The vast majority of solicitors work in Private Practice in firms that are managed by solicitors who are partners of the practice. Firms come in all shapes and sizes from the smallest with just one solicitor and some office support, to the largest with over 250 partners and more than 1,500 fee earners and an international network of offices.
Most trainee solicitors work in private practice.
It is helpful to have an idea of whether you want to be work as a lawyer with business clients or whether you goal is to help people in the community with personal, family, criminal or domestic problems. For every five solicitors in private practice there is also one working outside this private sector. Areas of work outside private practice in-house commercial involves working in the legal department of a business. Sometimes solicitors working in-house have joined firms that were previously their clients. In house employers include banks, insurance companies, large manufacturers etc.