What is the SQE?
The SQE is the Solicitor Qualifying Exam which is the new route to becoming a solicitor rather than the LPC which is the Legal Practice Course.
The LPC is currently being phased out with the academic year of 2025/26 being the last year group able to complete the LPC. The deadline for those who fall under this timeframe will have until the end of 2032 to complete their LPC.
After this, the SQE will be the only route to becoming a Solicitor.
Both the SQE and LPC course can be taken alongside a Legal Practice Masters or solely as the LPC or SQE. The Masters part is an optional additional which consists of a detailed research project in a particular area of law from a delegated list.
Both routes can be undertaken full-time or if you would prefer part time, which would enable one to work alongside completing the course.
If you undertake the courses full-time, you can complete them within a year, the SQE can take slightly longer due to when you can book the examinations.
When taking the courses part-time it can take two years for the LPC and up to two and half years for the SQE depending on examination dates.
Where can one study the SQE and how is it funded?
The course can be studied through different universities both in person and online. The costs of which can be privately funded by the individual and what that cost would be, is dependent on which university you study at and how you intend to study i.e. full or part time.
Please note that if applying to complete the SQE course through a university you can only obtain student finance funding if you also take the Legal Practice Masters alongside.
There is also the apprenticeship route which is fully funded by the government and your employer and you do not need to complete the Legal Practice Masters.
It is also worth noting that the SQE exams can be taken without completing the courses, for example through self-study or if you have worked in a law firm for some time and have the knowledge and skills required to be exempt from having to attend the courses.
How is the SQE Assessed?
There are two assessments for the SQE course, the SQE1 and SQE2.
The SQE1 assesses knowledge through a series of multiple-choice questions via two examinations and the SQE2 assesses skills through written and oral examinations. Both SQE1 examinations must have been passed before you can take the SQE2 examinations.
Qualifying Work Experience
Unlike the LPC, you can complete your Qualifying Work Experience at the same time as completing the course part-time. This allows the flexibility of working as well as studying for the qualification. .
Under the LPC route you must complete the training contract after completing the course. During your training contract you must have worked in at least 3 departments one of which is non contentious such as private client.
The Qualifying Work Experience for the SQE can be completed in one department, so is very useful if you know what department you wish to specialise in.
What next once you pass the SQE?
Upon completing the SQE you can apply to be admitted as a Solicitor for England and Wales through the Law Society and the Solicitors Regulatory authority (SRA). Once successfully being admitted to the roll by the Law Society, you become a qualified Solicitor, and the SRA will issue you with a Practising Certificate. Practising certificates are renewed every year on 1st November. Upon being admitted to the role you also can attend a graduation ceremony called an Admission Ceremony organised by the Law Society for newly qualified Solicitors.
