Case Study
My Vocational pathway to becoming a Solicitor
 My name is Claire. I am currently training to be a solicitor at the same
time as doing the Legal Practice Course. I have many interests including
travelling, reading and singing.
I originally decided to do the Intermediate GNVQ in Health and Social
Care as I did not get the grades I wanted to do my chosen A’ Levels. Once
I began the GNVQ I found I really enjoyed it and gained a Distinction.
This made me decide to stay on to do the Advanced GNVQ in Health and Social
Care instead of doing A’ Levels as I had previously planned. I checked
to see if I could still do my chosen degree in law and was informed that
I could, provided I obtained a Merit.
I gained a Distinction in both the Intermediate and Advanced GNVQ. I feel
the reason I did so well is because I enjoyed the course so much. I liked
the fact that I was just studying one subject, rather than three different
subjects, as I would have done with ‘A’ Levels. At the same time I enjoyed
the range of different subjects within the GNVQ, which were interlinked.
Another thing I liked was the fact that the exams were multiple choice
so were less demanding than other exams I had done and the rest of the
course was based on portfolio work. Although the workload for both GNVQ’s
was intense, it was enjoyable at the same time. We did a number of group
activities such as visiting health and social care places. I also did interviews
with various members of the health profession. I enjoyed doing these projects
and found there were many of them throughout the duration of my GNVQ. I
thought the way the GNVQ was structured suited me perfectly and am now
glad that was my choice of career path.
Once I completed the GNVQ I started my degree in Law at Hertfordshire
University, which is what I had always wanted to do. I found this a complete
contrast to what I had been doing previously, but was pleased to undertake
such a variety of different studies. The degree was three years in duration
and hard work. However, I completed it successfully and gained an LLB Honours
2:1.
During my degree I had worked as a Saturday girl at a solicitors office
and once I had completed my degree I was offered a training contract with
the firm.
I am currently studying the Legal Practice Course (which is the post-graduate
course to be completed after your degree in order to qualify as a solicitor)
for one day a week, and work at the solicitors office completing my training
contract for the other four days. The Legal Practice Course is two years
in duration, so will be completed next year and I will then have one further
full years training at my firm before I qualify as a solicitor.
I feel the GNVQ prepared me for my degree course in the sense that I was
more mature when I came to do the degree, and having studied for three
years doing the GNVQ I felt I was better equipped to do a three year degree
course. I feel the choices I made in relation to my career path were the
best I could have chosen and would gladly do it again given the same choices.
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