Why non-law students make really great lawyers

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This article has been produced in collaboration with BARBRI.

Playing to your strengths on the path to a legal career

It’s a little-known fact that approximately half of solicitors in the UK come from non-law backgrounds. If you're a non-law student considering a career as a solicitor, your unique skills and insights aren’t just welcomed – they're highly valued because the legal profession appreciates diverse experiences and perspectives. Let’s dive into how to leverage your background and confidently navigate your journey into law.

Recognise the value of your unique perspective

Law firms today seek problem-solvers, innovators and adaptable thinkers – and non-law graduates bring fresh viewpoints that are invaluable in a field increasingly intersecting with various industries. For instance:

• business students understand market dynamics and client management;
• psychology students can offer insights into human behaviour, enhancing client interactions and dispute resolution; and
• STEM students often contribute analytical skills and technical knowledge, which is crucial as technology reshapes the legal landscape.

Your background enables you to think differently and law firms (and recruiters alike) recognise that diverse thinking leads to more innovative and well-rounded legal solutions.

Play to your strengths: the skills you already have are in demand

Many skills developed in non-law degrees are directly applicable to legal work. Our BARBRI Barometer insights report recently highlighted the key legal skills, including:

• Analytical thinking and problem-solving: core to legal work, these skills are honed through engaging in activities which require critical analysis and complex decision-making.
• Communication and persuasion: excellent communication skills are fundamental to a successful legal career and can be developed through essay and report writing, oral presentations and project work in any discipline, not just law.
• Research and information synthesis: a significant part of legal work involves gathering, organising and interpreting information. Non-law students often possess strong research skills that transfer seamlessly to legal tasks.

Instead of focusing on what you lack, consider how these abilities can help you to thrive, and set you apart, in a legal setting. Law firms increasingly recognise that well-rounded individuals from different backgrounds can perform as effectively as their law graduate counterparts.

Showcase your transferable skills

To stand out, demonstrate how your background equips you with valuable, transferable skills:

• Leadership and teamwork: law is rarely a solo endeavour, so whether through group projects, team sports or volunteer work, showing that you work well with others is a plus.
• Time management and organisation: legal work can be demanding and balancing multiple priorities is crucial. If you’ve managed a challenging course load, a part-time job or extracurricular activities, these experiences are very relevant.
• Adaptability and resilience: the law is an ever-evolving field and candidates who can adapt to new information and recover from setbacks are well-suited to a career in law.

Consider creating a CV and cover letter that highlight these strengths, explaining how they apply in a legal context. Non-law students often excel at making complex ideas accessible, showing empathy in client relations or demonstrating business awareness – skills that law firms and in-house teams value highly.

Register for HeadStart, BARBRI’s free legal employability portal, with free resources, webinars, a legal CV scanner and more.

Take advantage of resources specifically for non-law students

If you're feeling unsure about your legal knowledge, there are plenty of resources designed to help students from different specialisms get up to speed. For example, BARBRI offers an online Foundations in Law course, which covers the basics of the common law system in England and Wales, legal terminology you’ll come across and legal research. This is a great primer for our Solicitors Qualifying Exam prep courses, which are designed in a way that ensure that both law and non-law students are fully prepared for the exams. These courses focus on covering all necessary content, offering structured study plans and providing practice materials that can boost your confidence as you transition into law.

Beyond exam prep, consider taking short online courses or attending career events to find out more, like our free Future Lawyers Convention coming up in Birmingham and Manchester later this year, which is ideal for networking, learning from experienced professionals and gaining insights tailored for students new to law.

Check out LawCareers.Net’s Non-law hub, sponsored by BARBRI, for more information and advice for your transition into law.

Embrace your non-law background: it’s an asset, not a setback

Perhaps the most important advice is to embrace your background proudly. Law firms increasingly understand that diverse teams are better equipped to meet client needs and navigate complex issues. By bringing your previous expertise, you’ll help contribute to a more dynamic, inclusive and forward-thinking legal profession.

So rather than seeing your non-law background as a hurdle, think of it as your unique advantage. Your varied experiences and skills don't just make you a strong candidate, they make you the kind of lawyer that modern firms, and importantly, their clients are actively seeking. The path to law is more accessible than ever, and non-law students are not only welcome – but also valued.

Ready to take the next step? Recognising the value that you can bring is just the start, the next step is to improve, develop and apply your skills in the context of legal practice. Explore BARBRI's Legal Life Skills courses to build on your existing strengths and gain the confidence to launch your legal career.

Alisa Gray is a qualified solicitor (non-practising) specialised in banking and finance with a Masters in Organisational Psychology and a BPS Test User Certificate in Psychometrics. She trained in London and worked for many years in private practice at two global City law firms. Alisa is a learning director at BARBRI and has helped train countless students, trainees and qualified solicitors in the practical application and delivery of legal services.