Solicitors

YOUR ROUTE TO BECOMING A SOLICITOR

With the introduction of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) from September 2021, the route to practice is changing. The SQE will replace the current route – the Legal Practice Course (LPC) – to become the way you can qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales.

The SQE process will apply to all aspiring solicitors, regardless of whether you are doing a qualifying law degree (such as the LLB) or a non-law degree. Accordingly, the route to qualifying as a solicitor is the same for law and non-law students.

 

WHAT IS THE SQE

  • The SQE is a series of assessments that all aspiring solicitors must take to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales.

  • Under the SQE, you must: hold a degree in any subject, pass the two stages of the SQE, complete two years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) and meet the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) character and suitability requirements.

 

FORMAT OF THE SQE

There are two stages of the SQE: SQE1 and SQE2. You must pass the SQE1 before being eligible to take the SQE2 exams.

SQE 1

  • Stage one of the SQE will test your ‘functioning legal knowledge’. You will be tested on how you apply your legal knowledge in real-life scenarios as a solicitor.

  • It is made up of two exams, each containing 180 multiple choice questions testing you on how you apply the law in realistic situations.

  • The first exam covers:

    • business law and practice;

    • contract;

    • tort;

    • dispute resolution;

    • the legal system of England and Wales; and

    • constitutional and administrative law, retained EU law and legal services.

  • The second exam covers:

    • land law;

    • property practice;

    • wills and estates;

    • solicitors accounts; and

    • criminal law.

SQE 2

  • The second stage of the SQE will test you on ‘core legal skills’, which simply are practical legal skills required for practice.

  • This stage consists of 16 practical exercises, which involves both oral and written assessments.

  • Skills you will be assessed on include advocacy, legal research, legal writing, legal drafting, and client interviewing.

  • You will be assessed on these skills across five practice areas:

    • criminal;

    • property;

    • wills and estates;

    • dispute resolution; and

    • business practice.

 

WHAT IS THE QUALIFYING WORK EXPERIENCE (QWE)?

  • Under the SQE, you will need to undertake two years’ QWE (this is much like a training contract). You can complete the two years at any point during the SQE process.

  • All QWE work is signed off by an employer who must be either a solicitor or a compliance officer for legal practice.

  • You can gain QWE with up to four employers. Typical work that qualifies as QWE can include paralegal work, placements, or law clinic work. You can also secure two years as part of a training contract for a law firm.

 

WHERE CAN YOU FIND OUT MORE?

  • SRA - The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (https://sqe.sra.org.uk/)

  • Prospects - Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) (https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/job-sectors/law-sector/solicitors-qualifying-examination-sqe)

  • LawCareers.Net - The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) (https://www.lawcareers.net/Solicitors/the-solicitors-qualifying-examination)

  • The University of Law - The SQE Explained (https://www.law.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/sqe/)

  • LawCareers.Net - SQE Qualifying Work Experience FAQs (https://www.lawcareers.net/Explore/LCNSays/SQE-Qualifying-Work-Experience-FAQs)

 

WHAT IS A VACATION SCHEME?

Completing a vacation scheme is an excellent way to gain an insight into life as a solicitor at a law firm before you start applying for training contracts.

Vacation schemes are simply a period of work experience that law firms offer students looking to pursue a career as a solicitor. They are typically for two weeks, where you will undertake real work alongside fee-earners. You will also gain the opportunity to experience the culture of a firm and observe trainees at work. Vacation schemes are also open to both law and non-law students looking for a career in law.

During the vacation scheme, you will perform tasks such as drafting and amending legal documents, taking meeting minutes, proofreading, and doing legal research. Firms also offer talks and workshops to give you an insight into their legal departments and an opportunity to interact with current partners, lawyers, and trainees.

They often take place in the summer, with some firms offering winter and spring schemes. Summer vacation schemes tend to have a deadline before January 31, but it is best to check a law firm's website to see when they offer vacation schemes and the deadlines to apply.

 

WHAT IS A TRAINING CONTRACT?

Although the route to practice is changing with the SQE, many law firms are likely to keep in place training contracts for aspiring solicitors and will not radically change existing programmes. So, what exactly is a training contract?

Put simply, a training contract is a two-year period of training and, for many aspiring solicitors, the final step to qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales. You will spend the time gaining practical legal education and putting your existing legal knowledge to practice in real-life scenarios.

During your training contract, you will typically undertake four six-month ‘seats’ which rotate across a law firm’s practice areas. Firms also tend to require trainee solicitors to sit both contentious and non-contentious practice areas.

It is typical for law firms to recruit candidates two years in advance. Accordingly, law students should begin to apply in their second year onwards whilst non-law students can apply in their final year.