Online SQE 1 Preparation Course
About this course
The Online SQE 1 Preparation Course is intended to be studied as part of your preparation for sitting the SRA's SQE 1 assessment which takes place in January and July each year.
Passing the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) 1 is the first step in your route to qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales.
This online only course is for you if you are currently working in a legal environment, already have some legal work experience, or are qualified or studying in a foreign jurisdiction and would like to prepare for the SRA SQE 1 assessment at a time to suit you.
From the point that the course begins you will have access to the online materials for a 12 month period.
Why choose this course?
- You can access high quality online materials for each module at any time.
- You will have access to online manuals that will equip you with a better understanding of the relevant law and enable you to thoroughly prepare for the SQE 1 assessment. The manuals also contain a bank of multiple choice questions for you to practice as you work through each module.
- Our outstanding teaching team are experienced legal professionals, and have developed materials which take you through key elements of the SQE 1 assessment specification.
- You will have the option of attending regular drop-in sessions online with the teaching teams during the first six months of the course, to receive support and to meet with your fellow students.
If you do not have legal work experience or would prefer to prepare for the SRA SQE 1 assessment by attending teaching in person, then the SQE 1 Preparation Course – LLM or the SQE 1 Preparation Course - PGDip course may be more appropriate.
Why study at Nottingham Law School?
- We have 60 years of experience in providing legal education.
- You will have the support of module tutors who are all experienced legal practitioners, and you will benefit from their practical experience.
- Every student also has the support of a personal tutor who will support and encourage you in your studies.
- We offer a multi-award-winning pro bono programme, including NLS Legal, a legal advice centre for the local community.
- Our dedicated and experienced careers consultants provide guidance and support to help you secure qualifying work experience or other legal employment.
- NTU is 3rd for the number of PGT students studying Law (Latest HESA data 2021/22)
What you’ll study
The modules you will study are:
- Business Law and Practice
- Dispute Resolution
- Property Practice
- Wills and the Administration of Estates
- Regulation and Solicitors Accounts
- Criminal Law and Practice.
Whilst this course does not teach the key principles of foundation law that are assessed by the SQE 1 assessment, you will have access to revision materials and a bank of multiple-choice questions to allow you to test your knowledge and understanding of these key principles throughout the course.
If you would like a SQE 1 preparation course which includes foundation law teaching the Law and Legal Practice: SQE 1 Preparation course may be suitable for you.
Each module contains at least 10 structured units for you to work through at a pace that suits you and your circumstances. There will be live, online drop-in sessions with a qualified practitioner scheduled at intervals throughout the first 6 months, where you can interact with fellow students and ask for support.
Prior to the course commencing, you will receive pre-reading material for each module you will be studying which covers fundamental principles to allow you to hit the ground running.
We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.
How you're taught
This is an online course that you can work through at a time of day or night to suit you. Each module will take you through the SRA SQE 1 assessment specification for each law in practice area.
The drop-in sessions will take place via MS Teams during the working week (GMT / BST). The drop-in sessions will be timetabled in advance to allow you to plan and will take place on a weekly basis (excluding holidays and other events). All drop-in sessions are scheduled to take place within six months of the course start date to help you prepare for the next upcoming SRA SQE 1 assessment. (You will however have access to the online materials for a full 12 month period from the start of the course.)
Please note - There are no final assessments on this course and completion of the course does not lead to an NTU award.
Careers and employability
Qualification
Completion of this course will help prepare you to sit and pass the SRA SQE 1 centralised assessments. This is an essential step towards becoming a qualified solicitor in England and Wales.
Please note, successful completion of this course does not lead to automatic qualification as a solicitor or a barrister in England and Wales.
Qualifying Work Experience
We have a dedicated Employability team who will support you in your search for Qualifying Work Experience and other opportunities.
At Nottingham Law School we ensure we provide the support required to give you the best possible start to your legal career:
- Our Employability team offers 1:1 support (online and in-person) with career decision-making and preparation for recruitment processes.
- You will also have free, on-demand access to an AI-driven CV checker, a virtual interview simulator and practice psychometric tests.
- The Law School’s Aspiring Legal Professionals Mentoring Programme connects students with local law firms for insights into the profession.
- Employability and commercial awareness are given appropriate focus, which provides a true bridge into practice.
Entry requirements
UK students
UK applicants will be eligible to enrol on this course if they have either a relevant qualification or work experience in a legal role. Please look at the additional requirements for more information.
Additional requirements for UK students
Relevant qualification
You can enrol on this course if you hold a UK undergraduate degree in any subject awarded by a recognised degree-awarding body. This is usually an undergraduate degree but can also include an equivalent UK qualification including:
- An accredited qualification at level 6 (or above) of the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications, awarded by recognised degree-awarding body.
- A regulated qualification at level 6 (or above) of the Regulated Qualifications Framework (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). This includes CILEx level 6 qualifications.
- An apprenticeship at level 6 or above, approved by the government departments of England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
- A qualification or apprenticeship at level 9 or above of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework, accredited by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) or awarded by a Scottish degree awarding body.
Work experience
You will be eligible to enrol on this course if you have a minimum of 2 years’ work experience in a legal role.
If you are applying on the basis that you have relevant legal work experience, please provide information regarding your work history including:
- where you have worked and how long for;
- what was your role; and
- what sort of legal experience you have acquired.
The above qualifications reflect those required by the SRA for qualification via the SQE as a solicitor in England & Wales. The SRA will decide whether your qualification / work experience satisfies their requirements to become a solicitor at the point you apply for admission as a solicitor.
International students
International applicants will be eligible to enrol on this course if they have either a relevant qualification or work experience in a legal role. Please look at the additional requirements for more information.
Additional requirements for international students
Relevant qualification
International students holding one of the following overseas qualifications will be eligible to enrol on this course:
- A qualification shown to be equivalent to either a UK degree/equivalent qualification; or
- An accredited qualification at level 6 (or above) of the European Qualifications Framework.
Work experience
You will also be eligible to apply if you have work experience equivalent to a UK degree/equivalent qualification. If you are applying on the basis that you have relevant legal work experience please provide information regarding your work history including where you have worked and how long for, what was your role and what sort of legal experience you have acquired.
The above qualifications reflect those required by the SRA for qualification via the SQE as a solicitor in England & Wales. The SRA will decide whether your qualification / work experience satisfies their requirements to become a solicitor at the point you apply for admission as a solicitor.
English language requirements
For students whose first language is not English there is currently a requirement that they have IELTS academic test grade of 6.5 with minimum of 5.5 in each component or equivalent qualification.
