CAREERS & TRAINING

LEGAL
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Maritime law, also known as admiralty law or the laws of the sea, is a collection of domestic and international laws and treaties that govern behaviour on the sea. The United Nations through the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) issues conventions that can be enforced by coast guards and the navies of most signatory countries.
Maritime law can govern many insurance issues regarding cargo on ships, civil matters between owners of vessels and passengers and piracy issues. It also covers registration, inspection and insurance of ships.
English law is applied to shipping disputes far more widely than the law of any other country.
Qualifications and Training
The most common route is obtaining a qualifying degree in law or a degree in any other discipline followed by a Graduate Diploma in Law. After this, if you want to follow the solicitor pathway you will have to undertake the Legal Practice Course and a recognised period of training.
To become a barrister in the field, you’ll do the Bar Practice Course and then a year-long pupillage.
There are training contracts and pupillages available with law firms and chambers which have a maritime specialism. This will put you on the right course to practice in this area post qualification.
You can also work in maritime law by becoming a Chartered Legal Executive and working in a firm which undertakes maritime law. Legal Executives frequently work alongside solicitors and carry out legal work, under their supervision.
You could also work as a paralegal. Paralegals carry out research, prepare legal documents and give legal advice to clients. You can enter straight from school but you are likely to need:
You can continue to train once you are working, there are plenty of courses to improve your career’s opportunities such as:
Salary Brackets
Solicitor £25,000 - £100,000
Barrister £17,000 - £200,000
Chartered Legal Executive £15,000 - £55,000 +
Paralegal £15,500 - £40,000
Colleges/Universities
Post Graduate Maritime course Southampton University
https://www.southampton.ac.uk/courses/maritime-law-masters-llm
Bar council
https://www.barcouncil.org.uk/becoming-a-barrister.html
Law Society
https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/career-advice/becoming-a-solicitor
CILEX (Chartered Institute of Legal Executives)
https://cpq.cilex.org.uk/start-non-graduate/
National Association of Licensed Paralegals

SEAWORK 2026 DATES & TIMES
09:30 - 17:30 Tuesday 9 June 2026
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SEAWORK 2027 DATES
Tuesday 15 June 2027
Wednesday 16 June 2027
Thursday 17 June 2027