Helping Students pass the new SQE route to becoming a Solicitor

The Law School at the University

of Hertfordshire will launch its new Masters Course (LLM Solicitors’ Practice) in September 2023 to ensure students have a good chance of passing the new SQE exams to enable them to become a solicitor.

We are currently in a transition period where students can choose between the original route (the Legal Practice Course and 2 year training contract) and the new route (Solicitors Qualifying Exams 1 and 2 plus 2 years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) gained from up to 4 placements).

The SRA, which introduced the new route last year, has just published the first results for the SQE2 assessment - which was taken in April 2022 by 726 candidates in 24 countries. 77% of candidates passed, which seems very reasonable. However, these figures do not seem quite so rosy when you appreciate candidates were only allowed to take the SQE2 assessment if they had previously passed SQE1. This was run for the first time in November 2021 and only 53% of candidates passed. Clearly the profession wants to ensure that all aspiring solicitors meet a consistently high standard at the point of entry into the profession. However, we also want the profession to be open and diverse.

Data from the assessment results show that there was a difference in performance by ethnicity. 85% of white candidates passed compared to 72% of Asian/Asian British candidates and 53% of Black/Black British candidates. The SRA has commissioned the University of Exeter to undertake in-depth research into the factors driving the attainment gap for these groups. However, any changes to the assessments will take time.

As the exams are set and marked by an independent, external organisation (Kaplan) it is feasible for a candidate to sit SQE 1 or 2 without attending any course. Hertfordshire Law Society recognises this is not realistic if candidates want to pass. However, most students cannot afford to undertake another course of studies without good reason.

We have therefore created a Masters level SQE course which will enable students to take both SQE 1 and 2 as part of the 1 year course, plus attain a Masters Degree at the same time. Students can choose from a suite of options. They can opt to study for a Masters or a postgraduate diploma incorporating preparation for both SQE1 and SQE2. Students can also choose to study a postgraduate certificate incorporating preparation for either SQE 1 or SQE 2. Students can choose to study full time or part time to fit into their personal circumstances. Some candidates will have exemptions which mean they only need to pass some elements - for example students who have passed the LPC are exempt from SQE 1 and will just need to pass SQE2.

The Law School offers the opportunity for candidates to build Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) by working in the award-winning Hertfordshire Law Clinic and other pro bono projects.

If you, or anyone you know is interested in studying with us at UH, or you have any queries regarding the new SQE route to professional qualification, please get in touch with us.

Amanda Thurston

Hertfordshire Law School