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Apr 07, 2020 2022-03-23 7:45Home
Solicitors Qualifying Examination
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is a single, national licensing examination that all aspiring solicitors will take before qualifying. From 1 September 2021 to qualify you will need to:
- Have a degree in any subject (or equivalent qualification or work experience)
- Pass both stages of the SQE assessment - SQE1 focuses on legal knowledge and SQE2 on practical legal skills
- Have two years' qualifying work experience
- Pass our character and suitability requirements.
Why complete the SQE over the LPC?
About SQE
There is no requirement for a student to study a qualifying law degree, however they may still do so if they choose to:
What is included in SQE Stage 1
3 multiple choice tests + 2 cycles of skills assessments (1 research and 2 writing)
360 questions, 2 legal research exercises and 4 writing exercises.
This will typically be held over 2 consecutive days, or if not possible, 2 days in quick succession. One exam of 180 questions will be sat each day.
Initially all candidates will sit on the same two days, over time there may be a window provided to sit the assessment (across the course of a week)
What is included in SQE Stage 2
Exam 2 is a practical skills exam, with 2 exams testing 5 skills each across 2 practice areas.
This exam will test: client interview skills, advocacy, case and matter analysis. Legal research and drafting is partially covered in SQE 1.
Actors will take part in the simulation, so will leave out details and may react emotionally or angrily to comments, as a real client may.
Qualifying Work Experience
Any experience of providing legal services that offers a candidate the opportunity to develop some or all of the competences needed to practise as a solicitor.
A solicitor or compliance officer will sign off a candidate’s qualifying work experience, but are not signing off whether a candidate is competent to practice.
Any experience of providing legal services that offers the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge needed to practice as a solicitor:
- On placement during a law degree
- Working in a law clinic
- At a voluntary or charitable organisation such as Citizen Advice or a law centre
- Working as a paralegal
- On a training contract
Experience can be gained during or after the SQE, however it must be completed by the time they apply for admission.
Experience can be banked for when the SQE comes in on 1 September 2021.
This work experience must be signed off by one of the following:
- The COLP
- A solicitor within the organisation, or
- Another nominated solicitor of England and Wales outside the organisation but with direct knowledge of the candidate’s work.
If a candidate already has the LPC, this can be recognised alongside qualifying work experience and successfully passing SQE2 as equivalent to a period of recognised training contract.
Character And Suitability
Integrity is incredibly important and is treated as seriously as knowledge and skills. These only need to be mentioned when applying to be a solicitor When considering character and suitability, the SRA will take into account the overriding need to
- Protect the public and the public interest; and
- Maintain public trust and confidence in the solicitors’ profession and in legal services provided by authorised persons.
This is considered on a case by case basis.
Conditions can be imposed on a persons authorisation if the SRA cannot be satisfied that a person is of good character and suitable for the role.
If rejected, can only seek a further assessment if there has been a material change in your circumstances relevant to the SRA assessment.
International students
- International students can instead complete the SQE, rather than completing the previous QLTT.
- A student will need to complete an English language test
- As a student will no longer need to have studied a law degree to qualify to sit the SQE, a much broader range of students can apply. This benefits those who may have relevant work experience.
- EU students will now need a student visa to study in this country due to the effects of Brexit.
- By offering SQE training to international students who want to become lawyers, firm could make some money by
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