Which Course Should I Choose?
Qualifying as a Solicitor
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (‘SQE’) was introduced by the Solicitors Regulation Authority in September 2021 as the new route to qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales. SQE will eventually replace the Legal Practice Course (‘LPC’) and become the only route to qualifying as a solicitor however, we are currently in a transitional period which means some people may be able to choose whether to qualify via the SQE or LPC route.
In summary, if you had completed, started, accepted an offer of a place or paid a non-refundable deposit for a GDL before 1 September 2021, or in the case of a qualifying law degree (QLD) completed, started, accepted an offer of a place or paid a non-refundable deposit by 21 September 2021 (inclusive), then you may be able to choose whether to complete the LPC or SQE. If your journey to qualifying as a solicitor started after 1 September 2021 then you will have to qualify by completing the SQE. If you are at all unsure about which route you can take to qualify as a solicitor please complete the Ask NTU form and one of our experienced tutors will get in touch to advise you.
Many students who have the choice of qualifying by the SQE or LPC want to know which route they should choose.
Are you a final year non-LLB student who wants to qualify as a solicitor?
Find out more about our range of law conversion courses which are specifically designed for non-law graduates to prepare you for your future legal career.
Are you an LLB graduate, final year LLB student or a PGDL student?
Below you will find further information to help you decide whether to pursue the LPC or the SQE, depending on your circumstances.
Are you an LLB graduate, an LLB student who had started your qualifying law degree by 21 September 2021 or a PGDL student who had started your PGDL by 1 September 2021 and want to qualify as a solicitor?
In order to qualify as a solicitor then you will need to either:
- follow the existing route to qualification as a solicitor by completing the Legal Practice Course and a two-year training contract with a law firm and satisfy the SRA’s character and suitability requirements; or
- complete the SQE 1 and SQE 2 assessments, obtain two years Qualifying Work Experience and satisfy the SRA’s character and suitability requirements.
You need to choose which route is likely to suit your circumstances best. If you are unsure and need further advice and guidance, please complete the Ask NTU form and one of our experienced tutors will get in touch to help you reach a decision that works for you.
If you are currently working for a law firm or an in-house legal team in industry or local government, you may have accrued legal work experience that could count towards your two years of Qualifying Work Experience under the new route to qualification as a solicitor. If this is the case, then the SQE route rather than the LPC route may be better for you.
Before you decide which course to do, we recommend that you:
- Find out whether your employer would advise you or require you to take the LPC or the SQE route to qualification.
- Consider whether you want to “earn while you learn” and study on our LLM LPC part-time course or on our SQE 1 and SQE 2 preparation courses via distance learning.
- If you want to take the SQE route, consider whether you would prefer to complete a SQE 1 and SQE 2 preparation course which prepares you for the SRA SQE centralised assessments,
OR
- Whether you would like to complete a SQE 1 and SQE 2 preparation course which not only prepares you for the SRA SQE centralised assessments but allows you to also benefit from an internationally recognised LLM qualification which is eligible for a UK government loan alongside your SQE preparation courses.
At NLS, your LLM options are either:
- the LLM Professional Legal Practice (incorporating SQE 1 preparation only), or;
- the LLM Advanced Professional Legal Practice (incorporating both SQE 1 and SQE 2 preparation).
If you have any significant paralegal or other legal work experience, you may have accrued legal work experience that could count towards your two years Qualifying Work Experience under the new route to qualification as a solicitor. If this is the case, then the SQE route rather than the LPC route may be better for you.
Before you decide which course to do, we recommend that you:
- Find out whether any employer you would like to work for would advise you or require you to take the LPC or the SQE route to qualification.
- Consider whether you want to “earn while you learn” and study on our LLM LPC part time or our SQE 1 and SQE 2 preparation courses via distance learning.
If you want to take the SQE route, consider whether:
- you would prefer to complete a SQE 1 and SQE 2 preparation course which prepares you for the SRA SQE centralised assessments or;
- Whether you would like to complete a SQE 1 and SQE 2 preparation course which not only prepares you for the SRA SQE centralised assessments but allows you to also benefit from an internationally recognised LLM qualification which is eligible for a UK government loan alongside your SQE preparation courses.
