The SQE route is now the standard way to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. It replaced the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and training contract system for new entrants from September 2021. This guide focuses on the exams themselves and how to plan around them.
What is the SQE?
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination is a centralised assessment run by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Every aspiring solicitor sits the same exams, whatever university or training provider they used. It has two stages.
| SQE1 | SQE2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tests | Functioning legal knowledge (FLK) | Practical legal skills |
| Format | Two multiple-choice exams (FLK1 and FLK2) | Written and oral skills assessments |
| Areas | Business law, dispute resolution, contract, tort, legal system, property, wills, trusts, criminal law, solicitors’ accounts, ethics | Client interviewing, advocacy, case analysis, research, writing, drafting |
| When to sit | Usually first | Usually after some practical experience |
SQE1 in more detail
SQE1 is two long multiple-choice exams. Questions give a realistic client scenario and ask for the single best answer. It tests whether you can apply legal rules, not just recall them. Ethics and professional conduct are tested throughout.
How to prepare for SQE1
- Choose a preparation course that includes plenty of practice questions and mock exams.
- Build a revision timetable of several months; the syllabus is broad.
- Practise timed question sets: speed matters.
- Review every wrong answer and why the right answer is better.
SQE2 in more detail
SQE2 tests skills a newly qualified solicitor uses every day: interviewing a client and writing an attendance note, advocacy, legal research and writing, drafting documents, and case and matter analysis. The tasks are set in practice areas such as dispute resolution, criminal litigation, property, wills and probate, and business.
How to prepare for SQE2
- Get practical experience first if you can; SQE2 rewards people who have done real work.
- Practise oral tasks with feedback: record yourself or work with a study partner.
- Learn to write clear, client-focused letters and memos under time pressure.
Qualifying work experience (QWE)
Alongside the exams you need two years of QWE. Key rules:
- It can be with up to four organisations.
- It can be paid or unpaid, in firms, in-house teams, law clinics or as a paralegal.
- Each placement must be confirmed by a solicitor or the organisation’s compliance officer.
- It can happen before, between or after the exams.
In what order should you do things?
A popular sequence is: degree → SQE1 → QWE → SQE2 → admission. But you can, for example, start QWE as a paralegal while preparing for SQE1. Many law firms set their own order for trainees and fund the courses.
Costs and funding
The SRA sets the exam fees and updates them periodically, and the two stages together cost several thousand pounds before any preparation course. Large firms commonly pay for their trainees’ exams and courses. Some providers offer master’s degrees with SQE preparation built in, which can make postgraduate loans available. Check the SRA’s SQE pages for current fees and dates.
Pros and cons of the SQE route
Pros: no law degree needed, flexible work experience, paralegal time can count, one standard exam for everyone.
Cons: exams are demanding and self-funding can be expensive; there’s less structure if you’re not on a firm’s programme.
Ready to plan your path? See our step-by-step guide on how to become a solicitor.
FAQ
Can I sit SQE2 before SQE1?
No. You must pass SQE1 before attempting SQE2.
How many times can I take the SQE?
The SRA allows a limited number of attempts at each assessment within a set period. Check the current rules on the SRA website.
Is the SQE harder than the LPC?
They’re different. The SQE is a standardised, closed-book exam, which many people find more demanding than LPC coursework.
