The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Law Graduate / Trainee Solicitor
0-1 year post-qualification (or during training contract)Skills to master
- Foundational legal research, contract analysis, legal writing, understanding of corporate structures.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently accurate document review and summarisation.
- Proactive identification of legal issues for senior review.
- Efficient use of legal research platforms.
- Strong grasp of basic legal concepts relevant to transactions.
- 2
Paralegal (Corporate/Commercial Focus)
1-2 years as a paralegalSkills to master
- Practical experience with legal processes, document management, client communication (under supervision), administrative support for legal teams.
You're ready to move on when
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple legal administrative tasks effectively.
- Experience with VDRs and legal tech tools.
- Reliable support for senior lawyers on transaction-related tasks.
- Clear understanding of a deal lifecycle from a support perspective.
- 3
Legal Assistant (In-house)
1-2 years as a legal assistant in an in-house legal departmentSkills to master
- Understanding of business context for legal advice, internal stakeholder management (basic), exposure to a variety of legal areas.
You're ready to move on when
- Familiarity with in-house legal department operations.
- Experience supporting legal counsel on various matters, including corporate.
- Ability to work effectively with business teams (e.g., Finance, HR) on legal requests.
- Proactive approach to learning the company's specific legal needs.