Training to become a Legal Officer will depend on whether you're planning on joining as a student in the Cadetship or as a fully qualified Barrister/Solicitor.
FULLY QUALIFIED
Step 1
You'll spend nine months training before going to your first legal role. During your first two weeks, you'll conduct your initial training and administration at the Directorate of Army Legal Services. Then you go for Officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) to do a Commissioning Course Short for eight weeks. You will be taught leadership and military skills.
Step 2
Following that, you will be attached to a combat arms unit for three months, in order to learn more about how the Army operates on the ground on a day-to-day basis, to practice the skills you learnt at RMAS and to develop your contextual understanding of the advice that you will be giving.
Step 3
You will then move on to your legal training, which takes place over approximately six-eight weeks. You will be given a basic introduction to the main areas of law that the ALS covers. Following this, you will be sent into your first role.
STUDENT - ALS CADETSHIP
Step 1
There are two tracks to qualification, either as a barrister or a solicitor via the ALS Cadetship. On both tracks, you will hold the rank of Officer Cadet (OCdt). OCdts will commission as ALS Captains on the date of qualification.
Barrister’s Track. You will undertake the Bar Training Course (year 1) before being seconded to a set of Chambers for Pupillage (year 2). If you have completed the Bar Training Course before starting the ALS Cadetship, you will be eligible to apply and will undertake Pupillage only (12 months).
Solicitor’s Track. You will undertake two years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) within ALS, moving through a number of seats across ALS’ practice areas whilst completing the Solicitors’ Qualifying Exams (SQE) online part-time. If you have completed SQE 1 and/or 2 before starting the ALS Cadetship, you are eligible to apply and will undertake the QWE element only (24 months).
Step 2
After completing the ALS Cadetship, you will spend approximately six months completing Military Training:
You will attend the Commissioning Course Short at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS). for Officer training. This is a nine week course designed to provide you with military and leadership training.
Combat Arms Attachment. You will be attached to a combat arms unit for three months. This is to learn more about how the Army operates on the ground on a day-to-day basis, to practice the skills you have learnt at RMAS and to develop your contextual understanding of the advice that they will be giving.
Step 3
Legal Training. You will then move on to your legal training, which takes place over approximately six-eight weeks. You will be given a basic introduction to the main areas of law that the ALS covers: operational law, advisory law and prosecutions.
Following this, you will be sent into your first role.
