Criminal law work experience, career route & law firms

Article by Vasilena Zapryanova

Work experience

If you want to become a criminal law solicitor, you can spend a few days at a solicitor's office or attend the open day/vacation scheme of a law firm with a criminal law department.

If you want to become a criminal law barrister, you can shadow a barrister in the field or carry out a mini pupillage.

Other steps you can take include:

1) Pro Bono initiatives giving free legal advice to those who cannot afford legal aid;

2) Mooting for a better understanding and practice skills in the field.

Career Route

If you are interested in pursuing a career in criminal law the routes you have to take are similar to other areas of law. You must obtain a qualifying degree in law or alternatively a degree in any other discipline followed by the completion of the Graduate Diploma in Law.

Following this, if you want to follow the solicitor pathway you will have to undertake the LPC plus a recognised period of training (either a training contract or SQE post 2021)

If you want to pursue a career at the bar, you will have to undertake the Bar Professional Training Course followed by a pupillage in order to complete your qualification.

Criminal Law Firms

- Kingsley Napley LLP

- Bindmans LLP

- Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors

- Bark & Co

- Birds Solicitors

- Slater and Gordon

- Duncan Lewis Solicitors

- Vardags