96% of full-time UK LPC graduates in work were in highly skilled employment 15 months after graduating (2021/22 Graduate Outcomes data). Contains HESA Data: Copyright Jisc 2024.
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about Becoming a Solicitor
It's not too late to apply for our solicitor training courses this January or March 2025. For specific application deadlines, please see our LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) and Legal Practice Course (LPC) course pages. Want to become a solicitor? Whether you’ve completed a law or non-law degree at undergraduate level, we have a range of postgraduate law courses which will prepare you for a career as a solicitor.
introductionAn SQE course for everyone
The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) has transformed the process of qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales, offering a new and more accessible route into the profession.
This pathway opens doors for many but also raises important questions - do you have to study a specific course? How do you obtain Qualifying Work Experience? Should you still do the LPC?
If you’re exploring whether the SQE is the right path for you, our comprehensive guide has the answers. From understanding the steps to qualification, to exploring career opportunities, courses, and funding options, find everything you need to make an informed decision about your future.
Get set for success withthe ULaw SQE Revision App
Our intelligent, free SQE Revision App is here to help prepare you for SQE1, part of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE1). The App has been specifically designed to help you improve your Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK), as well as your technique and confidence in attempting Single Best Answer Question (SBAQ) assessments. Students studying our applicable SQE courses will receive access to the full version of the App which includes a bank of over 3,000 SBAQs together with smart performance insights.
Your route to becoming a solicitor
From September 2021, the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) became the new, centralised assessment for anyone who wants to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. It will eventually replace the Legal Practice Course (LPC) route to practice.
The SQE is part of a new, four-stage route to becoming a solicitor:
- A degree (or equivalent) in any subject
- Pass SQE1 and SQE2 assessments
- A minimum of two years Qualifying Work Experience (QWE)
- Show you are of satisfactory character and suitability
Unlike the LPC, the SQE is not a course of study but an examination. However, to pass SQE1 and SQE2, you may wish to undergo a course of professional training. We've developed a range of SQE courses that will prepare you for a career as a solicitor, as well as SQE success. Our courses are delivered by expert lecturers, including subject matter specialists, former and current practitioners, and research and teaching focused academics.
A non-law graduate will need to acquire the foundational legal knowledge necessary to start these courses. Most will undertake a conversion course such as our Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL), Master of Arts in Law (MA Law Conversion), Master of Arts in Law (MA Law SQE1) or SQE Law Essentials Online.
Can I still study the LPC?
You can still continue with the LPC route if you completed, started, accepted an offer, or paid a non-refundable deposit for one of the following by 31 August 2021:
- a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) / the Common Professional Examination
- MA Law
- the LPC
- a period of recognised training (also known as a training contract)
For a qualifying law degree (QLD) and exempting law degree (ELD), such as our LLB, you must have completed, started, accepted an offer or paid a non-refundable deposit by 21 September 2021.
In most cases, for the QLD, ELD and CPE, the relevant course must have started at the latest on or before 31 December 2021.
If you have already started a qualifying law degree, GDL or training contract there are transition arrangements in place until 31 December 2032 to qualify as a solicitor under the current routes, as long as courses still remain available.
SQE Newsletter
Introducing the SQE Navigator Newsletter. Stay informed with our monthly newsletter – your go-to resource for all things SQE. Sign up today for the latest news, resources and deadlines straight to your inbox.
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successSQE Pass Rates
We're proud to share our SQE pass rates and celebrate the success of our students.
SQE1: 78% of our students passed the January 2024 SQE1 assessments first time, compared to the industry average first attempt pass rate of 59%*
SQE2: 82% of our students passed SQE2 in October 2023 compared to the industry average pass rate of 64%**
*All eligible cohorts contacted, results based on over 1,800 responses.
**All eligible cohorts contacted, results based on student responses.
Should students choose to study the LPC or SQE?
We caught up with the ULaw National Programme Director for the SQE, Jill Howell Williams, to learn more about each route and why you might choose one over the other.
Read onWhat can our law students expect?
Hear from our expert lecturers about what to expect when studying a solicitor course with us and what exactly you’ll learn.
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internationalAre you an international student?
We understand that moving to a new country for your studies is a big decision, and we're here to support you every step of the way as you settle into life in the UK.
Learn more about how we can help with funding your law studies and guide you through the visa application process.
compare your optionsFind your solicitor course
Whether you’re converting to law study in order to start your journey towards becoming a solicitor, or you already hold a qualifying law degree, our course comparison guide will help you find the right course for you.
law course finderFind the right course for you
Our law course finder can help you understand the route to becoming a solicitor with The University of Law. Find the right course for you based on your background and aspirations.
Legal Practice Course (LPC)
Join the largest community of LPC students*. This course is designed for law graduates, or those who have completed a law conversion course, and wish to qualify as a solicitor using the LPC route to practice. You can also add an MSc in Law, Business and Management or LLM in Professional Legal Practice at no extra cost. *Central Applications Board (LawCAB) 2023
Find out moreLLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2)
This course is designed for graduates who want to qualify as a solicitor using the new SQE route to practice and also gain a Master’s award. We focus on the skills that employers are seeking so that you can enhance your academic knowledge while preparing for the realities of life in legal practice. This course will ensure you’re fully prepared for your career as a solicitor, as well as success in the SQE exams. You’ll also get the opportunity to complete four weeks Qualifying Work Experience within one of our Legal Advice Centres.
Find out moreSQE1 Preparation Course
This course is for those who wish to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales using the SQE pathway to qualification. Although there are no formal entry requirements, it is recommended that you have a law degree or have completed a law conversion course. The course will prepare you for the SRA’s centralised SQE1 assessments, which will test functioning legal knowledge (FLK).
Find out moreSQE2 Preparation Course
This course is designed for those who’ve completed SQE1 training. This course will prepare you for the SRA’s centralised SQE2 skills assessments, which will test the practical legal skills of client interviewing, advocacy, legal writing, drafting and research, and case and matter analysis.
Find out more
