Six months to go till the Solicitors Qualifying Examination

The six-month countdown has begun until the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) introduces a new route to qualifying as a solicitor – the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).

There will be a gradual transition to the new system, but solicitors need to get up to speed on the changes that are coming.

From September 2021, aspiring solicitors will take two sets of centralised assessments designed to evaluate competence for entry to the profession.

Candidates must:

• complete a degree-level qualification or equivalent
• complete both stages of assessment, SQE1 and SQE2
• complete two years of qualifying work experience (QWE)
• satisfy the SRA’s character and suitability requirements

The SQE will widen the ways in which it is possible for someone to become a solicitor with new pathways, such as apprenticeships. Paralegals and others who may have struggled to qualify due to the limited number of training contracts will now have a more accessible route into the profession.

The current period of recognised training will be replaced by qualifying work experience. There will be greater flexibility around what constitutes QWE, so firms and in-house departments which offer training will need to understand these requirements.

QWE can be completed over an extended period, at up to four separate placements with no minimum length of time for each placement. This is in contrast to the current training, which must be completed in one, two-year, block.

Law Society president I. Stephanie Boyce said:

“With six months to go until the SQE, we are keen to make the profession fully aware of the changes to routes to qualification. 

“There will be a gradual transition from the current system to the SQE system, giving educational institutions and employers time to adjust their offering. Anyone who falls within the transition period will have until 31 December 2032 to qualify as a solicitor under the existing routes.

“Some employers are already taking advantage of the changes by taking on candidates for legal apprenticeships, as an alternative route to the university model to qualifying as a solicitor. 

“We understand that some may be anxious about this change, but there is a real opportunity to widen diversity and inclusion within the profession and positively effect social mobility.

“The Law Society will be on hand during the next six months and beyond to support the profession to engage with and make the most of the opportunities the SQE brings.”

Kindly shared by The Law Society of England and Wales

Main article photo courtesy of Pixabay