The legal edge you didn’t know you had

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This article has been produced in collaboration with BARBRI.

If you’re a non-law student thinking about a legal career, you might feel like you’re at a disadvantage. Without a law degree, how can you compete with those who’ve spent years studying legal principles? I hear this all the time but it’s simply not true. Having worked in legal education and training for many years, and starting my career as a non-law graduate, I can confidently say that non-law graduates bring a wealth of valuable, transferable skills that law firms actively seek.

Before retraining in law, I studied humanities and worked in international education, experiences that gave me the broader perspective and skill set I’ve carried into my career. These additional skills have proved incredibly valuable and are exactly the kinds of qualities law firms are looking for in their trainees.

In fact, historically, legal employers have recruited around 50% of their trainee cohorts from non-law backgrounds, which clearly shows the value that firms place on the diverse experiences and insights non-law graduates bring.

The top skills that law firms value and are looking for in employees include problem solving, commercial awareness and communication – all things that non-law graduates bring to the table in spades.

The challenge isn’t learning new skills – it’s recognising the ones you already have and knowing how to apply them in a legal setting. Many of the abilities you’ve developed through your studies or work experience already align with what legal employers need, you just have to recognise and apply them with confidence.

Read this Feature for a non-law student’s guide to a career in law.

Research and analytical skills

Lawyers don’t just read endless pages of legal text for fun (well, most of them don’t!). They need to research effectively, analyse huge amounts of information and use that to build strong arguments. If you’ve spent hours reading through different sources for an essay or dissertation, breaking down complex theories or comparing data to draw conclusions, you’ve already been training for legal work.

History students, for example, are excellent at assessing sources and forming reasoned arguments – just like lawyers do with case law. Science and engineering graduates often excel in law because they apply logic and precision when solving problem, which are essential qualities in legal analysis and structured thinking. Meanwhile, psychology and sociology students develop analytical skills by evaluating case studies and drawing conclusions – much like lawyers do when assessing evidence and witness statements. A strong analytical mindset is essential in law and if you’ve developed this ability in another field, you’re already well-prepared for legal research and case evaluation.

Communication and persuasion

Being able to communicate clearly is at the heart of legal practice. Whether you’re drafting contracts, negotiating deals or presenting arguments in court, you need to get your point across effectively.

Chances are, you've already developed this skill throughout your studies. If you’ve written essays, given presentations or debated a topic during your studies you already know how to structure arguments and persuade people. English literature, journalism and philosophy students are trained to think critically and write with clarity – both of which are essential in law.

But communication isn’t just about writing. If you’ve done public speaking, worked in a customer service role or even led a group project, you’ve learned how to engage different audiences. Lawyers need to think on their feet, adapt their tone depending on who they’re speaking to and be able to explain complex ideas in simple terms, just like you’ll have done in your studies and work experience.

Storytelling is another powerful skill in law. Effective lawyers don’t just present facts, they structure compelling arguments that build trust and persuade their audience. If you have experience in creative writing, theatre or media, your ability to structure a compelling argument could be a major advantage in legal advocacy.

Problem solving and logical thinking

If you enjoy solving puzzles, complex challenges or finding creative solutions to problems, you’re already thinking like a lawyer. Legal work is all about assessing situations, applying legal principles and figuring out the best course of action for a client.

If your degree involved maths, coding or structured problem solving, you’ve been training for legal analysis without even realising. The logical thinking required to debug a piece of code is similar to the analytical approach lawyers use when assessing the strengths and weaknesses of a case. Engineers, economists and scientists also approach problems methodically, testing different solutions – just like lawyers do when assessing risks or constructing legal arguments.

Similarly, through business and finance degrees, graduates will have learnt and developed risk assessment and strategic thinking skills, as well as anticipating challenges. All of these skills are crucial for lawyers that are involved in handling contracts, litigation or corporate advisory work.

Negotiation and commercial awareness

Negotiation is a key skill in legal practice. Whether you’re settling disputes, drafting contracts or advising clients on business deals, knowing how to find common ground and secure the best outcome is essential. If you’ve ever haggled or negotiated for a better deal, mediated a disagreement between friends or persuaded a group to follow your lead, you’ve already demonstrated negotiation skills in action.

In addition to negotiation, commercial awareness – the ability to understand business dynamics, financial risks and industry trends – is another skill law firms highly value. If you’ve managed budgets or had a part-time job in retail or sales, you’ve probably already started to develop your commercial awareness. Many students from business, economics or engineering backgrounds excel in law because they have a strong grasp of strategy, financial decision-making and stakeholder management.

If you want to brush up on these, BARBRI offers bite-sized legal life skills courses, which can be an excellent way to demonstrate your commitment to employers on honing these crucial skills.

Time management and attention to detail

The legal profession demands exceptional time management as lawyers often have to handle multiple cases at once, work to tight deadlines and juggle competing priorities. Being able to manage a high workload efficiently while maintaining accuracy is essential.

If you’ve successfully balanced coursework deadlines, part-time jobs and extracurricular commitments, you’ll have evidence to demonstrate that you’ve already developed and put these skills into practise. Law firms look for candidates who can work under pressure, prioritise effectively and meet deadlines without compromising quality – skills you’ve likely used throughout your studies and work experience.

Attention to detail is just as critical. A small oversight in a contract, an incorrect citation in legal research or a missed deadline in a court filing can have serious consequences. If you’re adept at proofreading, spotted an error in data analysis or structured a dissertation with precision, you’ve already built skills to help work to the level of accuracy required in legal practice.

Don’t undervalue your background

Law firms are increasingly valuing diversity of thought and experience, and many successful solicitors started with non-law degrees, bringing fresh perspectives into the profession. Your unique background is a strength. It allows you to approach legal problems differently and contribute fresh insights.

So, if you’re considering a legal career, don’t let the lack of a law degree hold you back. You already have many skills law firms are looking for, you just need to identify what they are, how you can evidence them and take that next step.

If you’re ready to transition into law, BARBRI’s SQE Prep can help you build on your existing skills and prepare for qualification as a solicitor. Visit our website to learn more or request a call-back to explore your options.

Rob Dudley has over 24 years’ experience in legal education and training. Rob holds a BA (Hons), an LLB (Hons) and PG Dip Law from The College of Law, London along with a postgraduate certificate in Career Development. He’s a member of the Institute of Student Employers, the Career Development Institute and the International Bar Association.

BARBRI is a legal educator specialising in innovative technology to help law students and lawyers succeed in achieving their legal qualification. Their unique courses can prepare you for the SQE through to becoming a solicitor in England and Wales, as well as offering dual-qualification opportunities to become an attorney in New York or California. BARBRI has maintained the trust of legal students for over 50 years, helping more than 1.4 million law students and lawyers succeed in legal exams across the globe.