prashant and Satish for your help. Prashant I have already visited the SRA website quite a few time and I have also gone through the the regulations. I totally agree with what you are saying. I am interested in IP Law and International Commercial Arbitration. But I am still in the middle of deciding which to go for. I was thinking of taking up commercial law with IP Modules and International Commercial Arbitration. As you are saying it is really tough to get a job in UK after completing LLM even if you become a solicitor by clearing QLTT then it would be the same thing even if I go without any experience to UK. See my motive for doing LLM from UK is to get quality education in law which I didn't get in Mumbai. If I have to come back after LLM no matter I have experience or not it would be the same situation for me. What I was thinking that after completing LLM if I could stay there and work for some time to recover my costs that I have incurred then it is beneficial. But here it doesn't matter if I go this year or after 2 years. I don't know how the situation would be after 2-3 years of the UK job market but it won't get any better for International Students as they will still prefer Britishers and Europeans. One case you mentioned that your friend got a job after working hard for a year, even though if I got after some years of experience I won't be ready to hang around for so long or for that sake most of the people. Prashant I know you taking a huge amount of loan and goin for LLM. But for me it is different as my father is a practicing advocate in Bombay High Court and I will have to join his practice some years down the line. Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:50:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/39543/last#46580 Hi Pratish You're welcome to my help. Ask anytime. Your post makes sense to me. Considering what you've written, you have actually got nothing to lose if you go this year or after 2 years. Considering you come from a lawyer background and will join your father some years down the line, I'd suggest you go this year itself for the LLM. The quality of education will definitely be different from what you acquired in Mumbai. 2 years down the line, it all depends on how well the UK market is doing and how well the Indian market is doing. Only time will tell. I don't think I'll hang around for a year or two either to get a job in UK. I'm not that desperate to work in the UK and after the LLM with 10 years work ex, I'll be able to easily get a job in India itself at a reasonably decent salary. Plus if I have to start paying off my loan, then I can't afford to wait a year for sure. Yeah sadly I have to go on a large loan and I'm still wondering whether it's worth it or not. Tough decision. :) Anyway let me know what you finally decide and all the best. Cheers Prash