Solicitor : Career development

Newly qualified solicitors can choose the area in which they would like to continue after qualification. This may mean staying with the firm they have trained with (known as being retained) or moving to another firm.

Newly qualified solicitors are often known as assistants. They work on a fixed salary, usually under the supervision of a partner or senior assistant solicitor. Gradually, they take on increasing levels of responsibility, building their technical legal skills. They also develop client-handling and business development skills. Most start supervising junior colleagues as they gain seniority.

Promotion in private practice depends on continuing strong performance, especially meeting targets for the amounts of work that can be charged to clients. Progress is usually from assistant solicitor to senior solicitor and then associate. Progression is likely to involve becoming the head of a department within the firm, with responsibility for that department’s profit levels and staff.

It may be possible to become a salaried partner and finally an equity partner. This will depend on a combination of experience and level of earnings, and a willingness to make a financial investment in the firm. There is no set time for promotion to partnership. The earliest point for consideration is usually around six to eight years after qualification. Partners are expected to develop the business and be involved in the management of the firm, as well as continuing to update their specialist knowledge.

Career development for in-house and local and central government solicitors generally follows a set structure and may result in a move into general management.

Solicitors who practise in litigious areas may seek to be accredited with rights of advocacy so that they can represent their clients in court without the need to instruct a barrister. Details are available from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) .

Depending on the size of the firm, it may be necessary to change employer in order to progress. Solicitors who develop a reputation in private practice may move to become in-house lawyers, often as a result of being head-hunted.