Navigating The SQE
What To Expect. How To Pass. Where It Can Take You.
This article provides an in-depth look at the SQE journey, offering practical guidance on how to succeed and become a qualified solicitor in England and Wales.
What is the SQE?
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination is the centralised route to qualification as a solicitor in England and Wales, replacing the traditional LPC (Legal Practice Course) route. It’s designed to be more flexible, affordable, and accessible to a broader range of candidates.
The SQE is divided into two parts:
- SQE1 – Tests functioning legal knowledge through multiple-choice questions
- SQE2 – Tests practical legal skills like client interviewing, legal drafting, advocacy and legal writing.
To qualify as a solicitor, you will also need:
- A degree (or equivalent qualification) in any subject area
- Two years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE)
- To pass character and suitability checks
SQE1 and SQE2: What to Expect
The SQE is split into two stages:
SQE1 – Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK)
The SQE1 assesses candidates’ ability to apply legal knowledge to real-world scenarios. It consists of two days of exams, comprising four sets of 90 multiple-choice question tests to be sat across both days, focusing on various areas of law including:
- Legal System of England and Wales
- Constitutional and Administrative Law
- Ethics
- Legal Services
- Contract
- Tort
- Dispute Resolution
- Business Law and Tax
- Land Law
- Property Practice
- Solicitors’ Accounts
- Wills and Probate
- Trusts
- Criminal Law and Practice
Each question is designed around a practical legal scenario, testing how well candidates can apply their legal understanding to solve client-facing problems.
Key challenges:
- Volume and breadth of material
- Complex question structures (single best answer format)
- Exam pressure and time constraints
SQE2 – Practical Legal Skills
The SQE2 assesses a candidate’s legal skills in the context of five practice areas. The skills tested include:
- Client Interviewing
- Advocacy
- Case and Matter Analysis
- Legal Research
- Legal Writing
- Legal Drafting
These skills are examined in both written and oral assessments, requiring candidates to role-play as solicitors in realistic legal scenarios.
Practice areas covered:
- Criminal Litigation
- Dispute Resolution
- Property Practice
- Wills and Probate
- Business Practice
Key challenges:
- Demonstrating professional communication and ethical judgement
- Mastering legal writing and drafting under pressure
- Simulating and performing solicitor-client interactions convincingly
Qualifying Work Experience (QWE): A More Flexible Path
Under the SQE system, the traditional two-year training contract has been replaced with the more flexible QWE model. Candidates can gain experience across up to four organisations, including:
- Law firms
- In-house legal teams
- Legal clinics and charities
- Government legal departments
Benefits of QWE over traditional training contracts:
- Flexibility: Candidates can tailor experiences to their career goals
- Accessibility: Wider range of organisations and opportunities
- Inclusivity: Helps reduce barriers for candidates from underrepresented backgrounds
How to Prepare for and Pass the SQE
1. Build a Structured Study Plan
The SQE requires serious preparation, especially for the SQE1, where the syllabus spans multiple areas of law. Most candidates benefit from a minimum of 3–6 months of full-time study for the SQE1, and at least 2–3 months for SQE2.
Use commercial providers (e.g., BARBRI, The University of Law, QLTS School) for structured learning or combine self-study with practical experience.
2. Engage in Regular Mock Exams
Success in SQE1 is closely tied to familiarity with the multiple-choice format. Practice papers help you:
- Improve exam technique
- Manage time effectively
- Identify knowledge gaps
For SQE2, mock assessments and role-plays are essential to building confidence and refining your practical skills.
3. Understand the SRA Competencies
SQE2 exams are based on the Statement of Solicitor Competence, which includes:
- Ethics, professionalism, and judgement
- Technical legal practice
- Working with clients
- Managing yourself and your workload
Becoming familiar with these competencies will help you align your QWE, study plans, and skill development.
4. Document and Reflect on Your QWE
You must maintain a QWE record, detailing:
- Where and when your experience took place
- What tasks you performed
- How they demonstrate solicitor competencies
- Who supervised your work
Reflection is crucial. Candidates should think critically about how their work contributes to their development as a solicitor.
5. Don’t Overlook Soft Skills
The SQE isn’t just about legal knowledge. Your ability to communicate clearly, show empathy, and manage time under pressure are equally vital. These are the qualities that define a well-rounded solicitor — and they are rigorously assessed in SQE2.
What Career Opportunities Does the SQE Unlock?
International Recognition
For foreign-qualified lawyers and international students, the SQE provides a clear, accessible pathway to qualify in England and Wales. Many foreign lawyers use it to dual-qualify, expanding their practice into UK markets or multinational firms.
Alternative Routes to Practice
The flexibility of the SQE pathway supports a range of legal careers beyond traditional private practice, including:
- In-house legal roles
- Legal consultancy
- Legal technology and compliance
- Boutique firm or sole practice setups
A New Generation of Legal Talent
The SQE is opening the door to a more diverse and representative legal profession. Candidates from non-traditional or underrepresented backgrounds now have greater access to qualification, helping the profession evolve and better reflect the clients it serves.
Final Thoughts: Embracing the Future of Legal Qualification
The SQE represents more than a new exam structure — it’s a shift towards a more meritocratic, practice-based, and flexible approach to qualification. For candidates, this means greater opportunity. For law firms, it offers new ways to identify, support and nurture top talent.
