When you visit a Solicitor in UK, you assume that s/he has studied law. Largely, this is not the case. You visit a Doctor in UK, and s/he must be qualified, by law. There is also the question of teachers who vary. That is not to say that eveyone who has a degree knows all about it and this is certainly not the issue. I have known for several years that there is a complete farcical situation here.Shall I set up a pressure group? If I do, I need plenty of people behind me and so my questions. Happy New Year.
2006-12-27 09:04:04 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
You really do have a bee in your bonnet, despite being told over and over again that solicitors do indeed have to have studied law. The degree LLB is not the only indication of having completed the necessary academic course, as some universities award law degrees with a different designation. Many practising lawyers have studied another discipline first and then completed a conversion course, which is no easy thing to achieve. Indeed, any practioner of patent law is required to have a scientific qualification in order to be able to practise. Just to point out one example of a person who started an illustrious career in the law without first reading law at university (although admittedly he was a barrister and not a solicitor), the famous Lord Denning took a first class degree in Maths, reading for the Bar afterwards. There is no magic in reading law at one point in one's life rather than another and there is no particular merit in having one set of letters after one's name than another when it comes to law. The fact is, that law is a difficult discipline, with no easy ways round it: it is something which you have to sit down and get to grips with. And you continue learning it throughout your career -- especially nowadays, when to maintain a practising certificate you have to attend courses each year. If you know of any person holding him or herself out to be a solicitor without having studied law and passed exams in the appropriate subjects, then perhaps you should take the matter up with the Law Society rather than posting endless questions on Yahoo Answers!
2006-12-27 09:30:03 · answer #1 · answered by Doethineb 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't understand this question. Of course someone has to have studied law to become a solicitor! Usually it's an LLB or other qualifying law degree (eg a joint honours degree in law and another subject), but it can also be via a conversion course, which covers all the core areas of law. This is followed by the Legal Practice course, then a 2-year training contract at a solicitors' firm. This is all under the watchful eye of the Law Society. There is no way of becoming a solicitor without being qualified!
2006-12-29 19:20:36 · answer #2 · answered by Phil 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most Solicitors study Law as a Bacholrs degree. Most times this called LLB, but sometimes this can be called a BA.
Or some do a degree in another subject and then do a 1 year Graduate Diploma. What ever route they take this is all Academic.
After this they their Legal Practice Diploma where they learn about how to be a Solicitor. They then have to work for 2 years under special supervision.
Its only at this point they can takes cases on their own.
2006-12-28 00:54:10 · answer #3 · answered by Ian R 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hi Helene,
Just because someone has an LLB, it does not make them a solicitor, it is a qualifying degree. You then have to do your LPC (Law Practice Certificate) and become a trainee where you do 4 "chairs". This means you are trained in 4 particular areas of law, 2 per year. Then you specialise in one particular area of law from the four you did as a trainee.
I have an LLB but I do not practice law and have no intention of doing so. I do not wish to become a solicitor or barrister. The degree is still very helpful in other professions and everyday life, so it was well worth doing.
Unless it is bogus, no firm would employ a solicitor who is not qualified in their area of law. However, as with every occupation there are good and bad solicitors. Most of the bad ones get weeded out sooner or later.
2006-12-29 08:40:28 · answer #4 · answered by LYN W 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
LLB is a law degree, which means the student does not have to do a law conversion course like students who have done non law degrees or BA in Law
2006-12-27 17:15:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
LLB is a University Degree in Law.
2006-12-27 17:06:52 · answer #6 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Doesn't the Law Society have a list of those qualified to practice?
2006-12-27 17:12:07 · answer #7 · answered by Jude 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in the UK a Doctor only studies medicine if he wants to be a doctor of medicine.
there are other doctorates out there
But I don't know want LLB is - sorry
2006-12-27 17:14:52 · answer #8 · answered by Valerie C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are lawyers.
In the US there is still one state you can become a lawyer without a JD and that is an apprenticeship program in Vermont! You still have to take the bar!
2006-12-27 17:13:15 · answer #9 · answered by cantcu 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