Up until 2022, the route to qualifying as a solicitor in the UK was completing an LPC, then joining a firm as a trainee. However, with the introduction of the SQE, a more inclusive route to qualification, LPC graduates have more ways in which they can qualify.
Whilst the LPC and training contract qualification route is still available, the majority of LPC graduates are now looking to qualify through taking SQE2 and gaining Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) so should you follow suit, and if so, how ought you to go about it? In this article, Giles Proctor, CEO at the College, shares all you need to know when transitioning from LPC study to SQE examinations: how the SQE2 works, how it compares to the LPC, and how to determine how much preparation you need.
How does the SQE route compare to the LPC?
If your initial training was several years ago, or you have taken a career gap, the appearance of the SQE might be a little confusing. The main point of the SQE is to widen participation into the legal profession. Students fresh from university, or those considering a new career, can prepare and take two examination processes (SQE1 and SQE2) along with collecting two years of QWE. On success in both (and sign off from a regulated solicitor), candidates become a newly qualified solicitor.
Students who have successfully completed the LPC are exempt from SQE1 and just need to take SQE2.
SQE2 is very different from both SQE1 and the LPC. SQE2 is a skills-based assessment that you take at central exam centres over a three-week period. According to the SQE2 Assessment Specification, SQE2 tests 6 legal skills (client interview and attendance note/legal analysis, advocacy, case and matter analysis, legal research, legal writing and legal drafting) across 5 practice areas (Business Law and Practice, Criminal Litigation, Dispute Resolution, Probate Administration and Practice, Property Practice, Wills and Intestacy). 50% of your marks are based on your legal skills and 50% on your legal knowledge. SQE2 is a series of closed book assessments, and time pressured. We often find that LPC students are confident in their legal skills, but underestimate the amount of legal knowledge required to complement them during the SQE2 examinations. So, what does the SQE2 assessment structure look like?
The SQE2 assessment structure
The SQE2 assessment design is very different from the LPC. You did skills on the LPC, but in SQE2, you'll find the assessment design is very, very focused on practicing elements of the skill.
The SQE2 assessment structure is a series of multiple station-based practical assessments, conducted over five days in a three week window, in person at an assessment centre. Marking criteria focuses on competency, structure, clarity and a fundamental understanding of the core principles. The SQE2 rubric is demanding, requiring students to combine their theoretical knowledge in a hands-on, skills-based activity, and differs significantly from LPC style assessments. It is also a level higher than an LPC in terms of standard - the standard of a day one solicitor.
How can I assess if I’m ready for the SQE2 after my LPC?
The SQE2 tests you on what you know, and how you can apply it. How ready you are to take an SQE2 assessment after completing an LPC is dependent on a lot of factors.
If you're thinking about this route, think about the currency of your LPC. How long is it since you took your LPC? Also, take into account how long ago it was that you did your degree. The SQE2 examination really requires you to have the legal principles at your fingertips. Assessing this will determine how up to date and fresh your legal knowledge is. You’ll be expected to quickly retrieve and apply your knowledge in situ, so consider how up to date you are and how well embedded your knowledge is.
It’s also key to consider whether your elective subjects from your LPC overlap with the high-volume SQE2 content you need to know. This will vary from provider to provider.
Finally, reflect on how confident you are in the skills you are to be assessed in. You need to be strong on your legal writing, research, drafting, interviewing and advocacy skills. The SQE2, as an exam, and the way it's devised, is a really, really well-set-up exam. It focuses on the central skills that are key for your future legal career. The syllabus is a good one, and it gives you the skills you need for life as a solicitor.
Unsure whether you’re up to scratch, yet? This shouldn’t be a barrier. At The College of Legal Practice, our SQE2 prep courses prepare you and match your needs, with a variety of course lengths to fit around your life (10, 20, and 40 weeks). SQE2 prep graduate and solicitor, Ruth, shares why she chose the College:
“I looked at a few providers and the College’s arrangements were most suitable to me – the flexibility, the support; having the opportunity to speak with practising solicitors, who reassured me and told me “Actually, you know this stuff”, “you’re doing It already”, “you can do it” was really helpful, too. This really helped boost my confidence - especially when you haven’t been studying for 10 years”.
Deciding on an SQE2 prep course
For many students, working through an SQE2 prep course is vital to bridge the gap between knowledge, or length of time, from your LPC to your SQE2 exams. Find a course where you get written assessment feedback individual to you. In the College’s course you will receive individual feedback on 16 mock assessments.
We have a variety of course lengths to support you, depending on your current confidence level and knowledge base, and the time you can dedicate to your studies. All courses offer the same teaching and resources, but at different durations.
If you can commit to full-time study and have strong, recent LPC knowledge, our 10 week course is ideal for you. Our 20-week, part time course, is manageable for most learners, including those who have other commitments such as part-time work, but can still commit some time in the working week to study.
Finally, our 40 week course is ideal for those who are several years out from study, are balancing multiple commitments, and should be considered particularly for those who haven’t completed SQE1. Many paralegals find that this is the best course for them, especially if they don’t have much flexibility in the working week. The 40 week course requires 8-10 hours of study a week, and gives you the time you need to learn the legal knowledge from SQE1 alongside practising the skills.
Your choice of course length here is strategic, based upon the time you can commit to study, your knowledge level, and overall confidence.
Final thoughts
Many LPC graduates qualify successfully via completing SQE2 examinations each year. The key to your success is choosing the right preparation route - all based on gaining in-depth feedback, the time you have to study and how fresh your legal knowledge is. Remember that alongside this, you will need two years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) before admission as a solicitor.
Keen to learn more about what SQE2 study could look like after an LPC? Read our student story from Ruth Ekong, who took the LPC before passing SQE2 with us.