Legal Week Intelligence's annual Law Student Report found that only 60 per cent of undergraduate law students would look to pursue a career as a solicitor, representing a 20 per cent decline from 2010’s report.
The report – which surveyed more than 3,000 undergraduate and postgraduate law students – revealed the most popular alternative career paths were teaching, civil service work and management consultancy. Investment banking was also suggested as an option.

Job market

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer graduate recruitment partner Simon Johnson told Legal Week: ‘Students aren't as confident of landing a training contract as they might have been in the past, and might be hedging their bets.’
Mr Johnson added that today’s students are much more engaged with the wider job market than their predecessors, but law firms are trying to adapt and provide what they are looking for.
The survey also analysed students’ opinions of leading law firms, with Macfarlanes being named as the top City firm for the second year running.
Allen & Overy was top among international firms, while Jones Day led the US category.