Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE)

Overview

In September 2021, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) introduced a new way of qualifying as a solicitor: the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).

Candidates must:

• have a degree-level qualification
• complete two years of qualifying work experience (QWE)
• pass the SQE1 and SQE2 assessments
• meet the SRA’s character and suitability requirements

The SQE is more flexible than the previous pathways into the profession.

This means candidates can now undertake a level 7 apprenticeship or pursue work alongside learning, as well as more traditional pathways that include a law degree.

Our view

While not perfect, the SQE secures the standard for entry into the profession for the future. 

We successfully influenced the shape of the SRA’s SQE proposals through lobbying, public statements, responses to consultations and regular engagement with the SRA.

We agreed two of the key SQE elements with the SRA: the need for two years of qualifying work experience and a degree-level qualification.

Some prospective solicitors and firms have raised concerns with us as the SQE rolls out.

The Legal Practice Course (LPC) continues to run until the end of the 2025/26 academic year under the transitional arrangements.

The LPC has remained a popular option for aspiring solicitors, so the full impact of the SQE will not be seen for a few years when it becomes the main route for qualification.

We intend to continue to consult with the profession and aspiring solicitors to represent their concerns to the SRA.

We will lobby for any necessary changes when issues arise, whether domestically or internationally.

Key concerns

Costs

One of the SRA’s main objectives when the SQE began was to reduce the costs of qualifying as a solicitor.

It was hoped this would open up the profession and aid social mobility.

However, it has become increasingly expensive, with assessment costs increasing in September 2024.

Find out more about the cost of the SQE

Most candidates also take some form of preparation course. There is a lack of funding available for these (for example, in the form of loans).

Preparation courses can range in cost from around £6,000 up to £18,000, depending on the format and provider.

These factors combine to represent a significant financial burden and accessibility issue for candidates from lower socio-economic groups.

SQE preparation courses

The SRA does not oversee these courses as they are not part of the SQE requirements.

Anyone can offer SQE preparation training. The SRA has said candidates should make their own enquiries before choosing a provider.

To support candidates to pick the right preparation courses for them, the SRA undertook to publish data that linked SQE pass rates to courses.

Due to a lack of collected data, the SRA continues to be unable to fulfil this undertaking.

Aspiring solicitors deserve better information on which routes have been most successful.

Education providers are also sharing that they do not have sufficient information to base their teaching on, which is an additional hurdle in adequately preparing candidates for the SQE assessments.

Different levels of attainment by ethnicity

The SRA has commissioned work into what causes different levels of attainment for ethnic groups in professional assessments, which has been reflected in the SQE assessments.

The University of Exeter published its final report, with conclusions and recommendations, in June 2024.

The SRA held a summit in October 2024 to bring together stakeholders to discuss ways to tackle this issue.

Tackling this issue is going to require a coordinated and holistic approach from all stakeholders.

Paralegals qualifying through the SQE

This is an emerging issue where firms are unable or unwilling to give solicitor roles to employees in paralegal roles who qualify through the SQE.

We acknowledge that employing those individuals in a solicitor role might not be the right option for every firm.

This is explored in our guide on QWE for paralegals, which sets out how firms should consider how best to use the individual in their business, given that they have met the standard for qualifying as a solicitor.

Specialised electives

The SQE is based solely on the knowledge and skills required to be a solicitor, which are set out in the competence statement and the statement of legal knowledge.

This is different from the previous route to qualification, which included the LPC, where future solicitors studied some specialised areas of law.

This included non-reserved areas, such as family law or employment law.

It is too early to determine what effect this is having on the future of the profession.

However, the change creates a potential knowledge gap in some areas of practice for newly qualified solicitors.

What we are doing

We developed SQE resources to aid the profession in their preparations and ongoing engagement with the SQE.

These are reviewed and updated regularly. We are also developing additional resources as needed.

Support for students and apprentices

In November 2024, we launched resources and support for law students with information on funding, training and support frameworks for students and SQE candidates.

We will build on this, with resources on business and personal skills and case studies to inspire new ideas for undergraduates.

We continue to support solicitor apprenticeships through virtual training sessions, in-person events and collaboration with local law societies and junior lawyer groups.

We continue to seek SRA data on the SQE assessments to enable candidates to make good choices about which preparation courses they choose.

We are also seeking to understand what feedback from the SQE assessments would be useful for education providers to hone their courses to offer the best preparation possible.

Professional ethics

We are actively engaged in discussions on the way ethical issues should be reinforced pre- and post-training to make sure it reflects the importance of this essential element.

Education and training

We acknowledge the profession’s concerns about the potential for a knowledge gap as a result of the loss of the specialist LPC training.

We launched post-qualification microcredentials in family law, employment law and client care, designed to equip learners with a range of competences required for practice.

Explore our e-learning and events

We will be looking to expand this programme as any gaps in the post-SQE landscape emerge.