2412 Solicitors and lawyers

In short

• ONS unit group 2412, in minor group 241 (Legal professionals) and major group 2 (Professional occupations).
• Appendix Skilled Occupations (figures as at 3 August 2026, re-checked 26 October 2026): On the list: Table 1, Table 2.
• Going rate as the tables print it:
  • Table 1, Going rate (SW – options A and D): £51,600 (£26.46 per hour)
  • Table 2, Going rate (SW – options F and I, GBM and SCU): £39,000 (£20.00 per hour)

What the ONS says

Description

Solicitors advise and act on behalf of individuals, organisations, businesses and government departments in legal matters.

Typical entry routes

Entry to training usually requires a qualifying law degree or postgraduate diploma. Apprenticeships are also available. Graduates in subjects other than law must first take a one year conversion course. All entrants undertake a one year legal practice course, followed by a two year training contract. From 2021 Solicitors also need to pass the Solicitor's Qualifying Examination.

Tasks

• draws up contracts, leases, wills and other legal documents
• undertakes legal business on behalf of client in areas of business law, criminal law, probate, conveyancing and litigation, and acts as trustee or executor if required
• instructs counsel in higher and lower courts and pleads cases in lower courts as appropriate
• scrutinises statements, reports and legal documents relevant to the case being undertaken and prepares papers for court
• represents clients in court

Related job titles

• Lawyer
• Managing clerk (qualified solicitor)
• Solicitor
• Solicitor-partner
• Solicitor to the council

What the Appendix Skilled Occupations says

The Appendix lists this code in the tables below, with the tables’ own caption and the row as printed. Read the full table, and any condition in it, on GOV.UK.

Table 1: Eligible SOC 2020 occupation codes and related going rates based on median Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data

SOC 2020 occupation code

2412 Solicitors and lawyers

Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive)

• Commercial solicitors and lawyers
• Criminal solicitors and lawyers
• Family solicitors and lawyers
• Property solicitors and lawyers
• Solicitors and lawyers not elsewhere classified

Going rate (SW – options A and D)

£51,600 (£26.46 per hour)

90% of going rate (SW – option B)

£46,500 (£23.85 per hour)

80% of going rate (SW – option C)

£41,300 (£21.18 per hour)

70% of going rate (SW – option E)

£36,100 (£18.51 per hour)

Eligible for PhD points (SW)?

Yes

Table 2: Eligible SOC 2020 occupation codes and related going rates based on 25th percentile Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) data

SOC 2020 occupation code

2412 Solicitors and lawyers

Equivalent SOC 2010 occupation code(s)

2413, 2419

Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive)

• Commercial solicitors and lawyers
• Criminal solicitors and lawyers
• Family solicitors and lawyers
• Property solicitors and lawyers
• Solicitors and lawyers not elsewhere classified

Going rate (SW – options F and I, GBM and SCU)

£39,000 (£20.00 per hour)

90% of going rate (SW – option G)

£35,100 (£18.00 per hour)

80% of going rate (SW – option H)

£31,200 (£16.00 per hour)

70% of going rate (SW – option J, GTR)

£27,300 (£14.00 per hour)

Eligible for PhD points (SW)?

Yes

Other unit groups in minor group 241

• 2411 Barristers and judges
• 2419 Legal professionals n.e.c.

Sources

Occupation text: Office for National Statistics, SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions of unit groups (file dated 27 August 2026, version V13). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0. Tables: Home Office, Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations on GOV.UK, page updated 3 August 2026; re-checked against the page updated 8 October 2026 on 26 October 2026, tables unchanged.

All 412 occupation codes

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