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Apr 07, 2020 2022-07-12 11:58Home
Solicitors Qualifying Examination
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is the new, centralised way of qualifying to be a solicitor in England and Wales, which came into effect in September 2021. It is a national licensing examination which all aspiring solicitors must pass to practice law, and will eventually replace the traditional LPC course.
In order to take the SQE, 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 (QWE)
- Pass the SRA character and suitability requirements.
Why complete the SQE over the LPC?
SQE REQUIREMENTS
A degree in any subject or equivalent qualification or work experience
Pass both stages of the SQE assessment
What is included in SQE Stage 1
SQE 1 tests your functioning legal knowledge (FLK). This is in the form of two multiple choice question exams that are taken over two consecutive days (FLK1 and FLK2)
FLK 1 Subject Areas
– Business Law and Practice
– Dispute Resolution
– Contract
– Tort
– Legal System of England and Wales
– Constitutional and Administrative Law and EU Law and Legal Services
FLK 2 Subject Areas
– Property Practice
– Wills and the Administration of Estates
– Solicitors Accounts
– Land Law
– Trusts
– Criminal Law and Practice
What is included in SQE Stage 2
SQE 2 tests your practical legal skills. The assessment is conducted over 5 consecutive days and is a combination of written and oral tests.
You will be tested on your client interview skills, advocacy, case analysis, legal research, drafting and analysis, and legal writing. Actors will take part in the simulation, and may leave out details or react emotionally or angrily to comments, as a real client may.
The practice areas in which these legal skills are assessed are:
Criminal Litigation (including advising clients at the police station) –
Dispute Resolution –
Property –
Wills and administration of estates –
Business rules and procedures –
Two years' qualifying work experience (QWE)
The QWE includes any experience of providing legal services, which offers the opportunity to develop some or all of the skills or competencies needed to practice as a solicitor.
Unlike the LPC, the QWE may be gained in placements in up to four organisations, and can be completed before, during, and/or after completing SQE 1 and 2.
- 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
- A Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (COLP)
- A Solicitor within the organisation
- Another nominated solicitor of England and Wales outside the organisation, who has had direct experience 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.
Pass SRA’s character and suitability requirements
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.
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.
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