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Qualifying as a solicitor in England & Wales (SQE Route)

  • Writer: FLPL
    FLPL
  • Nov 13, 2024
  • 6 min read

Updated: Mar 9, 2025

The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is the new route to becoming a solicitor in England and Wales. This new system replaces the traditional Legal Practice Course (LPC), and is expected to be fully implemented by the end of 2032. After passing the SQE and meeting the requirements, you will need to be admitted by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), regulator of solicitors and law firms in England and Wales.


There are four main requirements to qualify as a solicitor through the SQE route:


  • Hold a degree (in law or another subject) or equivalent

  • Complete 2 years' qualifying work experience (QWE)

  • Pass the two stages of the SQE assessment (SQE1 and SQE2)

  • Meet the SRA character and suitability requirements



This article will review each requirement but we invite you to read articles linked in each section for further details on a specific requirement.


SQE1 and SQE2 Exams


The second and main requirement to complete before applying for admission as a solicitor in England & Wales is passing the SQE1 and SQE2 assessments.


SQE1 - Functioning Legal Knowledge Assessments


The SQE1 assesses the candidate's theoretical knowledge of the law. It is made up of 2 sets of assessments: FLK1 and FLK2.


Both exams are computer-based and multiple-choice format, each composed of 180 questions to answer. All questions are realistic scenarios where the best response out of five possible answers is to be chosen.


Both FLK1 and FLK2 must be passed to complete SQE1 in its entirety before moving on to SQE2.


FLK1 covers:


  • Business Law

  • Dispute Resolution

  • Contract Law

  • Tort Law

  • The Legal System of England & Wales

  • Constitutional and Administrative Law (and EU law)

  • Legal Services


FLK2 covers:


  • Property Practice

  • Land Law

  • Wills and administration of estates

  • Trusts

  • Solicitors Accounts

  • Criminal Law

  • Criminal Litigation


Ethics and professional conduct issues are assessed throughout both FLK1 and FLK2.


Candidates who have completed their LPC could obtain an exemption to pass the SQE1 exam. However, foreign-qualified lawyers are unlikely to get such an exemption.



SQE2 - Practical Legal Skills Assessments


The SQE2 exam tests the candidate on practical legal skills and ethical principles, across different practice areas of the law. There are 16 assessments in total including written and oral assessments.


The oral skills assessed are:


  • Client interviewing skills and completion of an attendance note

  • Advocacy


The written skills assessed are:


  • Legal research

  • Legal writing

  • Legal drafting

  • Case and matter analysis


Practice areas tested:


  • Dispute Resolution

  • Property Practice

  • Business Law

  • Criminal Practice

  • Wills and intestacy, probate administration and practice


Some foreign-qualified lawyers, but not all, are eligible for an SQE2 exemption, unlike LPC graduates who are unlikely to get this exemption. To ensure to be exempted, best practice would suggest contacting the SRA directly on a case-by-case basis.



Preparing for the SQE exam


Whether the candidate has previously studied law or not, it is recommended to follow a preparation course, especially for a first attempt, to approach and pass the exam in the best conditions. There are numerous providers with their methods, approach and costs.



Costs and Funding


Costs and Fees


When taking the SQE exam, a candidate can expect the following approximative costs:


  • Preparation course (optional but recommended)

  • SQE1 assessments - £1,888 (£944 for FLK1 and £944 for FLK2)

  • SQE2 assessments - £2,902


Since the costs are subject to change by the SRA, please visit the SRA website to stay updated.


The cost of the preparation course will depend on the provider. Usually, it is expected to pay for a course for the SQE1 exam, and a second course for the SQE2 exam, but some providers do not separate the fees.


Exam fees are payable to Kaplan, organiser of the SQE exam, at the time the candidate books their seat and selects their exam date. Additional costs could be considered in case of resit. If both FLKs are failed, then the candidate will have to repay the entire cost of the SQE1 to sit the exam again. Although, if the candidate fails only one of the FLK, they will have to pay half of the price (cost of the failed FLK). The fees for SQE2 must be repaid entirely if the candidate fails, there is no distinction.