At NLS your LLM options are either:
- the LLM Professional Legal Practice (incorporating SQE 1 preparation only), or;
- the LLM Advanced Professional Legal Practice (incorporating both SQE 1 and SQE 2 preparation).
Before you decide which course to do, find out whether your employer would advise you or require you to take the LPC or the SQE route to qualification.
How much does this cost?
When considering the cost of the LPC or SQE preparation courses please note that the cost of the LPC includes the course fee and the assessments, whereas the cost of a SQE preparation course is payable in addition to the cost of the SRA SQE centralised assessments.
Cost of the LPC route
- The cost of the LLM LPC course fee includes the cost of the assessments that you take during your year(s) of study. You will also be provided with the manuals that you require for the course as part of the course fee.
- The LLM LPC is a Master’s level qualification and is eligible for the UK government postgraduate loan.
- Students at NLS can also apply for a wide range of scholarships which can be applied to reduce the course fee. NLS alumni will also benefit from the alumni discount.
Cost of the SQE route
- The SQE is a centralised assessment regulated by the SRA and delivered through their chosen assessment provider, Kaplan.
- There are two assessments, SQE 1 and SQE 2, each of which attracts a fee.
- The fee for SQE 1 is currently £1,622 and the fee for SQE 2 is currently £2,493 (although check the SRA SQE website for the most up to date information about fees).
- The total cost of the centralised SRA SQE assessments is not included in the cost of a SQE preparation course.
- Please see the NTU website for details of the fees for our SQE preparation courses.
- The cost of the SQE 1 preparation course includes access to SQE 1 manuals that you require for the course.
- The UK government postgraduate loan is available for the SQE LLM courses and we offer scholarships and an alumni discount.
Do I have to do a SQE preparation course?
Do I actually need to do a SQE preparation course?
It is possible to sit the SRA centralised SQE assessments without undertaking a SQE preparation course, but at NLS, we do not advise students to do this.
Technically, the SRA does not require you to undertake a SQE preparation course. However, most people would not sit any other kind of professional examination without ensuring that they have undertaken the necessary study over a sufficient period of time to gain the requisite knowledge and skills.
At NLS, we recommend that you undertake our SQE 1 and SQE 2 preparation courses before you sit the SQE assessments. We make this recommendation for four main reasons:
- The SRA only allows three attempts at the SQE. The assessments are rightly designed to be rigorous and therefore you will need to work hard to maximise your chances of passing first time. Should you need to re-sit, this will incur further assessment costs which could be substantial.
- Most law degrees are assessed by way of essays, problem questions and dissertations. This means that the SQE 1 skill of answering 180, wide-ranging, multiple-choice questions as part of a timed assessment will be a new one for many students. Practising these skills and obtaining feedback on your performance will be vital to your success.
- Although you may have excellent subject knowledge in one area, you may be weak in another. Having access to expert tuition to support you in your weaker areas in order to raise your grades will be a key component to your success.
- SQE 2 requires you – amongst other things – to demonstrate your competence as an advocate. In order to succeed, you will need to show that you have a high level of subject knowledge, an ability to apply that knowledge to a practical problem, and the self-awareness and confidence to hold your own in the courtroom. Before putting yourself forward for such a serious assessment, you would be well advised to develop and refine your grasp of these skills.
I am an international applicant from a country outside of the UK. Which course is right for me?
If you want to be a solicitor in England and Wales then it is likely that the LLM in Law and Legal Practice (SQE 1) is going to be most suitable. The reason for this is that the SQE centralised assessments test your knowledge of the seven foundation subjects of the law of England and Wales as well as it’s practical application. The LLM in Law and Legal Practice covers the foundation law knowledge in the PGDL element before students move on to the SQE 1 preparation element which focuses on legal procedure, evidence and the practical application of the law in order to help prepare you for the SQE 1 centralised assessments.
If you also want assistance in preparing for the SQE 2 centralised assessments there is the Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Legal Skills which is a separate course which could be taken after the LLM Law and Legal Practice.
If you want to be a barrister of England and Wales, then our LLM Law and Legal Practice (BTC) will fulfil the Bar Standards Board’s course requirements for call to the Bar.