The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) is a new postgraduate law course that will be introduced by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) over the next few years. It will replace the LPC and GDL courses, and will be a “super-exam” for graduates seeking to qualify as solicitors. There are a few things to be aware of when it comes to the SQE - have a read of our advice about it in this section.
If you are worried about the SQE1 exams, it’s important to remember that you can resit them if you fail. However, there are limits as to how many times you can resit.
One fear that many have about the new SQE qualifying route is that it is made up of exams, and many people naturally struggle with test-taking. If you are in this position, you may be wondering if it is possible to fail the SQE and what happens in this scenario.
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is a high stakes exam, where its success or failure will ultimately make or break your career plans of becoming a qualified solicitor in England and Wales.
SQE2 is the final set of exams you need to complete on your journey to becoming a solicitor. Once you pass the exam, you can apply to be admitted to the roll of solicitors. However, you may be surprised to know you do not have to carry out your training contract or work experience before the SQE2.
One of the main benefits of the new SQE route to qualification is that you no longer need to do a training contract. Previously, you would need to have applied for training contracts two years before if you were studying law, or three years if you are a non-law student. Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) is extremely flexible, so it can be completed anytime before you apply for qualification as a solicitor.
The replacement of the training contract requirements with Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) as part of the new Solicitors Qualifying Exam means that becoming a solicitor is now becoming more accessible. QWE can be any sort of legal work, regardless of whether it is paid or voluntary work.
If you are taking SQE1 soon, knowing the time constraints can make it easier for you to prepare when going through sample questions, to ensure that you are working quickly but accurately.
If you are planning on taking the SQE2, it’s a good idea to know how long the exam will last, so you can practice with time constraints. The exam is split into two parts, oral and written.
If you are planning to take the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) soon, you may be interested to know how much it will cost. In fact, you will be pleasantly surprised to find out that the cost is far lower than the LPC and/or the GDL
SQE2 is the final step in your journey to becoming a qualified solicitor. Unlike the previous LPC and GDL courses which could cost up to £17,000, the SQE2 is relatively cheap.
Costs for the SQE have been revealed! Find out how much it cost when it is first introduced in autumn 2021.
There are a variety of different ways to prepare ahead of sitting SQE1, whichever option you choose depends on the amount of law you have studied beforehand, and on your budget.
If you are planning on taking SQE2, you might be unsure as to how to prepare after taking SQE1. The exam is very new, meaning you can’t rely on other people’s experiences. Despite this, there are still quite a few resources available and ways you can study.
The planning and preparation to become a solicitor from 2021 and beyond will look differently than it has in recent years, with the upcoming implementation of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).
So if you’ve reached this article, you’ll perhaps know by now that the SQE is set to replace the GDL and LPC in autumn 2021. But what exactly are the differences between the two routes?
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is the new standard exam that will be completed by all those training for the legal profession, whatever their academic background. It will be progressively phased in from Autumn 2021.
Many Welsh speakers have campaigned for the SQE exam to be available in their language, given that students taking the GDL and the LPC are allowed to sit their exams in it. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) initially rejected the proposal on the basis that translating the exam would be too expensive. However, following extensive campaigns and conversations with the Welsh government, the SQE will now be available in Welsh in a phased implementation.
One of the most liberating things about the SQE is the way that it opens up differing pathways into being a solicitor. The thing with standardised qualifications is that they mean you can get to the point of entry in any way you like, so long as you conform to the requirements. We take a quick look at some of the options.
The SQE exams were designed to replace the GDL/LPC methods of qualifying as a solicitor. The SQE is the cheaper option, with the two sets of assessments totalling £3,980, compared to the £10,000+ required for both the GDL and the LPC. However, the cost of the SQE can quickly add up with the preparation courses offered for each exam. If you are interested in self-studying for the exams, here’s what you should know.
At the moment, there is an option for students to complete the LPC and qualify via the traditional route, or wait an (indefinite) amount of time until the SQE is launched. If you’re wondering what to do, this article might be of use.
