I'm 14 years old and am curious about working as a lawyer.?

[eddis]

I can't find a website that tells me all the types of law fields but from what I know about I would prefer to be a Solicitor Lawyer in the field of Family and Juvenile Law.

I know that to make it in this job I have to work seriously hard which is why I'm here asking this early.

1)How many years on average does it take to complete all the exams that enable you to work as a lawyer?

2) What is the minimum, average and maximum pay a lawyer earns?

3) What can I do while I'm at this age to give me a better chance at being successful at this?

4) What other type of lawyers are there? (I know a few but if you could give me a list that would be much appreciated).

5) ANy other tips and/or advice are also appreciated!

My sincere thanks.

[bellden]

If you are in UK and want to be a Solicitor, you need to do A Levels (2 years) then go to University and do a LLB law degree (3 years). Then do LPC (1 year full time or 2 years part time) then do a training contract with a firm (2 years).

In terms of salary, its not what people think. I am a lawyer and I am not rich. That is because I am a legal aid lawyer! (as well as a part time mum). For newly qualified you are looking at a minimum of £28k really, and that's for a small rural high street type practice. Others earn more than that - it depends what type of law you do and what type of firm you work for. Work for a city firm and you get way more (but may have no social life!).

At your age, there is not much you can do save for trying to get experience over the summer, but to be honest you are a bit too young still. Just get good grades and select subjects that show good academic learning for GCSEs e.g. history, english lit etc.

In terms of types of lawyers, the main two are barristers and solicitors. The route above I have described is for a Solicitor (this is what I am). If you are a Solicitor, you work for a law firm and see clients, write letters, prepare documents etc. If you are a barrister, you generally do court advocacy (though you can still do some of this as a Solicitor - I do) as well as giving some written opinions and drafting - but via instruction from a Solicitor usually.

To be a barrister, instead of doing the LPC, you do a BVC course instead, and then do a pupillage with a barristers chambers instead of a training contract with a law firm. Solicitors get paid salary usually, whereas barristers earn according to instructions they receive and pay fees to belong to their chambers - sort of self-employed/consultancy type arrangement. This is an important consideration - I like receiving a steady salary and not being beholden to Solicitors to instruct me to get work. Barristers also lose evening and weekends preparing for cases when they get the papers last minute.

There are also Legal Executives who can do much the same work as Solicitors - Legal Execs often do their exams whilst working and no degree is required. Paralegals are people without much or any qualification but experienced in law, and practice a bit of law (usually assisting someone qualified).

In terms of tips - be sure it is what you want to do and don't be swayed by the image of what you think it is. Most people think I am rich (wrong), give me flack for representing "bad people" (I don't do crime - though have no problem with access to justice) and that I say "objection!" at court (never!). Nor do i sing songs in the toilets like Ally McBeal! The other thing I would say is that these are just some examples of routes to legal careers. Mine was different. I did a music degree then did a part time conversion to law whilst working as a legal secretary to get experience. I also did my LPC and training contract at the same time by doing them both part time over 2-3 years which saved a bit of time.

You need to be someone who likes advising people (see how I am on here?!!) and be prepared for dealing with unhappy people, difficult people and for public speaking at court.

Whew! Hope this helps!

[caomh]

If you are in UK and want to be a Solicitor, you need to do A Levels (2 years) then go to University and do a LLB law degree (3 years). Then do LPC (1 year full time or 2 years part time) then do a training contract with a firm (2 years).

In terms of salary, its not what people think. I am a lawyer and I am not rich. That is because I am a legal aid lawyer! (as well as a part time mum). For newly qualified you are looking at a minimum of £28k really, and that's for a small rural high street type practice. Others earn more than that - it depends what type of law you do and what type of firm you work for. Work for a city firm and you get way more (but may have no social life!).

At your age, there is not much you can do save for trying to get experience over the summer, but to be honest you are a bit too young still. Just get good grades and select subjects that show good academic learning for GCSEs e.g. history, english lit etc.

In terms of types of lawyers, the main two are barristers and solicitors. The route above I have described is for a Solicitor (this is what I am). If you are a Solicitor, you work for a law firm and see clients, write letters, prepare documents etc. If you are a barrister, you generally do court advocacy (though you can still do some of this as a Solicitor - I do) as well as giving some written opinions and drafting - but via instruction from a Solicitor usually.

To be a barrister, instead of doing the LPC, you do a BVC course instead, and then do a pupillage with a barristers chambers instead of a training contract with a law firm. Solicitors get paid salary usually, whereas barristers earn according to instructions they receive and pay fees to belong to their chambers - sort of self-employed/consultancy type arrangement. This is an important consideration - I like receiving a steady salary and not being beholden to Solicitors to instruct me to get work. Barristers also lose evening and weekends preparing for cases when they get the papers last minute.

There are also Legal Executives who can do much the same work as Solicitors - Legal Execs often do their exams whilst working and no degree is required. Paralegals are people without much or any qualification but experienced in law, and practice a bit of law (usually assisting someone qualified).

In terms of tips - be sure it is what you want to do and don't be swayed by the image of what you think it is. Most people think I am rich (wrong), give me flack for representing "bad people" (I don't do crime - though have no problem with access to justice) and that I say "objection!" at court (never!). Nor do i sing songs in the toilets like Ally McBeal! The other thing I would say is that these are just some examples of routes to legal careers. Mine was different. I did a music degree then did a part time conversion to law whilst working as a legal secretary to get experience. I also did my LPC and training contract at the same time by doing them both part time over 2-3 years which saved a bit of time.

You need to be someone who likes advising people (see how I am on here?!!) and be prepared for dealing with unhappy people, difficult people and for public speaking at court.

Whew! Hope this helps!

to answer #1 probably 10years

#2 alot of money

#3 keep up with your school work and keep your gpa high so you can get into a good college

and #5 your most likey gonna be doing something else anyway