What I Can Do With a Law Degree – Exploring Graduate Career Routes

Emily Jones

If you’re asking yourself, “What can I do with a law degree?” — you’re not alone. Law graduates today have more options than ever before, both within the legal profession and in other industries.

Emily Jones

This course is designed to help you understand the diverse career paths available after completing a law degree, including traditional legal training, postgraduate study, and innovative new routes like the Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship — which lets you qualify as a solicitor without paying SQE tuition fees. Whether you're in your final year of law school or you've already graduated, this course will help you plan your next move with clarity and confidence.

Emily Jones

Let’s begin with Traditional Legal Career Paths For many law graduates, the most obvious route is to become a solicitor or a barrister. So let’s break those down. First, there’s the solicitor route. This traditionally involves applying for a two-year training contract with a law firm. Previously, you would have completed the Legal Practice Course, but this is now being phased out in favour of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination. Once your training contract is complete and you’ve passed the SQE, you can qualify as a solicitor. If you're considering becoming a barrister, the steps are a little different. You would start by completing the Bar Course—formerly known as the BPTC—then secure and complete a one-year pupillage. After that, you'd gain tenancy and begin practising as a barrister. While these routes are well-established, it's worth noting they can be costly, highly competitive, and time-intensive.

Emily Jones

Next, let’s Take a Look at Postgraduate Options Many graduates also explore postgraduate study as a next step. This might involve an LLM, which allows you to specialise in areas like international law, commercial law, or human rights. Alternatively, there’s the SQE route, which is the new qualification process for solicitors in England and Wales. Graduates can take SQE1 and SQE2 exams either privately or through a preparation course, alongside gaining two years of Qualifying Work Experience. Postgraduate study can deepen your legal knowledge and enhance your CV, but it does come at a financial cost and, importantly, it doesn’t guarantee a job at the end of it.

Emily Jones

Now let’s move to an exciting alternative: The Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship This is one of the most innovative developments for law graduates. The Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship lets you work full-time in a legal role while preparing for and completing the SQE — and the best part is, your employer typically covers the cost of your training and exams. You earn a salary, gain hands-on legal experience, and benefit from structured study support and mentorship. This route is open to those who already hold a law degree or an equivalent qualification like the GDL. For graduates who want to avoid more debt and gain immediate practical experience, this path is becoming increasingly popular.

Emily Jones

Alternatively, you could consider Taking the SQE Privately Some graduates choose to take the SQE exams independently, without enrolling in an apprenticeship. In this case, you would self-fund a prep course, book the exams yourself, and complete your two years of Qualifying Work Experience at a law firm or legal organisation. This option offers more flexibility and control over your learning journey, but it’s important to be aware that the costs of preparation and exam fees can still be substantial — often running into thousands of pounds.

Emily Jones

But remember, your law degree opens doors beyond legal practice — let’s explore Alternative Careers with a Law Degree Not everyone with a law degree becomes a solicitor or barrister — and that’s completely valid. Your training equips you with critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills that are in high demand across a wide range of industries. You might consider roles in legal operations, compliance, in-house legal teams, the civil service or public policy. There are also career opportunities in human resources, consulting, finance, journalism, and legal tech. A law degree gives you a strong foundation for any role where analytical and regulatory thinking are key.

Emily Jones

So how do you decide? Let’s talk about Choosing the Right Path for You When you're figuring out your next step, it helps to ask yourself a few honest questions. Do I actually want to practise law, or is there another direction I’d thrive in? Can I afford more study, or would I prefer to earn while I learn through an apprenticeship? Would I perform best in a structured academic environment or through hands-on work experience? And do I want to qualify quickly, or build experience gradually over time? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer — but there is a right answer for you. It all comes down to knowing yourself and what works best for your goals and circumstances.

Emily Jones

Overall, A law degree is an incredibly versatile qualification. Whether you follow the solicitor route through training contracts, postgraduate study, or the SQE, or you choose the cost-effective Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship, you’ll find a path that fits. And if you decide to move beyond traditional legal practice, your skills are still highly valued across many industries. Thank you for listening, and good luck on your legal journey. If you’d like more support or resources, please visit us at lawapprenticeship.co.uk.