Qualifying as a Solicitor via the SQE

I have a background in law, having graduated with an LLB Law nearly 25 years ago. My career took me on a different path, however, as I went travelling and later qualified as a Chartered Secretary, working for a number of FTSE listed companies in head office teams. I began to get more involved in legal work and spoke to Katie about my future options – she essentially advised that qualifying as a solicitor would increase the number of potential roles available to me. I knew I would not be able to take a break from working or apply for a training contract, which led me to embarking on the SQE qualification route in 2021.
 

For those who don’t know, could you give a brief overview of the SQE assessments?

The SQE was created as a replacement for the traditional LPC route and was designed to increase the accessibility of becoming a solicitor through lower assessment costs and a flexible work experience structure.

The SQE is a centralised assessment and is administered by the SRA. The assessments are split into two parts: SQE1 primarily tests functioning legal knowledge (FLK or ‘black letter law’) over two days, while SQE2 is 16 separate assessments of legal skills (oral and written) over five days. Candidates must pass SQE1 (unless exempt) before they can take the SQE2 assessments.

There are lots of resources available on the SRA’s website which further explain the requirements https://www.sra.org.uk/become-solicitor/sqe/
 

Did you use a course provider to help you prepare for the assessments?

Yes, I was personally really aware that I would need support with studying (although this is not an SRA or SQE requirement) particularly as most of my degree had been studied in the last century! I chose to study with the University of Law (ULaw), selecting the LLM in Legal Practice (SQE1&2) as I felt this would best support my route to practice and fully prepare me for qualification. The course included modules to prepare for both SQE1 and SQE2 alongside content on key practice areas such as employment and M&A.

 

How did you approach returning to study after such a long break?

Once I had made up my mind to embark on this career change, I was so motivated that the adrenaline kept me going for most of it! The structure of the LLM was focused on the SQE exam dates as there are only limited opportunities to take the exams and, as I said, you cannot proceed to the SQE2 if you have not passed the SQE1. This focus helped me; I knew I had a set amount of time to cover the content so I mapped it out on a wall planner and stuck to it, spending around 20 hours a week on the ULaw SQE and FLK content modules.

The time that had passed since my degree definitely increased my workload; I had to independently study some FLK topics as I knew these would not be covered by ULaw.

 

And you worked whilst you were studying, how did you balance all of these responsibilities?

I am really lucky to work at a firm, Tapestry Compliance, that supported me in so many ways – giving me a paid study day each week, time-off for the assessments and always being aware that I had some hefty study commitments. I definitely had to learn to keep clear boundaries to avoid being overwhelmed at work or when studying, and to be honest when my plate was too full. I aimed to balance this with being fully available for work in ULaw holidays and think I got the balance right most of the time.

 

We’ve heard that the exams are tough, what was your experience of them?

I would agree that they are challenging and rigorous. SQE1 is 360 questions in two five-hour sessions (there is a break at the halfway point as no refreshments are allowed in the exam room) over the two days. I found the exam days exhausting and was glad that I had prepared thoroughly for them, almost like training for a marathon in terms of being able to pace myself for such long assessments.

They are not ‘open book’ like the LPC, you cannot take anything in to the assessments and the subject areas are mixed in each assessment so you might be answering a question on criminal litigation and then immediately moving on to a question on trusts. The key is being able to apply the legal principles that you have learnt. There are limited sample and practice questions available from the SRA (although ULaw did construct a suite of practice questions and I know other course providers do too) so that affects how you can prepare for the actual assessment days too.

As the assessments are run by an external provider at multiple venues across the country, the booking and organisation of the actual exams adds another layer of stress to the process – finding the venues, complying with the strict registration requirements and unforeseen delays.

So, yes, definitely tough!

 

Well done for passing, then! Do you feel the SQE assessments are a good replacement for the LPC?

Hard to say when I haven’t done the LPC but I would say that the intention of the SQE is to prepare you for day one as a solicitor whereas the LPC focuses on preparation for day one of a training contract so there are key differences. The SQE questions are reflective of the day-to-day practice of a solicitor. And although the time constraints of the SQE assessments are tough, they are representative of real life, providing a controlled environment that allows a candidate to represent their abilities.

I think that it is still relatively early days for the SQE qualification route and hopefully some of the issues that candidates have experienced will be improved. I’ve joined various SRA feedback sessions and there has always been opportunity to raise any concerns. There are still some inequality issues which need to be addressed to fully broaden representation in our profession.

For me, as I was working through the preparation, particularly for the SQE2, I could feel my skills and confidence improving, which was also noticed by colleagues, so my overall impression is positive and I would hope to share that positivity with future candidates.

 

The SQE route includes work experience, how does that fit in?

You need two years’ qualifying work experience for the SQE route and this can be obtained in up to four organisations. Work experience can be built up before, during and after taking the SQE assessments, so it is very flexible and perfect for someone like me who had lots of existing experience.

 

Finally, any top tips for someone considering qualifying on the SQE route?

Don’t underestimate the time and effort needed to pass the assessments – work hard from day one, this is not an assessment where you can cram at the last minute. Use as many practice questions and scenarios as you can so that you can hone your ability to quickly identify the legal principles and apply them efficiently. And even if it feels awkward, practice interviewing and advocacy case studies with your friends, family or colleagues playing the part of the assessor; it’s essential to practice your timings and be able to think on your feet. Overall, be realistic with your preparations and be kind to yourself, it is a challenging journey, but worth it!