You’re passionate about justice, fairness, and equality within society. You want to advocate for the rights of others, representing individuals who may not have a voice, and working towards positive social change through the legal system. So how do you qualify and realise your dream?
Becoming a lawyer in the UK is not a quick process by any means. It involves dedication, years of study and work experience, and ongoing professional development. It’s a highly respected profession and requires a varied skillset, from working alongside clients, public speaking, research and analytical skills to planning legal strategies and more.
Also read: Which skills does a solicitor need?
But first, let’s explain something important: In the UK, “lawyer” means any licensed legal practitioner, which includes solicitors, barristers, chartered legal executives, and more. It’s also worth noting that the United Kingdom comprises three different legal jurisdictions: England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and each has its own legal system and criteria for practising law.
Read: What is the difference between a solicitor and a barrister?
In this blog, we’ll focus on the routes to becoming a solicitor in England and Wales. England and Wales is the second biggest legal system in the world and is commonly used in international arbitration cases as well as global contracts. Traditionally, the route to qualifying was long, prohibitively expensive and you needed to secure a training contract with a law firm to be eligible, which could be very hard to obtain. To level the playing field and encourage people from all backgrounds to follow a career as a solicitor, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) introduced the Solicitors Qualifying Exams (SQE) in 2021.
Here we explain the new SQE route to qualification.
How to become a solicitor in England and Wales
Step 1: Start with any UK degree or an equivalent to a degree
The traditional LPC route included a law degree (or non-law degree plus a Graduate Diploma in Law or GDL), a two-year training contract at a law firm, doing 4 “seats” of 6 months each in different departments, and completing the Professional Skills Coursce (PSC). All of this is now being phased out and replaced by this ‘super exam’.
So, the first thing you need to know about the SQE is that you no longer need to have a law degree. You can now have a degree (or equivalent) in any field, as the SRA recognises that diversity of skills and thought benefits the law profession. You also don’t have to do a conversion course, such as the GDL/PGDL if you don’t have a law degree, saving you a substantial amount of money.
We do offer a 6-week Foundations in Law course – entirely optional, but very popular among non-law grads and qualified lawyers from other jurisdictions, and even those who graduated with a law degree more several years ago, to help (re)familiarise themselves with the common law system in England and Wales and some common terminology, so they can start their SQE exam prep with confidence.
If university isn’t for you, you can also follow a degree apprenticeship. There are several solutions available: from a 6- to 7-year apprenticeship that takes you from A level right through to the qualifying exams, or shorter apprenticeships for those who already have some legal qualifications or legal work experience.
Not from the UK?
Qualified lawyers from countries outside of England and Wales can also qualify to practise English and Welsh law, and may be exempt from some of the following steps. For more information, read: The SQE for overseas lawyers.
Step 2: Pass the SQE1 exam
The SQE1 is a computer-based exam that will test your Functional Legal Knowledge (FLK) through multiple-choice questions (MCQs) – 360 questions, to be exact. It’s split into 2 sittings: FLK1 and FLK2. These exams are booked through the SRA website and conducted by Kaplan in January and July each year, and you can sit these online exams in multiple PearsonVue exam locations around the world. The SRA releases the results 6 to 10 weeks after the exam.
The SQE1 covers a massive amount of information that you need to memorise – and understand. You’ll also need to understand the format of the MCQs: unlike in university tests, these don’t have wrong options and one correct answer. Instead, they have several plausible answers… but one is the most plausible. It takes a while to get to know the law (and the way the answers are asked) well enough to confidently pass the exam. That’s where our SQE1 Prep courses come in: using a Personal Study Plan, spaced repetition and more than 3,000 frequently updated MCQs, plus tons of video lectures, digital and hardback workbooks, self-assessment tests and unlimited learning coach sessions. We’re particularly proud of our high pass rates and students who demonstrate that it’s possible to master the “super exam”!
Find out more about our SQE1 Prep course.
Step 3: Pass the SQE2 exam
Once you have received your pass results, you can book your SQE2 exam. The SQE2 tests the practical application of your legal skills and knowledge and consists of oral assessments (client interview and advocacy) and written assessments (case and matter analysis, legal research, legal writing and legal drafting). The oral assessments are conducted in person and you would need to travel to England or Wales to do so.
To help you prepare for this practical exam, you’ll have to develop or brush up on your legal research, writing and drafting, among other essential skills – using the knowledge you gained while studying for the SQE1 exam. BARBRI’s SQE2 Prep course includes a diagnostic assessment to see if there are any gaps in your FLK – and give you access to the SQE1 prep materials so you can focus on your weaker areas. Our skills lectures are designed and delivered by qualified solicitors and barristers with extensive knowledge in both the law and teaching. You’ll received a workbook and do several guided, interactive learning activities to apply everything you’ve learned to an exam-style scenario. There are plenty of self-practice activities, personalised feedback, and a complete mock assessment with feedback from a BARBRI assessor. You’re in good hands!
Click here to find out more about our SQE2 Prep course.
Step 4: Do Qualifying Work Experience
Another fantastic feature of the SQE route is its Qualifying Work Experience (QWE), replacing the traditional requirement of having to secure a training contract at a law firm. Under the new QWE requirements, you need to still complete two years of full-time legal experience, but here’s the difference: you can do your QWE before, during or after completing the SQE1 and SQE2 exams, in up to four positions at a wide variety of legal organisations. This means if you’re a paralegal, your past work experience may be eligible and you can take a step up into a solicitors career.
Our SQE prep courses are designed as fully online to give you enough flexibility to fit your studies in around your work and other life commitments.
Read more: Qualifying Work Experience: Your questions answered
Step 5: Apply and satisfy the SRA’s character and suitability requirements
Finally! You passed both SQE1 and SQE2 (or you’re exempt) and you’ve got sign off on two years of QWE. Next stop: applying to the SRA to be admitted to the roll of solicitors. The SRA will now conduct checks for things like a criminal record, or any bad debt. If you satisfy all their requirements to be “fit and proper” to hold the role, you will receive a practising certificate and officially be a newly qualified (NQ) solicitor! You’ll be invited to the annual admissions ceremony, where you can celebrate along with your family and friends who supported you along the way.
What’s next?
Now that you’re a solicitor, you’ll need to renew your practising certificate for a fee every year, and stay on top of your professional development, complying with the “continuing competence” requirement.
If you’re not yet in employment, you’ll apply for jobs as an NQ solicitor. All our students have access to BARBRI’s CareerHub for a year after the exam, a portal with a legal CV checker, interview skills, career counselling, industry webinars and other resources to help you find your dream job. For a taster, register for our free version, HeadStart, and get started on your legal career.
If you’d like to learn more about the SQE and to be one of the first to enrol, click here>>>
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