The SQE represents a complete re-evaluation of how aspiring solicitors will qualify. While the LPC will remain an option for current students, you need to understand what the changes mean if you are yet to embark on your legal studies. This article will address some of the key questions that candidates have asked.
What is the SQE?
The SQE is a new way in which solicitors and lawyers will qualify. It was introduced to increase the accessibility of legal careers, due to the highly competitive training contract application process. Instead of completing the LPC, graduates will be able to qualify if they:
- Have completed an undergraduate degree in any subject.
- Complete two years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE), which can be completed in one block or in sections.
- Pass both the SQE1 and SQE2 assessments.
- Meet the suitability requirements of the SRA.
Will the SQE Replace the LPC?
The SQE will not immediately replace the LPC, so candidates choosing to complete their qualification in the traditional way will not suffer. Rather, anyone that begins or completes a law degree, LPC, or PGDL on or before September 2021 will have the option of choosing how to qualify. There will also be a transition period running between 2021 and 2032, during which anyone that has already commenced a law degree, LPC, or PGDL will be able to qualify under the traditional pathway. This does not mean, however, that all LPC providers will be obligated to offer the LPC until the deadline in 2032. As several law schools have already stated that they will only run either the LPC or SQE, rather than offering both, individuals wanting to study the LPC from home may struggle to find a local provider.
Will the SQE Replace PGDL?
The SQE will indeed eventually replace both the PGDL and the LPC. However, if you have already completed the PGDL, you can still choose to qualify under the new scheme. Despite some law schools suggesting that the PGDL would address the lack of knowledge that non-law students have before commencing their SQE, the 20-week-long Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK) section of SQE1 Prep offered by providers such as BARBRI will sufficiently prepare candidates for the course.
Is the SQE Cheaper?
Yes, significantly. While the cost of studying may add to this figure, the SQE exams will cost just £3,980, compared to the traditional LPC route which can cost up to a staggering £17,000. This traditional route was considered exclusionary, as students that did not have a guaranteed training contract were often unable to qualify.
Will the SQE Replace Training Contracts?
Training contracts are the traditional way of qualifying as a solicitor, however, under the new scheme, this is no longer the only option for aspiring solicitors. The SQE is designed to offer candidates the option of securing paid or unpaid experience at a maximum of four law firms to complete the necessary two years of legal experience. Such experience can accrue from work during placement years at university, during work as a paralegal, during pro bono work, or other practical legal roles, subject to an internal or external solicitor that has witnessed the candidate’s work signing a document attesting to its completion. Candidates will also have the option of applying for highly sought-after training contracts, where they will complete the necessary training in one role.
Where Will I Take the SQE Assessments?
The SQE will be offered at law schools across the country. However, unlike the LPC, the assessment process will be organised by the centralised examination board, Kaplan. Pearson VUE test centres – where you may have previously taken your driving theory test – have collaborated with Kaplan on the examination process, so SQE examinations will be taken in these centres. Examinations will run throughout the year, ensuring flexibility for candidates.
Many law schools have announced that they will offer SQE courses.
How Many Times Can I Retake the SQE (Stage 1 or 2)?
The new regime offers candidates the option of retaking SQE1 and SQE2 three times. However, these re-sits must be completed and passed within six years of the first attempt. It is not possible to re-sit an assessment merely to improve your grade if you have already passed, so you should aim to achieve the best grade possible on your first attempt.
Can I Take the SQE After Completing the LPC or PGDL?
If you have already completed the LPC and have not secured a training contract, you are able to qualify under the SQE route. However, you may first want to consider the Equivalent Means pathway. Under this pathway, you can complete your qualification by completing two years of training with a recognised body, under the supervision of a solicitor. You may have already fulfilled this if you have been working as a paralegal, for instance.
Alternatively, by substituting experience that is equivalent to the Qualifying Work Experience part of the SQE, you may fulfil the work experience part of the LPC. If you follow this second pathway, you will also have to pass the SQE2 assessment.
If you have completed the PGDL, you can choose whether to qualify under the LPC or SQE routes until 2032. However, law schools may not continue to offer the LPC indefinitely, so if you would prefer to take the LPC you should be advised to apply sooner rather than later. If choosing to complete the SQE, you will need to pass the SQE1 and SQE2 assessments, and complete 2 years of Qualifying Work Experience.
How Much Qualifying Work Experience Do I Need for SQE?
Under the SQE, all candidates must demonstrate that they have conducted 2 years of the Qualifying Work Experience. The SRA has stipulated that this may include paralegal work, legal clinic work, volunteering and charity legal work, and placements during a law degree. This elevation of the significance of such work demonstrates a marked departure from the traditional view that such work is merely a way of bolstering a vacation scheme or training contract application or getting your ‘foot in the door’ of a firm at which you would like to train.
Can I Use Previous Work Experience for Qualifying Work Experience?
Yes, you can use previous work experience as Qualifying Work Experience. As the SRA has not set a period during which QWE must accrue, you are free to use all experiences you have accrued.
However, to register this experience, you must have:
- Kept a record of your experiences.
- Demonstrated that the experience is compatible with the Statement of Solicitor Competencies, by documenting what you did during the experience and how it helped you to develop the skills necessary for success as a solicitor.
- Found an SRA regulated solicitor or compliance officer willing to sign a document stating that you completed a period of work experience.
By Will Turnbell