Funding Options


There are several options when it comes to funding the SQE preparation and assessments:


  • Self-funding - Savings, family assistance or bank loans.

  • Working part-time or full-time while studying - Even if many providers enable candidates to work by offering the option to study part-time, it is important to note that this option is intense and speaking to your employer is recommended.

  • Postgraduate loan - Available if the candidate chooses to study a Masters course incorporating the SQE preparation. Universities will often cover a big portion of the fees but not entirely.

  • Scholarship - Small discounts to full-fee costs depending on the postgraduate scholarship offer.

  • Law firm or company sponsorship - Similar to the training contract format under the LPC, but some employers may require to follow a course from a specific provider.

  • Apprenticeships - Paid by the employer, hybrid to sponsorship and working while studying.


Results, Resit and Appeal


After taking the SQE1 assessments, results are accessible within 5-6 weeks of the assessment date, whereas results of the SQE2 are made available within 14-18 weeks. All results are accessible through the personal SQE account of the candidate with the SRA. An option to appeal the results is available under the SRA policy.


Both SQE1 and SQE2 exams must be passed within 6 years from the date of the first attempt at the SQE1 exam. The candidate has 3 attempts each to pass SQE1 and SQE2 within the 6 years. However, even if the first time sitting the SQE1, both parts (FLK1 and FLK2) must be taken at the same time, if in the second attempt only one of the FLKs is not passed, then the failed FLK can be taken again individually.


The candidate has 3 attempts each to pass SQE1 and SQE2 within the 6 years.

Qualifying Work Experience (QWE)

Under the LPC, the candidate needed to successfully pass their exams and obtain a training contract to apply for admission as a solicitor in England & Wales. In an initiative to be more inclusive and open the profession, the SRA has decided to be more flexible regarding the qualifying work experience (QWE).


All candidates (except foreign-qualified lawyers who are automatically exempt) will need to complete at least 2 years of full-time (or equivalent). There is no minimum length of time for placements but the candidate can have a maximum of 4 organisations providing legal services registered as QWE.


All candidates will need to complete at least 2 years of full-time (or equivalent)

QWE could include the following:


  • Summer work placements

  • Paid or volunteer work

  • Working in a law clinic

  • Volunteering with a charitable organisation or a law centre

  • Paralegal experience

  • Training contract


The main requirements are that the experience must be signed off by an employer qualified in England & Wales, and that even if employers are free to set their own training arrangements, they must meet the SRA's minimum requirements.


The experience can be gained before, during or after sitting the SQE assessments, and in previous roles. The SRA does not require any specific order to process, other than passing the SQE1 before sitting the SQE2. QWE can be completed in England & Wales or overseas, and does not need to cover English and Welsh law.


To avoid potential issues, the best practice is to contact the SRA directly on a case-by-case basis.



SRA character and suitability

 

The conditions under this requirement are as follows:


  • No criminal record

  • No record of dishonesty

  • No serious credit or money issues


This test is checked at the time of applying for admission, after passing the SQE assessments and the QWE.



The new route is meant to be more inclusive, flexible and cheaper, but it should not be underestimated. If the LPC offered the possibility of taking resits without additional fees, if a candidate fails under the SQE, they will have to pay more which could defy the purpose of being a cheaper option. Moreover, unlike the LPC with a passing mark of 50%, the SQE's passing mark varies depending on the cohort examined, which can result in a lower passing rate. This could lead to thinking that the new route could be harder than the LPC. Despite being recent, the SQE is already subject to multiple criticisms. Surely removing the LPC's training contract requirement should open the profession further, but the potential reticence of employers to this new route could challenge the SQE implementation.


We hope this article helped you! If you have further questions on this topic, do not hesitate to send a message to frenchlegalprofessionals@gmail.com.



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