International Applicants

The UK has three legal systems and in each there is a split legal profession – solicitors and barristers/advocates. Solicitors do all kinds of legal work. Barristers and advocates specialise in litigation, and oral advocacy, particularly in the higher courts.

Qualifying as a solicitor: England and Wales

Entry to the solicitors’ profession in England and Wales is in a process of transition. The Legal Practice Course is being phased out as the practical qualification required to become a solicitor in favour of the Solicitors’ Qualifying Examination (SQE). Students wishing to enter the solicitors’ profession in England and Wales whose law degrees at Glasgow commenced in 2022 or later will qualify via the SQE route. This involves taking two assessments, completing a two-year period of qualifying work experience, and passing character and suitability requirements.

Aspiring solicitors may find it helpful to read further information provided by the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority about becoming a solicitor and the SQE.

Qualifying as a solicitor: the rest of the UK

The Glasgow common law LLB programmes are currently recognised for purposes of qualifying as a solicitor in Northern Ireland (the Solicitor Course at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies, Belfast). They are not accredited for the purposes of qualifying as a solicitor in Scotland. 

However, once a person has become a qualified solicitor anywhere in the UK, they can qualify anywhere else in the UK by passing a transfer examination.

Qualifying as a Barrister or Advocate

The Glasgow common law LLB programmes satisfy the academic component of qualification as a Barrister in England and Wales and are recognised law degrees for the purposes of qualifying as a barrister in Northern Ireland (the Bar Course at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies, Belfast). They are not accredited for the purposes of qualifying as an Advocate in Scotland.

In the common law world, bar examinations are a normal feature of entry to the legal profession. The LL.B. (Common Law) programme is intended as a foundation upon which students can build in order to qualify for legal practice in specific jurisdictions. In the United States, for example, it is usual to require a three-year common law degree as a pre-requisite for the state bar exam and such degrees obtained abroad are generally recognised. That does not mean they are sufficient. In order to succeed in any bar examination, appropriate jurisdiction-specific study is required. This may be undertaken independently as self-study or as part of an organised course.

If you are thinking of qualifying as a lawyer in a country other than the UK, you should study the rules for qualifying in that country very carefully.