Can you do the SQE online?

Aug 30, 2023

Written By Alyssa Gibbons

For many people, their work commitments, caring responsibilities or any other factors may mean that studying an in-person SQE course may not be the best option for their lifestyle. Thankfully, there are opportunities to study the SQE online, making the qualifications required to pursue a legal career more accessible to all.

What is the SQE?

The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is the qualification that all people wishing to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales must take. It replaces the Legal Practice Course (LPC) which previously required you to have a Qualifying Law Degree or a non-law degree and a conversion course such as the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL).

The SRA (the body responsible for administering the assessments) no longer requires you to have either of these, only a degree in any subject or equivalent work experience. However, while there is no longer a requirement for non-law graduates to do a law conversion course, many law firms require their non-law future trainees to take one anyway.

There are two parts to the SQE, SQE1 and SQE2. The SQE1 aims to assess your functional legal knowledge through computerised multiple choice questions, while the SQE2 assesses your practical skills through oral and written exercises. Check out these articles here and here for more details about the format of the tests.

Can I study for the SQE online?

Thankfully, there are a number of SQE prep courses available online.

Which SQE online course you take will be dependent on your availability and the funding you have available. If you have already secured a training contract, it is likely that your firm will have a preferred SQE course provider and course. So, it’s best to check with them to see what you should study and where.

Many providers offer SQE1 and SQE2 preparation courses to help you to prepare. They’ll not only help you to learn the knowledge that you need to take the exam, but also how to approach the questions in the exam. You can prepare for the SQE online full-time, but there’s often part-time or weekend options.

If you’re yet to pursue postgraduate study, you should have access to master’s funding. This means that if the cost of these preparation courses is outside of your budget, then you can pay for the LLM Legal Practice (SQE1 & 2) using a UK government loan. This course is also offered online, with part-time and weekend options too. If you’re interested in pursuing this path, then check the UK government’s website which outlines the funding eligibility criteria for distance learners.

Can I study for the SQE online?

Thankfully, there are a number of SQE prep courses available online. If you’d like to self-study, that’s also easy to do online. Which SQE online course you take will be dependent on your availability and the funding you have available. If you have already secured a training contract, it is likely that your firm will have a preferred SQE course provider and course. So, it’s best to check with them to see what you should study and where.

Can I take the SQE exam online?

Sitting the SQE exam and receiving the qualification requires in-person attendance. If you have accessibility needs that make you wary of attending in person, the SRA has outlined available adjustments here.

The two parts of the SQE are assessed in different ways. SQE1 and 2 written assessments are taken in Pearson VUE locations that are available around the UK and internationally. If you’ve got a UK driving licence, you may be familiar with these kinds of test centres as they are where you will have taken the theory part of your driving test. You can see all the available locations here. While the written aspects of the exams will be completed on a computer (so will technically be taken online) you are required to do this in exam conditions at the available Pearson VUE locations.

The SQE2 oral assessments are only available in Cardiff, Birmingham, London and Manchester, so you’ll probably need to make travel arrangements in advance. The SRA has said that they’re looking to increase the number of locations that are available, so keep an eye out for any updates.

So, there are plenty of options for studying the SQE online, whether that be part-time or full-time. Hopefully this article has helped you to understand the different study modes available, while also highlighting the in-person element of the exams. If you’d like to learn more about the SQE, do take a look at this page for more information, including support finding the best SQE preparation course for you.

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