In autumn 2021, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) will introduce a new route to qualifying as a solicitor: the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).
The Legal Services Board (LSB) approved the introduction of the SQE on 28 October 2020. See the SRA's announcement and our briefing on the LSB's decision and its assessment of the issues and risks.
The SRA has published a suite of resources ahead of the SQE's introduction.
As further information and SQE policy is established, we will work to ensure the profession is kept up to date with developments as well as representing the views of the profession.
The SQE is designed to test, to the level set by the SRA’s Threshold Standard:
- the competences in the Statement of Solicitor Competence
- the knowledge in the Statement of Legal Knowledge
This guide tells about the SQE, including:
- requirements and cost
- what the SQE assessment will cover
- how the SQE will be run
- preparatory courses
- funding the SQE
- qualifying work experience (QWE)
- qualifying work experience (QWE) for paralegals
- qualifying from abroad to work in the UK
- transitional arrangements
- Welsh language SQE
- resources
- apprenticeships
Background
The SQE is being introduced as part of the SRA’s Training for Tomorrow programme.
The programme is in response to the report on the Legal Education and Training Review in 2013.
The report called for regulators to focus on the standards required of solicitors at the point of qualification and on an ongoing basis.