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Your SQE preparation
starts here
The route to qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales has changed. In September 2021, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) introduced the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) which will eventually replace the current Legal Practice Course (LPC).
In addition to passing the SQE, you must complete two years of qualifying work experience (QWE) to be admitted as a solicitor. Now that the route to becoming a solicitor is changing, we’re leading the way to change the legal training sector.
Our SQE preparation courses
We provide the highest level of individual supervision from experienced solicitors as part of a rich learning experience through extensive on-demand video, activities and scenarios as well as live group and individual sessions. All of this at excellent value for money.
SQE1 preparation:
Solicitors Legal Knowledge (SLK)
Course options
- 13-week full-time course
- 20-week part-time course
- 40-week part time course
Next courses start: February and March 2023
Price: £1,800
SQE2 preparation:
Solicitors Legal Skills (SLS)
Course options
- 10-week full-time course
- 20-week part-time course
- 27-week part-time course
Next courses start: November 2022
Price: £2,300
You have the best chance of passing the SQE with us - why?
Here are just some of the reasons why you have the best chance of passing the SQE with The College of Legal Practice:
BEYOND SQE. LLM IN LEGAL PRACTICE
Students can take the two SQE preparation modules, as part of an LLM in Legal Practice, including a range of training modules across core practice areas.
The LLM in Legal Practice will help student both pass the SQE and develop their legal practitioner transactional understanding and skills.
Course options
- 1 year (full-time)
- 2-4 years (part-time)
Next courses start: February 2023 (part-time), March 2023 (full-time)
Price: £6,900
FOR NON-LAW GRADUATES: FOUNDATION IN LAW PROGRAMME
Course options
- 20-week full-time course
- 40-week part-time course
Next courses start: February 2023
Price: £3,250
The College has specifically designed a law conversion course that helps non-law graduates get quickly up to speed prior to starting their preparation for SQE1.
Students will study the foundations of the Law of England and Wales across core LLB practice areas, and develop their analytical and practical legal skills. The programme is timed to finish just prior to starting the College’s SQE1 preparation course, Solicitors Legal Knowledge.
You will also receive a 10% discount across all the College’s preparation courses and LLM in Legal Practice.
Two stages of SQE
SQE1
Stage One
SQE1 involves two Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK) assessments. It is designed to test your ability to identify legal principles and to apply them to client problems and transactions. There are two sets of written assessments, each consisting of 180 multiple choice questions.
SQE2
Stage Two
SQE2 is designed to test your core legal skills, or in other words, you must demonstrate that you can perform the roles and tasks required by a newly qualified solicitor. This practical skills assessment involves a combination of oral and written assessments, taking around 14 hours over five half days.
QUALIFYING WORK EXPERIENCE
In addition to passing SQE1 and 2, you need to undertake two years full time or equivalent Qualifying work experience (QWE) to develop your legal skills and knowledge before you can be admitted as a solicitor. This can be done before, during or after taking SQE, so experience already gained could be banked now.
Your QWE can be undertaken in up to four organisations, and not just in a legal firm. It needn’t be paid either, so a work placement or volunteering in a law clinic would count. Many firms are likely to offer QWE outside the formal framework of a traditional (and often competitive) training contract, for example para legal work. However, your QWE does need to be signed off by a solicitor within the organisation.
If there isn’t one within the organisation then an external solicitor can do so after reviewing the relevant QWE alongside feedback from whoever supervised your work.
As SQE2 focuses on legal skills, it is advisable to have undertaken a substantial amount of QWE before taking that assessment. For those of you who have passed the Legal Practice Course but have yet to secure a training contract, the SRA will recognise a combination of QWE and passing the SQE2 instead of completing a training contract.
To help students learn more about the QWE and what to consider when you are thinking about a placement, we have put together a three-part article series on the QWE.