Can you be a solicitor with a caution?

Asked by: Mrs. Sincere Nitzsche  |  Last update: February 19, 2022
Score: 4.7/5 (36 votes)

If you are solicitor, barrister, legal executive, paralegal a trainee/pupil then you will know that having a police caution on your record may hold you back in your career.

Can you become a solicitor with a caution?

Before commencing a training contract/period of recognised training, you must submit to a character and suitability test by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). This requires you to disclose any convictions you have, extending even to any police cautions that you may have received.

Does a caution count as a criminal record?

A caution is not a criminal conviction, but it could be used as evidence of bad character if you go to court for another crime. Cautions can show on standard and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.

Can you study law with a criminal record UK?

If you have any convictions they will have to be considered by the appropriate professional body which will make a decision. Any conviction for dishonesty will almost certainly prevent your entry but other offences such as drink driving probably will not. Criminal conviction may or may not bar the practice of law.

Does a caution stay on your record UK?

If you admit an offence, the police can give you a caution. A caution is not a conviction. A caution is a warning which stays on your record for six years if you're an adult, or two years if you're under 18.

The Police Caution (alternative to prosecution)

23 related questions found

Are Cautions on a DBS check?

Protected convictions or cautions are convictions or cautions which are filtered during the DBS check process - this means that they will not appear on the DBS certificate. ... Following this court case, the law was changed, and now certain types of conviction or caution will not appear on your DBS check.

How long do Cautions stay on your DBS?

Cautions can be issued to anyone over the age of 10 years old. Once a police caution has been issued, it will generally appear on your record used by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for six years (this is reduced to two years if you were under 18 at the time the caution was issued).

Can you go to uni with a caution?

If someone discloses a spent criminal record, universities are legally obliged to disregard it for most courses. This is a requirement of section 4 of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. ... The vast majority of applicants with a criminal record will have only spent convictions or cautions.

Can I be a solicitor with a criminal record?

You are not automatically ineligible to become a solicitor if you have committed a crime in the past. If your conviction is not one of the offences that do not need to be disclosed, the SRA will carefully consider the information given to them to decide whether you have improved your character.

How can I clear my criminal record UK?

The only way to get your conviction removed from police records is to appeal against the conviction through the courts. You will need to seek legal advice if this is something you wish to pursue. I was told my conviction would be removed after five years. Why is it still on my record?

Will a caution stop me getting a job?

If you have received a criminal conviction or caution in the past, you may be concerned about your future career prospects. ... By law, employers are not able to rule out job applications because of previous convictions, as long as the conviction or the caution has been 'spent'.

Should I accept a police caution?

You do not have to accept a caution! A caution is a possible outcome of an arrest, which you may be offered instead of being charged. The police make cautions sound less serious, but they are an admission of guilt, and will still go on your record.

Do I have to declare a caution?

Once a conviction, caution, reprimand or final warning becomes spent, you do not need to disclose it to most employers, or when applying for most courses, insurance or other purposes (e.g. applying for housing).

What jobs can't you do with a criminal record UK?

However, some jobs are exempt from this rule, including:
  • Jobs that involve working with children or vulnerable adults.
  • Senior roles in banking or finance.
  • Law enforcement roles, including the police and judiciary.
  • The military, navy and air force.
  • Work involving national security.

Can you be a paralegal with a criminal record UK?

To work as a paralegal in the UK you will need to take a statutory criminal record check called a DBS check. ... The purpose of DBS checks is to keep the public protected from those who may be unsuitable for frontline work. The four types of DBS checks are: Basic DBS.

What checks do the SRA do?

Screening is carried out by Atlantic Data and includes the following checks: identity. financial, covering bankruptcy, insolvency and county court judgments. standard criminal records check issued by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

How do you become a duty solicitor?

To join the duty solicitor scheme, solicitors must apply for membership of the Law Society's Criminal Litigation Accreditation Scheme (CLAS); Only those who have completed the Police Station Representatives Accreditation Scheme (PSRAS) or the Police Station Qualification (PSQ) and the Magistrates Court Qualification ( ...

What is the law conversion course?

The GDL is a law conversion course, which puts non-law graduates on an equal footing with those who studied a law degree. ... The process to convert to law in Scotland is different and the equivalent of a GDL is the Graduate Entry LLB/Accelerated LLB, which takes two years.

Can you become a solicitor with a criminal record in Ireland?

There is no blanket ban on people with criminal convictions qualifying as a lawyer in the Republic of Ireland. ... You may still be able to qualify as a lawyer. Your obstacle may not be insurmountable.

How will a criminal record affect my life UK?

In theory, having a criminal record in Britain should not prevent a person from doing much, unless it is for violent or sexual offences. But in practice, the legal obligation to disclose a record, and the discrimination that follows, restricts access to everything from jobs to insurance, loans and travel.

How do you check if you have a criminal record UK?

You have the right to ask for a copy of records the police have about you. This is called a 'subject access request'. You might need a subject access request if you move to another country.
...
Personal record requests from other organisations
  1. HM Prison Service.
  2. HM Courts and Tribunals Service.
  3. Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)

Can you become a nurse with a criminal record UK?

Can I still apply for a nursing or midwifery course? Yes. Having a criminal record does not mean that you cannot study or work in the nursing profession. ... The NMC issued guidance to universities on assessing criminal record information in relation to the good character requirement.

How do I get a caution removed from my DBS?

You may be able to have your caution 'expunged' from your criminal record by applying to the police, via the ACRO Records Deletion Unit. You can do this yourself by setting out a well-argued and comprehensive reason as to why the police should consider 'expunging' your caution.

Can I work in care with a caution?

The short answer to that question is that you are not automatically disqualified from working in the care industry simply because you have criminal activity recorded against you. To be refused a role as a care worker based on your history, the crime must be relevant to the position.

Will caution show on enhanced DBS?

An Enhanced disclosure check shows full details of a person's criminal record such as cautions, reprimands, warnings, spent and unspent convictions.