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Your SQE preparation
starts here

Your SQE preparation
starts here

What is the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE)?

The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is the new route to qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales. Introduced in 2021 it will replace the current Legal Practice Course (LPC) completely in 2024. Instead of needing a training contract, you can now qualify as a solicitor by passing the SQE1 and SQE2 examinations and completing two years of Qualifying Work Experience.

The College of Legal Practice is leading the charge towards a new era in legal training by delivering accessible, affordable preparation courses to maximise your success in this new examination series. Contact us to find out more.

Contact us

Want to understand more about the SQE?

Download our essential guide now

Our SQE preparation courses

We provide the highest level of individual supervision from experienced solicitors as part of a rich learning experience through extensive on-demand video, activities and scenarios as well as live group and individual sessions. All of this at excellent value for money.

SQE1 preparation:

Solicitors Legal Knowledge (SLK)

Course options

  • 13-week full-time course
  • 20-week part-time course

 

Next courses start: February and April 2022
(for July SQE1 Assessment)

Price: £1,800

Find out more

SQE2 preparation:

Solicitors Legal Skills (SLS)

Course options

  • 10-week full-time course
  • 20-week part-time course

 

First full-time course begins: January 2022
(preparation for SQE2 assessment in April 2022)

Price: £2,300

Find out more

Find a course for you

See course calendar

Choosing what’s right for you

 

We’ve designed our courses to operate in line with the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) timetable. All elements are built for online, meaning you can work around your own, personal work and life commitments. And with part-time and full-time course options, you can learn at the pace that suits you best.

 

 

BEYOND SQE. LLM IN LEGAL PRACTICE

 

Students can take the two SQE preparation modules, as part of an LLM in Legal Practice, including a range of training modules across core practice areas.

The LLM in Legal Practice will help student both pass the SQE and develop their legal practitioner transactional understanding and skills.

 

Course options

  • 1 year (full-time)
  • 2-4 years (part-time)

 

First courses: February 2022 (part-time), April 2022 (full-time)

Price: from £6,900

find out more

Two stages of SQE

 

SQE1

Stage One

SQE1 involves two Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK) assessments. It is designed to test your ability to identify legal principles and to apply them to client problems and transactions. Each assessment consists of 180 multiple choice questions.

 

 

 

SQE2

Stage Two

SQE2 is designed to test your core legal skills, or in other words, you must demonstrate that you can perform the roles and tasks required by a newly qualified solicitor. It involves a combination of oral and written assessments, taking around 14 hours over five half days.

Find out more about the SQE

SRA’s SQE Hub

QUALIFYING WORK EXPERIENCE

 

In addition to passing SQE1 and 2, you need to undertake two years full time or equivalent Qualifying work experience (QWE) to develop your legal skills and knowledge before you can be admitted as a solicitor. This can be done before, during or after taking SQE, so experience already gained could be banked now.

Your QWE can be undertaken in up to four organisations, and not just in a legal firm. It needn’t be paid either, so a work placement or volunteering in a law clinic would count. Many firms are likely to offer QWE outside the formal framework of a traditional (and often competitive) training contract, for example para legal work. However, your QWE does need to be signed off by a solicitor within the organisation. 

If there isn’t one within the organisation then an external solicitor can do so after reviewing the relevant QWE alongside feedback from whoever supervised your work.

 

As SQE2 focuses on legal skills, it is advisable to have undertaken a substantial amount of QWE before taking that assessment. For those of you who have passed the Legal Practice Course but have yet to secure a training contract, the SRA will recognise a combination of QWE and passing the SQE2 instead of completing a training contract.

To help students learn more about the QWE and what to consider when you are thinking about a placement, we have put together a three-part article series on the QWE.

Read QWE Series - Part 1

QWE Guidance for Firms