For wannabe solicitors, news about the SQE has been a long time coming. And while the first students are yet to begin the new route to qualification, the SRA has released some information about what the new exam will look like.
Put succinctly, a legal apprenticeship programme is a way to eventually become a solicitor without a obtaining university degree. At the end of the process, you can qualify as a solicitor. You earn while you learn, and although salaries are typically lower initially, about 80% of your experience involves on-the-job training, which offers certain advantages over students who qualify through the traditional route.
The SQE, or Solicitors Qualifying Exam, is a new procedure for qualifying as a solicitor that will commence in September 2021. This new system raises issues that are of special concern for international students studying in the UK, or who intend to study in the UK.
The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) is a course that has, at times, prompted more questions than answers. What is it? When will it be introduced? And what about all of the LPC and GDL students out there? Until the SQE launches, we’ll be bringing you all of the SQE updates, as and when they happen—so keep an eye on this page.
Once you have passed both of the SQE exams and finished your two years of qualifying work experience, you will be able to apply for admission to the roll of solicitors. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) requires all potential solicitors to be of proper 'character and suitability', and screens them to ensure that they fit this role. This article will explain what this means and how it might affect you.
The SQE exams are set to replace the LPC/GDL route to qualifying as a solicitor. One of the main differences between the two methods is that you no longer have to secure a training contract, instead any kind of legal work experience will now count towards qualification. This was designed to make the process fairer for those who have already done a bit of work experience, for example paralegals or apprentices.
SQE1 is the first exam of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), which has been designed to replace the Legal Practice Course and the Graduate Diploma in Law. The first exams will be taken in November 2021, so no one has taken the exam yet. Despite this, there is plenty of information online regarding how the exam will be administered.
The SQE2 exam is the final exam that aspiring solicitors must pass as part of the new Solicitors Qualifying Examination. The first sitting of SQE2 won’t take place until April 2022, but there is still a lot of information online about what the exam entails.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has created a dedicated section to provide updates about the SQE. Here, we outline some of the main points and latest developments.
The new SQE route to qualification has been dubbed the ‘super exam’, as it is made up of two sets of assessments, SQE1 and SQE2. The SQE1 will be the first exams to be taken, and should take place after you finish your law degree or any preparation courses.
The second part of the new Solicitors Qualifying Examination is known as SQE2, and you will need to pass both sections to be able to apply to become a solicitor. Once you have passed the SQE2 exams and completed your Qualifying Work Experience, you can apply to become a recognised solicitor with the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Put simply, the SQE stands for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination. It is the culmination of the consultations and reviews of the Training for Tomorrow programme – a new assessment, standardised, which all solicitors will be required to take before they are accepted as qualified. Unless you have accepted your training (GDL/CPE, LPC, training contract or a law degree) by 1st September 2021, you will need to take the SQE to become a solicitor.
The SQE1 is the first part of the SQE exam and aims to assess what is known as functioning legal knowledge. The exam is given in the form of computerised multiple choice questions at an assessment centre. It is divided into two parts - FLK1 and FLK2.
SQE2 is the second and last part of the SQE superexam, meaning you will be able to apply for qualification once you pass the exam. It has two parts, an oral section and a written section.
After a few initial delays, the dates for the first SQE1 exam have now been released for the coming academic years.
Following years of planning and changing dates, the schedule for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) sessions has now been released.
Many of you will be wondering when the Solicitors Qualifying Examination will be brought into play. Here, we’ll keep you updated with the key start times, as and when they get announced.
You are probably aware that the SQE was brought in recently to replace the old solicitors’ qualification routes, the GDL and the LPC. Something you may be more unsure about is why the SQE was introduced in the first place, as learning about all the changes can be very confusing. In short, the exam was introduced to make becoming a solicitor more accessible.
One of the more talked-about aspects of the new Solicitors’ Qualifying Exam (SQE) is that it will allow paralegals or others working within law firms to use ‘equivalent means’ – on-the-job experience - to qualify as a solicitor.