What is the difference between being a lawyer in the UK and the US?
Asked by: Marjolaine Von | Last update: November 13, 2025Score: 4.3/5 (71 votes)
The most obvious difference between the UK and US is that the former is divided into solicitors and barristers, whilst the latter is a unified profession. This means when you employ a lawyer in the US, they will undertake duties typically associated with either a solicitor or a barrister in the UK.
How is US law different from UK law?
It's not just that the USA has a Constitution and the UK doesn't. It's also that the US's legislative functions operate at different levels. In the UK, there's essentially one body of laws with some variations in Scotland and Northern Ireland. In the US, there are federal laws, state laws and even local laws.
Is the UK or the US better for law?
However, studying law in the UK is often considered relatively straightforward. Undergraduate law degrees in the UK, such as the LLB, typically take three years to complete, which is shorter than the four-year programs in the US or longer combined undergraduate and graduate programs in some countries.
Do lawyers earn more in the UK or the US?
At a glance. Trainees in London earn more than those working outside the capital. You'll earn less in smaller firms but will likely rise up the ladder quicker. USA based firms pay the highest trainee and newly-qualified salaries, followed by Magic Circle then City firms.
Can a lawyer in the UK work in the US?
Yes. UK lawyers can register as an FLC if they meet the New York eligibility requirements. UK lawyers can sit the New York State bar exam if they hold a law degree equivalent in duration to a US law degree or have at least two years of legal education and obtain a master's in law from an ABA-approved university.
How to become a lawyer in the UK (4 different ways)
Is UK law degree valid in USA?
United States:
To practice law in the U.S., you'll typically need to pass the state bar exam. However, with a UK law degree, you're well-equipped to tackle this challenge. The U.S. offers a diverse range of legal careers, from corporate law and intellectual property to entertainment law.
Do UK lawyers have to pass the bar?
The bar exam or law bar exam is a professional qualification examination for lawyers in the UK. After passing a bar exam, you can be granted permission to practice as an advocate and carry out other licensed activities done by legal professionals, e.g. property conveyancing.
What country pays lawyer the most?
The top countries which offer the highest average Lawyer's salary are the USA, Germany, Canada, the UK, France, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Switzerland. The legal field presents numerous opportunities for skilled professionals to create significant impacts locally and globally.
Who gets paid more US or UK?
The US is a richer society, thus wages are higher. The US economy is lower tax, less regulated, than the British.
Is it good to be a lawyer in the UK?
Answer: Career prospects for lawyers in the UK are promising. After completing your training, you can specialize in various areas of law, such as corporate, family, criminal, or human rights law. Advancement opportunities include becoming a partner in a law firm or taking on more senior roles.
Is it safer to live in UK or US?
If we look at the 2022 crime rate of both countries, we'll see that the UK and the US are pretty close – the US – 47.81 and the UK – 46.07. Yet, when it comes to school shootings, the UK is much better. People generally don't fear each other because they are unarmed, and shooting sprees are an unlikely scenario.
Is law school in the UK hard?
Law is a prestigious degree that requires hard work and determination. It will require you to develop your analytical thinking and English language skills.
What is the difference between lawyers in the UK and US?
In the UK, they are called barristers or solicitors, while the US has litigators and non-litigators. Lawyers who argue cases in court are called barristers in the UK and litigators in the US. But lawyers who manage civil matters are called solicitors.
What is the biggest difference between the UK and the US?
The main difference between UK and US people is in their culture, language, and lifestyle. In the UK, English is the primary language spoken and British culture is heavily influenced by its long history. The US has a more diverse population with many different languages spoken throughout the country.
Why do US firms pay more?
For US firms, the growing demand for associates, particularly in corporate and litigation departments, has pushed firms to set record-high compensation packages. London-based US firms have responded similarly, matching or exceeding Magic Circle offers to attract talent who might otherwise join UK firms.
Can an American practice law in England?
From September 2021, lawyers from abroad and overseas students who wish to qualify in England and Wales can sit the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). The SQE allows you to qualify as a solicitor by taking the same exam as domestic candidates.
Which is richer USA or UK?
The United States is both wealthier but also more unequal than the UK. You can see that in the Wikipedia link - the US has much higher mean wealth (which averages in billionaires with everyone else), but the UK has higher median (where billionaires don't matter, as it is the person in the 50th percentile either way).
What is a good salary in the UK?
If you've ever found yourself googling 'what is a good salary in the UK? ' or 'how much should I earn in the UK? ', you're not alone. According to recent data, the median annual earnings for full-time employees in the United Kingdom was approximately £37,430 British pounds in 2024, compared with £34,963 pounds in 2023.
Is it better to work in UK or USA?
For example, if you are looking to embark on a lucrative career and enjoy higher financial compensation then the US may suit you better. However, if you are wanting to benefit from more affordable healthcare and a easier immigration pathway then the UK may be your preferred destination.
What is the highest paying job in the world?
Topping the list, being a CEO gets you the highest paying job in the world, no matter where you work. A CEO is the highest-ranked position in any organisation's structure. Irrespective of the company's size, a CEO handles all its day-to-day corporate affairs, manages resources and handles all managerial processes.
What type of lawyer gets paid most?
Corporate and tax lawyers tend to be the highest earners, with patent and IP lawyers not far behind. Trial lawyers also pull down a lot of money, particularly in the civil litigation field.
Are lawyers in demand in the UK?
According to recent insights from the LexisNexis GLP Index, property, immigration, restructuring, and insolvency law are projected to experience the strongest demand growth in 2025. This mirrors the increasing demand across several core practice areas, each driven by unique economic and social factors.
How many years does it take to become a lawyer in the UK?
How long it takes. It usually takes at least six years to qualify as a solicitor if you study law full time. It will be longer if you study a different subject for your degree and decide later you want to follow a legal career.
How hard is the UK bar exam?
BUT it was quite a bit harder than I had imagined. It's not intellectually stretching in the sense the BCL was, nor are the pass marks particularly high (so you can afford to drop quite a few marks and make quite a few mistakes). It's just a slog. There is lots to get through and not necessarily loads of shortcuts.
What does bar stand for?
Some people claim the term bar is an acronym for “British Accredited Registry.” Aside from making little sense, this assertion is patently false. In reality, the word “bar” refers to the railing that separates the working area of the court from the spectator area.