Can someone become a solicitor if they have a criminal record?
“I volunteer with a local charity helping people seek work. A graduate interested in a career in law recently received a criminal conviction for assault arising from a fight with a housemate. This was a genuine one-off incident and they sought professional help. Is there any guidance on becoming a solicitor?”
Recruitment to law firms is generally very competitive and routine screening of candidates is usual, including DBS (criminal record) checks.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) decides on a case-by-case basis whether it deems someone to be of suitable character to become a solicitor.
It would be prudent to enquire with the SRA before pursuing any qualifying work experience in a law firm.
Although not binding on the SRA, you can complete an early character and suitability assessment at any time.
If the SRA indicates it is satisfied in terms of character and suitability, this could be useful to potential law firms in any recruitment process.
For more information, see the SRA’s:
Disclaimer
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this article, it does not constitute legal advice and cannot be relied upon as such. The Law Society does not accept any responsibility for liabilities arising as a result of reliance upon the information given.
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