If you are considering career as a solicitor you should be aware that the path is long and hard
. Law is an extremely competitive industry with many graduates wanting jobs in this sector. Responsibilities of solicitors include offering clients advice on specialist areas of law and representing them if problems should arise during their case.
Many people are shocked to discover that non-law graduates can progress into law through a one year Graduate Diploma in Law (GDP). This allows them to stand on a par with law graduates when entering onto a Legal Practice Course (LPC), which is the final stage of study to becoming a solicitor. Specialist areas and vocational training are taught on the course with the advantages of real-life experience.
A 2 year training contract with a legal firm as a trainee solicitor is required before you can be fully qualified. This should help you decide which area of law you want to go into. Solicitors gain expertise in numerous areas including family law, conveyancing and criminal defence.
Asbestos solicitors give specialist legal advice to those affected by asbestos. If you choose to specialise in asbestos litigation you will need to have a large degree of knowledge about the subject and are sympathetic towards victims. Asbestos was banned in the UK in 1999 but before that many people were exposed to asbestos at home and in the workplace, resulting in conditions such as asbestosis and the rare lung cancer mesothelioma.
However, to go in this direction it is essential to understand the facts surrounding asbestos, and related illnesses like asbestosis and mesothelioma, as you will probably be challenged by the legal teams of large and powerful companies. Due to the long latency period of around 15-60 years for symptoms to become apparent, you may be presented with many cold cases which require intense investigation and patience.