Are you interested in making a difference in peoples' lives and pursuing a career that allows you to work within the legal system? Becoming a family lawyer in Bolton can be an incredibly rewarding experience, offering those with an aptitude for law the opportunity to practice their craft. As society progresses, so too does the need for qualified lawyers who can help people find solutions to any number of issues related to family law. No matter your reasons for wanting to become a lawyer—earning more money, having job satisfaction or even making your parents proud—there's no denying that being part of such an important field has its rewards.
But how do you get from here to there?
Stowe Family Law have prepared a handy guide, introducing a pathway to becoming a family law lawyer in Bolton. Becoming a family lawyer is not an easy path, but it offers gratifying rewards and long-term success. Not only will you be able to help families facing difficult situations every day, but with hard work, dedication and commitment to expertly serving your clients, you can build successful long-term relationships that bring positive outcomes for those in need of legal assistance.
Bolton is a lively town located in Greater Manchester, England with rich historical and cultural significance. There are a variety of attractions to explore such as Hall i' th' Wood Museum and Smithills Hall. You can enjoy leisure activities such as Shortwood Park, where you can explore nature walks or have a picnic with friends and family during summer days. For those seeking an exciting nightlife, there are numerous restaurants, bars and pubs just waiting to be discovered.
The town has excellent education opportunities, with schools catering to all abilities and ages as well as universities like Bolton University offering comprehensive courses. With excellent transport links by rail or car to major cities like Manchester and Liverpool, Bolton is the ideal place for anyone looking for convenience. Do not miss out on the opportunity to live in this bustling city; it truly is one experience you will never forget!
Bolton is a vibrant community with plenty of opportunity for someone looking to pursue a legal career. Becoming a lawyer in this area allows you to gain experience in a highly respected field and provides an impressive foundation for your future. Experienced professionals can provide networking opportunities that allow you to build relationships within the field. In addition, the thriving local justice system means that there are ample new cases and issues to work on every day.
Those who undertake this profession put themselves in a great position to make an impact within the community and witness tangible results from their hard work. Therefore, becoming a lawyer in Bolton not only has immense professional benefits, but it also serves as a rewarding experience in and of itself.
For motivated and determined lawyers, there is perhaps no more meaningful career path than family law. This area of practice requires a special kind of skill set that requires dedicated focus, empathy and attention to detail. Lawyers must understand the unique legal complexities involved with issues such as adoption, child support, divorce, spousal maintenance and estate protection.
While some may find these topics heavy and emotionally charged, they also carry a massive weight of responsibility that paves the way to help build a better future for many individuals and families impacted by such decisions. Specialised family law solicitors have the opportunity to serve their clients during unimaginably difficult times in life, providing sound advice and representing their interests in an ethical manner.
There are currently numerous paths to becoming a lawyer, each with its own set of educational requirements. Everyone will be required to have GCSE and A-Level qualifications (or equivalent qualifications). The new SQE route needs an undergraduate degree, followed by further professional certifications and practical training. The degree can be in any subject.
Several law companies provide Legal Apprenticeships to students who have achieved their A-Levels but have not yet completed a degree, which comprise a combination of education and experience that leads to qualification as a lawyer in around 6 years. There is also the option of becoming a Chartered Legal Executive lawyer, which requires both study and practical experience over a minimum of 5 years.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority adopted the new SQE route in September 2021. It will eventually entirely replace the conventional route and will serve as the sole way to become a solicitor in England and Wales.
You should look carefully at the courses available for your undergraduate degree to assess the extent the course they are offering will prepare you for the SQE. This may emphasise the benefit of pursuing a law degree to improve your chances of passing the SQE (as opposed to undertaking an entirely unrelated undergraduate degree).
“Do you think you can effectively use your powers of persuasion to solve and prevent problems? Then you could be a lawyer in the making!”.
“The University of Bolton is one of the best places to acquire a law degree. For two years running, our law courses have been ranked number one in the North West for student experience, and the university overall has been rated in the top five in the UK for teaching quality, according to The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019 and 2020. Our ‘Teaching Intensive, Research Informed’ approach will ensure that you graduate with the power to make a real impact in this challenging legal profession”.
“Study at a globally recognised institution that brings together research-informed study and practice-led approaches to law”.
“Our degree supports you in entering the legal profession as a barrister through an award recognised by the Bar Standards Board, or in taking your first steps towards qualification as a solicitor through our collaboration with BARBRI to prepare you for the Solicitors Qualifying Exam after you graduate”.
“Our goal is to prepare you for a fulfilling life and professional career. Along the way, you’ll learn to be curious, adaptable and confident, ready to meet the digital, ethical and sustainability challenges of the 21st century”.
“Combining an intellectually challenging curriculum with an industry focus, the LLB Law course at Salford Business School gives you a grounding in the key concepts of law while preparing you for a high level legal career”.
Experience is always advantageous when applying for and attending interviews for family law employment.
Consider the following choices:
Formal work experience at a firm that specialises in family law.
Competing in and winning awards in university family law essay competitions, exhibiting your passion in the topic.
Completing a small pupillage to shadow a lawyer working on a family law case.
Marshalling (shadowing) a judge hearing a family court case.
According to Indeed data, the average salary for a Family Lawyer in the UK is £41,796 per year, though this will vary depending on location and the business you work for.
Wages for recently trained solicitors vary across the UK and can range from £26,000 to £55,000, with London City businesses paying the highest average salary.
In Bolton, the average salary for a Family Law Lawyer is £40,446 (9% below the national average).
Workers in the legal profession earn some of the best wages in the country, with many businesses offering significant salary and bonuses regardless of specialisation.
Child custody cases
Domestic violence cases
Prenuptial and Postnuptial agreements
Child maintenance orders
Divorce cases
Divorce settlements
Financial settlements
Civil partnership dissolution
Family law is made up of many different sectors and cases; you may discover that once you start working in family law, you prefer working with one field over another. Working with financial settlements, for example, may be your strong suit, or working with children's cases may be second nature to you; with experience, you can establish a speciality.
Check out the Family Law Lawyers Bolton page on the Stowe Family Law website, here you will find information about what a family law lawyer in Bolton’s responsibilities may be and what kind of things you may expect from working towards a family lawyer career in Bolton.
Stowe Family Law’s Bolton office is located in the Regus building, 120 Bark St, Bolton, BL1 2AX.
The office is situated in Bolton town centre, accessible by road from Topp Way (A673) or Marsden Road (B6205). The closest bus stop is Claremont Church.
Parking is available in the building’s car park, NCP Bolton Upper Bark Street and NCP Pool Street South Car Park.
We also have offices in Central Manchester, Stockport, Altrincham and Wilmslow.
Our phone lines are open from 8:30am – 7pm, Monday to Friday
and 9am – 5pm on Saturday and Sunday
Nastassia Burton is a Partner in the firm’s Altrincham office. She joined Stowe Family Law in July 2008. She is experienced in all aspects of family law. In particular, she advises people on the practical, legal and financial consequences resulting from the breakdown of relationships
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