Thinking of becoming a solicitor? Is the SQE or LPC right for you?

The route to qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales has changed. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) introduced the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) in 2021 which will eventually replace the current Legal Practice Course (LPC).

On this page, we have highlighted some of the things you need to consider and common questions around the SQE to ensure you have all the information you need to make an informed decision about which path to qualification is best for you.

Can I choose to take the SQE or the LPC?

Yes, you can still qualify on the LPC route if:

1. You already have a qualifying law degree (QLD) or an exempting law degree (ELD) before 1 September 2021.
2. You had started a QLD or ELD before 1 September 2021.
3. You had accepted an offer for QLD/ELD by 21 September 2021and started the course before 31 December 2021.
4. You deferred a QLD or ELD offer for the academic year 2020/21 and then started your course by 31 August 2022 (inclusive). You will need to keep evidence of your deferral to be accepted onto the LPC.

You will then have until 2032 to qualify as a solicitor before the LPC and Training Contract route is turned off. Even if you have commenced one of the above, you may still decide to take the SQE if you wish.

Please check the SRA website as details can change.

If you don't meet the criteria, you'll have to take the SQE.

Explore the SQE

 

What is the SQE?

The SQE is a centralised set of examinations for aspiring solicitors in England and Wales.

Unlike the LPC, the SQE is not a course or study programme, but two sets of closed-book examinations.

SQE1 tests functioning legal knowledge.

SQE2 tests functional legal knowledge and oral (advocacy and client interviewing) and written legal skills.

Find out more

Do I need anything else to qualify as a solicitor via the SQE?

There are four things you will need to qualify as a solicitor:

have a degree in any subject or a qualification or experience that is equivalent to a degree

pass both SQE1 and SQE2

two years' full-time (or equivalent) qualifying work experience (QWE)

pass character and suitability requirements

The LPC or SQE? Things to consider

Are you already a qualified lawyer?

If you are a qualified lawyer, the SRA will recognise your previous experience, so you won’t need to complete any qualifying work experience (QWE). You also may be exempt from the SQE2 assessment, it is worth checking the SRA’s website to see whether you can apply for exemptions that mean you only need to take SQE1. 

Do you have a qualifying law degree?

If you do, you can still choose the LPC or SQE route. For both routes you will need a period of training, either as a training contract or qualifying work experience. If you don’t have a law degree or you didn't start your law degree by autumn 2021, or equivalent, you will need to qualify via the SQE.

Do you have any legal services experience?

This could be voluntary or paid-for experience. If you do, you can check with the SRA whether your experience counts as qualifying work experience, which will help you on the SQE route to qualification.

When do you want to qualify?

The LPC route will take 1 or 2 years plus 2 years of a training contract. The SQE route can take from eight months, if you already have work experience, to up to six years. There is more flexibility with the SQE route to qualification in times of how long you take to qualify.

How much time do you have to study?

The LPC can be taken part-time or full-time. The SQE can be taken step-by-step. You can study part-time or full-time for either SQE assessment, but you don’t need to decide about SQE2 until you have passed SQE1. The part-time options for the SQE study start with as little as 8-10 hours of learning per week.

What kind of learning are you looking for?

You can study online, receiving individual tuition or study as part of a group on campus. There are lots of opportunities for you to find the best learning environment that fits with your individual circumstances.

Where do you want to study?

Think about whether you would like to study on campus or online. There are options for both routes. There are more online options, like The College of Legal Practice for SQE preparation. If you are looking to work alongside your studies, or save on accommodation and travel expense then the SQE route online may be worth considering. You may work better in a classroom environment, but it is worth checking how much individual tuition you receive with each provider.

What type of assessments are you best at?

The SQE and LPC are very different assessments. The LPC modules are spread throughout the year and will feel more like your undergraduate degree. The SQE are intense central exams that run every six months, and they are closed-book. They are also at the standard of a day one solicitor. 

The pass rates for the SQE for LPCs generally are actually comparable – around 50%.  

What's harder, the SQE or LPC?

What can you afford?

There is a wide range of LPCs and SQE prep courses on the market. The average cost for an LPC is higher than most of the combined costs of SQE prep courses and SRA exam fees, but it depends on the institution. You can complete Masters Programmes that incorporate either LPCs or SQE preparation with accredited providers, that are eligible for government Masters Loan funding. The College's LLM in Legal Practice for example, costs £7,245 and the Loan will cover both the course fees and the SQE exams fees. You can also fund the SQE assessments and preparation courses separately, spreading out the cost of your payments.

Which firms do you want to work for?

Every firm has a different approach to qualification, and it is changing. Many organisations are now only offering SQE training contracts and some are requiring those who have an LPC to also take SQE1 as well as SQE2.

Other firms are flexible, and are offering training contracts to those with an LPC or SQE, and will still fund both routes. Do your research and work out for the type of law that you are looking for and the type of firm you want to work for, what organisations are proposing as training for their future trainees.

The SRA have a decision tree which could help you determine which route you can take.

  

If I choose the SQE - How can I best prepare for the assessments?

Do not be mistaken in thinking that the SQE is easy!

Even with a law degree, the SQE assessments will be difficult. It is not only about legal knowledge but the ability to identify issues and apply legal knowledge throughout the assessments and at pace across 10 hours of exams. This may be the first time you will experience complex multiple-choice and oral examinations, so you will need to prepare well in both legal knowledge and examination techniques. It is worth looking at sample SQE questions to help understand the assessments.

Preparation courses are not mandatory, and you can prepare yourself for the SQE examinations if you feel confident and comfortable to do so. If you want a little help preparing for success, we offer a series of part-time and full-time courses which will provide you with the legal knowledge, examination techniques and opportunities to practice your interview and advocacy skills before the assessments. You’ll have significant personal supervision from expert supervisors, who are both solicitors and trained to support you, to get you ready for the assessments and to set you up for a successful start to your career as a solicitor.

We’re so confident in our preparation courses that you will have continued access to the courses for 10 months after the courses finish at no additional cost if you are not successful in passing the SQE assessment.