Deciding to enter the solicitor profession is an exciting stage of your legal career, whether you’re changing focus. fresh out of university, or somewhere in between. With the introduction of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), the route to qualification has become morelexible and accessible. Yet, with so many study options available, choosing the right pathway can feel very daunting.
This guide will help you understand your options and quickly identify the route that fits your academic background, lifestyle and long-term goals.
Key questions to help you decide your route
Before diving into the details, reflect on the following. These questions often reveal the best path faster than anything else:
- Is my academic background law or nonlaw? Have I studied and can I remember the foundations of the law of England and Wales?
- How strong academically am I? You are more likely to pass the SQE with a stronger undergraduate classification from a higher ranked University.
- How many hours a week can I realistically commit to focussed study?
- How quickly do I want to qualify? Do I want to take a particular SQE exam?
- Do I prefer structured learning with a timetable or independent study from materials?
- Am I interested in gaining a Master’s qualification for future academic or professional progression?
- What’s my budget? Are there any funding options? Would a Master’s loan be helpful and am I eligible for one?
- What does my life look like right now? Consider work, caring responsibilities and financial commitments.
Once you’ve reflected on these, the sections below will walk you through how each route works for different student backgrounds.
For non‑law graduates (including students who haven’t studied law at a University in England or Wales)
If you don’t hold a UK law degree, completing a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) is the strongest foundation for SQE success.
Why you should take the GDL programme
Non-law graduates and students who haven’t studied a LLB (Law Degree based on the law of England and Wales) who want to practise as a solicitor in England and Wales should begin with a GDL. The SQE exams assume prior knowledge of the seven foundational areas of English & Welsh law, and in our experience, students who skip the GDL struggle significantly with SQE1.
Qualified lawyers from outside England and Wales may also greatly benefit from taking the GDL, as it provides a clear introduction to this legal system, terminology, and common law reasoning used here.
Our GDL provides:
- A robust introduction to core legal principles across the seven areas of foundational legal knowledge, normally studied on a law degree from a English or Welsh University.
- A strong and up to date academic platform before tackling SQE specific learning
- Fulltime or parttime programmes, with some flexible learning and live workshops.
- A competitively priced option at £3,950
The GDL is also an excellent starting point for students considering the Bar route.
After successfully completing the GDL, you can progress to:
- Standalone SQE1 prep and SQE2 prep, or
- LLM in Legal Practice (combining SQE preparation with Master’s‑level study)
Top tip: Students need to commit to about 15–20 hours per week on a parttime GDL or complete the programme fulltime over half the time.
For UK law graduates (LLB holders)
If you already have a law degree that is based on the law of England & Wales, you can move directly to SQE preparation. Your choice of course depends on the level of structure, funding and academic experience you are looking for
Option 1: Standalone SQE prep
If all you need to do, and you have limited time, we recommend you focus purely on SQE preparation. Our standalone SQE1 prep and SQE2 prep courses zoom in on what you need to know and learn to pass each stage of the SQE. Courses are available fulltime or parttime from £2,200
SQE1 is highly knowledge intensive, assessed through a multiple choice question assessment across 13 practice areas. SQE2 tests practical skills including advocacy, client interviewing, legal research, writing and drafting.
We recognise that there are so many SQE prep options out there. As a rough guide this is the number of study hours you should have available each week to fully cover the content on the course and be ready to take the SQE1 exam:
- 30-35 hours per week: If you can really be a full-time student, you can take the full-time 13-week SQE1 prep course.
- 15-20 hours per week: If you have 3 days a week available to study, you could consider this ‘part-time’ option and study at 20-week prep course.
- 8-10 hours per week: If you have 1-2 days a week available to study, then the 40-week prep course is the best choice for you.
- Top tip: For students balancing busy schedules, we strongly recommend our 40week SQE1 prep course (8–10 hours of study per week). We have seen better results for these students in the SQE exams than those taking our 20-week prep course. Many students underestimate the content volume in SQE1 (it really isn’t like undergraduate study) so make sure you give yourself enough time to study well and be realistic alongside managing your work.
Option 2: LLM in Legal Practice
This pathway combines SQE1 and SQE2 prep with a postgraduate Master’s degree. It’s ideal for students who want:
- Additional professional development
- To learn more about particular areas of law: The LLM includes elective modules such as Family, Commercial Practice or Intellectual Property
- To delve into an area of law in depth through a dissertation style capstone project
- Access to the UK postgraduate loan to fund your studies and cover your SQE exam fees (subject to criteria)
- Access the most affordable online LLM in Legal Practice with SQE prep for £7,245.
The LLM also appeals to those looking to strengthen employability, employers always value research skills, subject specific knowledge and postgraduate study.
The main consideration is timing: These programmes are structured, with each module having a set timeframe and they are much longer than standalone SQE prep courses. If you find yourself taking SQE1 later than the assessment at the end of your SQE1 prep module, it can clash with your other LLM modules putting additional pressure on you to both take the SQE and gain your Master’s qualification.
Top tip: For students thinking about studying the LLM in Legal Practice with SQE prep, take the part-time not the full-time programme. You take the same SQE1 exam as the full-time students but have an additional 7 weeks to study for it. So start your Masters in February or August giving yourself a strong chance of being ready for that first SQE1 exam.
Choosing the right path for you: what to consider
To help you narrow down your options, think about:
1. Your academic background
- Non-law graduates or non-practising students who have studied abroad: GDL → SQE prep or the LLM in Legal Practice
- Law graduates from England or Wales: Go straight to SQE prep or the LLM in Legal Practice
2. Your weekly availability
- Limited hours and working? Part-time SQE prep will fit you best, particularly the 40-week courses
- Fulltime availability? Intensive courses help you qualify faster but limit your ability to work alongside your study.
3. Funding and flexibility
- Our LLM can be funded by the Master’s loan for UK students, and the full loan amount can also fund the SQE exam costs as well as our LLM course fees.
- Standalone prep courses offer targeted preparation if your time is limited.. You can also pause or mix-and-match your courses as your career progresses.
- For all our courses, we offer instalment payments to help spread the cost of the fees.
How Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) fits in
The good news is that your 2 years of QWE can completed before, during or after your SQE studies.
Did you know that QWE:
- Can be completed across up to four organisations
- Can be paid or voluntary
- Must involve exposure to solicitor competency areas such as drafting, legal research, client communication or ethics
- Must be signed off by a solicitor or Compliance Officer for Legal Practice
Common QWE examples include paralegal roles, pro‑bono clinics, legal volunteering and placements. Most legal or quasi‑legal roles develop relevant competencies, often more than students realise, so it’s worth reviewing your past and current experience. You can learn more about gaining QWE in our handy guide and by visiting our dedicated QWE hub.
It’s a good idea to plan early; your lifestyle, career stage and prior experience will shape how you approach this.
No matter your background, career stage or life commitments, the SQE pathway offers flexibility and accessibility. With the right combination of GDL, SQE Prep and potentially an LLM, you can build a route that suits your ambitions.
Get in touch
If you’d like personalised guidance, our Student Recruitment team is here to help.
Book a 1:2:1 chat or email us at info@collegalpractice.com to explore your options.