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SQE: How to qualify as a solicitor

Find information about how to qualify as a solicitor, and the differences between the SQE and LPC courses.

What you need to know about qualifying as a solicitor

The current route to qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales is no longer the Legal Practice Course (LPC), but rather the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).

To qualify as a solicitor, you must:

  1. Obtain an undergraduate degree in any subject, or equivalent qualification (for example, an apprenticeship at level 6 or above).
  2. Pass part one and part two of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination: SQE 1 & SQE 2.
  3. Complete two years (or equivalent if part-time) qualifying work experience.
  4. Meet the character and suitability requirements of the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

For further details, see the SRA guidance.

Studying for the SQE at Nottingham Law School

At Nottingham Law School (NLS) we know what we are doing when it comes to training the solicitors of the future – we pride ourselves on our reputation for excellence in legal education that goes back over 60 years.

We have an outstanding track record of supporting students on their journey to professional success through the quality of our offering and the expertise of our staff.

We offer a variety of courses to meet your unique circumstances

We offer a variety of courses with true flexibility depending on your circumstances, including options for part-time and full-time study, as well as in-person and online learning. We also offer routes for students coming from both a Law and a non-Law background.

Regardless of your background, we will equip you with everything you need to successfully navigate the SQE. Our courses will prepare you for the exams and help you develop professional skills that really matter to employers.

On our courses, you can choose to:

  • Combine your SQE studies with an internationally recognised Masters qualification, which is also eligible for the UK postgraduate loan, by studying on one of our SQE LLM preparation courses; or
  • Focus solely on the SQE 1 and SQE 2 preparation courses and prepare yourself for each assessment at a time that best suits you.

Hands-on legal experience

You will also have the opportunity to acquire hands-on legal experience in our regulated and multi-award-winning teaching law firm, NLS Legal. Work experience with NLS Legal may count towards QWE.

View our SQE coursesVisit us at a postgraduate event

Nottingham Law School’s ethos is about supporting our students to gain the knowledge, confidence and resilience they need to shape extraordinary careers. Our SQE courses are more than just about passing the exams. Our focus is to provide an outstanding student experience and to help our students to develop skills that matter to employers and that help them to succeed in a professional environment.

– Jenny Chapman, Executive Dean of Nottingham Law School

Frequently asked questions

For further advice and guidance, please get in touch using our Ask NTU form.

The main difference between the LPC and the SQE is that the SQE is an assessment, not a course.

The SQE is a centralised assessment, and there are two parts to the SQE (SQE 1 and SQE 2).

Differences between SQE 1 and SQE 2:

  • SQE 1 tests applied legal knowledge through two multiple-choice examination papers of 180 questions each.
  • SQE 2 assesses legal skills in five distinct subject areas.
  • SQE 1 is assessed in January and July each year.
  • SQE 2 is assessed in January, April, July, and October each year
  • The fee for the SQE assessments does not include the costs of any SQE preparation courses.
  • The SQE assessments are set by Kaplan on behalf of the SRA (learn more about the costs).

Find more information about the SQE on the Solicitors Regulation Authority's website.

Technically, the SRA does not require you to undertake an SQE preparation course. However, most people would not sit any other kind of professional examination without ensuring that they have undertaken the necessary study over a sufficient period of time to gain the requisite knowledge and skills.

At NLS, we recommend that you undertake our SQE 1 and SQE 2 preparation courses before you sit the SQE assessments. We make this recommendation for four main reasons:

  • First, the SRA only allows three attempts at the SQE.  The assessments are rightly designed to be rigorous and therefore you will need to work hard to maximise your chances of passing first time.  Should you need to re-sit, this will incur further assessment costs which could be substantial.
  • Second, most law degrees are assessed by way of essays, problem questions and dissertations.  This means that the SQE 1 skill of answering 180, wide-ranging, multiple-choice questions as part of a timed assessment will be a new one for many students.  Practising these skills and obtaining feedback on your performance will be vital to your success.
  • Third, although you may have excellent subject knowledge in one area, you may be weak in another.  Having access to expert tuition to support you in your weaker areas in order to raise your grades will be a key component to your success.
  • Fourth, SQE 2 will require you – amongst other things – to demonstrate your competence as an advocate.  In order to succeed, you will need to show that you have a high level of subject knowledge, an ability to apply that knowledge to a practical problem, and the self-awareness and confidence to hold your own in the court room.  Before putting yourself forward for such a serious assessment, you would be well advised to develop and refine your grasp of these skills.

You must qualify via the SQE route.

You do not need to have a law degree to qualify as a solicitor. You just need any undergraduate degree (or equivalent qualification or work experience) however the SQE will assess your knowledge of the foundation law subjects traditionally taught as part of an undergraduate law degree. You may wish to consider one of our law conversion courses.

The introduction of the SQE provides greater flexibility for both students and employers when it comes to routes into training.  At NLS, we know this because we spend a lot of time talking to employers from all over the country, including the City of London, Nottingham, and the East Midlands.

There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to the SQE.  For example:

  • Some employers may want you to have completed and passed SQE 1 and SQE 2 before you start your qualifying work experience (QWE).
  • Some employers may want you to have completed and passed SQE 1 before you start your QWE.  These employers will expect you to complete your SQE 2 while undertaking your QWE.

Hear from past students who've studied on the SQE

 

Hear from students who've studied a SQE course at NTU and their experiences at Nottingham Law School.

Which preparation course is right for me?

You will need to complete preparation courses for both SQE 1 and SQE 2, but you can choose either to prepare for each assessment separately or to take a combined course covering both.

Recommended courses:

If you are studying a non-law degree or already have a non-law degree (including if you are an international student), the following SQE preparation course is most appropriate for you.  As you do not have a law degree, you will need to complete a law conversion course before completing SQE 1 and SQE 2 preparation courses.

Recommended courses:

Given your existing legal experience, you may require less extensive face-to-face preparation than those new to the legal profession.

Recommended courses:

Exemptions

Please visit the SRA website to check if you have any exemptions from SQE 1 or SQE 2.

Recommended courses:

SQE 1 Preparation
SQE 2 Preparation
SQE 1 and SQE 2 Preparation

If this is the case, then it is likely you will need to complete both SQE 1 and SQE 2 preparation courses.

Recommended courses:

Learn more about studying at Nottingham Law School

Courtrooms

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NLS Legal

We offer legal services across a range of practice areas, to those who are unable to afford, or otherwise access, legal advice and assistance.

Nottingham Law School Scholarships and Bursaries

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