Key Information on the SQE
To qualify as a solicitor, candidates must pass the SQE, which consists of 2 parts. SQE1 tests functioning legal knowledge through multiple‑choice questions. SQE2 assesses practical legal skills. As of today, there have been 3 sittings of SQE1 and 2 sittings of SQE2.
The SQE removes barriers for non‑law graduates and overseas graduates whose degrees were not previously recognised under the LPC route. Candidates can now qualify without completing a law conversion course, provided they pass both SQE stages and complete 2 years of QWE.
SQE as a Professional Qualification
The SQE was designed to standardise assessment across all aspiring solicitors. It removes variations in teaching quality and curricula across universities and LPC providers. Every candidate is assessed through the same centralised exam, ensuring consistent standards.
Unlike the New York State Bar Examination, which requires at least 1 year of law school, the SQE places less emphasis on academic legal training. SQE1 tests substantive law through multiple‑choice questions, replacing the previous 3‑year law degree or 1‑year conversion course that provided deeper academic grounding.
Despite this shift, the SRA appears to have maintained admission standards. LPC pass rates averaged 58 per cent in 2018 to 2019 and 57.7 per cent in 2019 to 2020. SQE1 pass rates in the first 2 sittings were 53 per cent. The similarity suggests that the SQE requires comparable academic ability.
The SQE also centralises standards across former LPC providers, whose completion rates varied widely from 33 per cent to 100 per cent. The SRA has achieved greater consistency in the qualification process.
Law Firms Adapting to the New System
Although training contracts are no longer mandatory, many firms continue to offer them as part of the SQE route. Some firms have rebranded their programmes as Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeships, which function similarly to training contracts.
Major firms still require candidates to have completed a law degree or conversion course, even though the SRA does not. For overseas graduates, firms such as Slaughter and May require completion of some or all conversion modules before SQE preparation.
Support varies across firms. Some pay for SQE preparation and exam fees. Others offer QWE but do not provide financial assistance.
Many firms now recruit trainees internally from their legal assistants or paralegals. Graduate Schemes and Legal Assistant Programmes allow firms to observe candidates before offering training contracts.
New pathways are emerging. Bird & Bird recently launched a 6‑year solicitor apprenticeship for year 13 students who choose not to attend university. Apprentices spend 1 day per week studying for a law degree and the rest working at the firm. After completing the degree, they progress to SQE preparation. This route mirrors a part‑time law degree followed by part‑time SQE study.
Preparation Courses and Materials
With results from multiple SQE sittings now available, more training courses and self‑study materials have entered the market. The SRA has published a list of organisations offering SQE education and resources.
Course providers such as BPP University, Oxford University Press and QLTS School offer self‑study packages that allow candidates to learn flexibly alongside other commitments. This flexibility is one of the key advantages of the SQE route.
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