Can you get funding for the SQE?

May 26, 2023

Written By Annika De Lathauwer

Despite SQE being a necessary part of your journey to qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales, it is not offered for free. Therefore, it is important to consider the methods that will work best for you to cover these costs. Luckily, there are several options that can be used either separately or alongside with each other to alleviate some of the cost.

What is SQE?

SQE stands for Solicitors Qualifying Examination. It is the examination that must be sat to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales and is replacing the LPC. The SQE is broken down into two parts. SQE1 consists of two exams, which are made up of 180 multiple-choice questions. SQE2 is just one exam and consists of 15 to 18 practical exercises. While SQE1 tests your legal knowledge, SQE2 is designed to test your practical skills.

Cost of SQE

Although the SQE is seen as a more affordable option compared to the LPC, costs are still significant. SQE1 currently costs £1,622 to sit, while SQE2 costs £2,493. From September 2023 this will increase further to £1,798 and £2,766 respectively, due to inflation.

Furthermore, if you have to resit an exam, you will have to pay full price (unless you only have to retake one of the SQE1 exams, in which case it will currently cost £811). Additionally, cancellation fees are applicable if you cancel 14 days after booking the exam. They will increase closer to the date of the exam that you cancel, so think carefully about your availability before booking the exam.

Once you have a degree-level qualification, there is no requirement to take additional courses to sit the SQE, but many will choose to invest in prep courses or buy resources to help prepare for the exams. For example, the University of Law offers an SQE1 course for £5,650 or a shorter course for £500.

Ways to fund SQE

Firm Sponsorship – Most firms that sponsored their students through the LPC have announced that they will pay for the cost of SQE for their trainees, However, be sure to check whether this applies to you before beginning the course.

Working alongside SQE – SQE courses can be done full or part-time at most institutions that offer these courses, which make working alongside them a lot more manageable. SQE requires you to complete two years of QWE (qualifying work experience) before you are able to qualify. This means that you can and even should earn a salary while qualifying a solicitor.

A part-time job, even one that is not related to the legal industry, can help with funding.

Graduate or Solicitor Apprenticeship – Through a solicitor apprenticeship, post A-level students can work in a law firm and qualify in six years, earning a salary without any student debt. A graduate apprenticeship will allow you to start working for a law firm after completing an undergraduate degree, while completing your QWE and working towards sitting the SQE.

Scholarships and Bursaries – Scholarships and bursaries are available from multiple institutions, such as Kaplan, BARBRI, and ULaw. Be sure to look into these and see if any of them are applicable to you. However, be aware that many of these will not cover the full cost, so you may still need to find an alternative source of funding, such as a part-time job.

Funding through loans – You can take out a loan from a bank, as well as from a provider that specialises in lending to postgraduate law students. However, be sure that you understand all of the terms and conditions that go along with these loans before agreeing to this, such as how much you will be expected to repay and in what time frame.

You could also look into incorporating an SQE course into a master’s, which may make you eligible for a postgraduate government loan.

SQE