Becoming a Solicitor: Is it right for you? by The College of Law

WELCOME

Studying law at university, but not sure what route to go down?

You’re not alone. It can be really difficult to know what your interests and motivators should be if you’re considering a career as a solicitor, especially at such an early stage of your career.

Remember: becoming a solicitor can require a significant time investment. It can take graduates up to three years to qualify, and there’s often a large financial investment too, depending on how you’ve funded your route to qualification. So, it’s a good idea to figure out early on if this is a career path that you’d like to pursue.

The College of Legal Practice is a fully accredited law school based in the UK specialising in the SQE. We help remove barriers to entry to the legal profession through flexible and affordable legal training delivered online. But, we aren’t remote, I’m proud to say that my team offer exceptional teaching and support through the SQE to every one of our students.

Dr Giles Proctor Chief Executive Officer

This guide offers an introduction into what the role of a solicitor involves, including views and experiences from different types of solicitors, to help you understand whether it’s really the right career for you. We explore the steps you could take whilst you are still at university to start your journey towards qualifying, and you’ll also enjoy a sneak peek into the support available to you when preparing for the SQE. I hope you find it useful to make the right decision for you.

WHAT’S INSIDE

1. What is a solicitor?

2. What kind of solicitor could I be?

3. What’s the difference between an in-house and private practice solicitor?

4. Real-life examples of solicitors

5. How do I know if law will be the right career for me?

6. Ways to learn more about the legal industry

7. Deciding what kind of solicitor you would like to be

8. Getting legal work experience

9. Positioning yourself and applying for roles

10. Can I still become a solicitor if I didn’t study law?

11. How do I become a qualified solicitor?

12. What else do I need to qualify as a solicitor?

13. Considerations when thinking about taking the SQE

14. About the College

WHAT IS A SOLICITOR?

Simply, a solicitor in England and Wales is a legal professional who gives people expert legal advice and services in one or more areas of law. It’s their job to represent their client’s legal interests, whether the client is an individual, group, or organisation.

A solicitor’s day-to-day duties often depend on their role, area of expertise, and the legal matter they’re currently working on. However, here’s a collection of common everyday responsibilities, regardless of seniority, practice area, and size of firm:

Meetings and calls with clients – to obtain new instructions, or to progress existing matters

Advising on the law and the possible courses of action for clients – normally via email, or in person

Drafting the legal documents required to bring about a desired course of action and circulating these to other parties, for review or comment

Negotiating legal documents with counterparties, by providing or reviewing comments and considering specific legal points

Researching points of law that arise in the course of client matters

Filing documents with official bodies, such as the Land Registry and court

Presenting arguments at court – known as advocacy – usually in the lower (‘junior’) courts

Attending to administrative issues, such as file opening, billing and invoicing for work, etc

Business development, such as nurturing existing client relationships or pitching for new work

“For me, the role of a solicitor is to provide legal advice in day-to-day situations such as purchasing, selling property, assisting with relationship breakdowns or assisting with commercial transactions. You’ll never have the same two days in a row—you could be in the office with your laptop drafting and reviewing legal documents, working in the field with assistants and paralegals, or representing a client at a hearing.”

Monica, Conveyancing Solicitor

With so many different duties to cover, there are also a large number of skills that people need to possess, or be prepared to develop, if they want to become a solicitor. These include:

Information analysis and research skills

Relationship-building with clients and colleagues

Strong attention to detail and organisation

Excellent communication

Creative problem-solving

Resilience and self-confidence

Dedication and stamina

Commercial awareness

What’s the difference between a solicitor and a lawyer?

A solicitor is a legal professional that provides expert, tailored legal advice and services to clients.

A solicitor in England and Wales is formally registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

‘Lawyer’ is the american and international title for a legal professional with similar responsibilities to a UK solicitor. It can also be used in the UK as an umbrella term for different types of licensed legal practitioners, such as solicitors, barristers, and chartered legal executives.

“I don’t think a solicitor needs to be a specific type of person—I believe that anyone can learn and grow into the role. There are so many areas to practice, so there is something for everyone. For instance, not all solicitors need to be good public speakers, as some roles don’t involve this. With the right training and background of skills you can become a solicitor, you just need the passion and motivation for it.”

Nabeala, Solicitor and Module Leader at the College

WHAT KIND OF SOLICITOR COULD I BE?

The areas of law that you could work in as a solicitor almost range from A-Z. Simply, you can specialise in any area that interests you, including:

“One factor which might also affect what your day looks like is the type of organisation you work at. Solicitors can either work at an organisation delivering legal services (‘private practice’) or as part of the legal function of an organisation (‘in-house’). When you work in-house, your ‘clients’ are effectively internal stakeholders (such as directors of the organisation). But you also instruct law firms as outside counsel to provide specialist advice. So, private practice lawyers’ clients will often actually be the in-house legal teams.

“Deciding whether to work in-house or in private practice is a key factor for many solicitors, and is very relevant for aspiring solicitors like you to consider, as qualifying in-house has a bit more flexibility in terms of work experience options compared to private practice.”

Sophie, Restructuring and Insolvency Solicitor

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN IN-HOUSE AND PRIVATE PRACTICE SOLICITOR?

An in-house solicitor primarily works for a single ‘client’, their employer. Either alone or as part of a larger team or department, they look after all the legal matters and interests that apply to the organisation and their services or products.

Solicitors in private practice work for a specialist law firm or legal services organisation. They offer legal advice, support, and services to a number of different external clients, from individual people to large businesses.

Law firms and departments also range in size and scope. Some may cover a large number of legal practice areas, while others will specialise on a specific area of law. The organisation you work for will often depend on the type of work you might prefer.

You can also work as a solicitor in the not-for-profit sector, in local or central government, or in the court service.

“The legal industry is made for anyone and everyone. There are so many different sectors, avenues and opportunities for all kinds of people, it’s just about identifying what your passions and strengths are and trying to match them with an area of law.

“The industry is so exciting because it’s changing rapidly and is beginning to leverage cutting-edge tools like AI. You’re no longer necessarily just a solicitor— you’re an adviser, an engineer, and much more. You can experience many different roles and wear many different hats, and then make a difference in the world in the way you choose.”

Salma, Senior Paralegal, Legal Tech, and SQE2 Student at the College

REAL-LIFE EXAMPLES OF SOLICITORS

“I’m a property lawyer and I deal with buying and selling houses. My favourite part of the role is simply being able to help people.

“I’ve got so many clients who are first time buyers and couples who are getting on the property ladder together. On the day of completion, which is the day where I send the money and tell them that they can go and pick up the keys from the estate agents, the screams of joy and the thank yous I get down the phone are incredible. Knowing that you’ve helped someone achieve that life goal of purchasing their first home is honestly such a great feeling.”

Monica, Conveyancing Solicitor

“Much of my role involved taking instructions from clients on new matters or for witness statements, drafting court documents, attending interim hearings at court before a district judge, analysing evidence, and negotiating and discussing matters with the other side’s solicitor. Specialising in medical negligence didn’t limit me, just the opposite, as it allowed me to use my skills and enthusiasm in an area of law that interested me which, in turn, meant that the work was always very interesting.

“I really enjoyed the advocacy and going to court, but it was also very rewarding to see the difference that a successful claim and compensation could make to someone’s life.”

Fiona, Clinical Negligence Litigation Non-Practising Solicitor and Module Leader at the College

“In my current role, and I think this probably goes for most roles in-house, you don’t just do one area of law. So, while I technically work in commercial law for the police force, it essentially means anything contractual, which can range from research agreements with universities whenever they use police data, to commercial contracts behind football matches, to media agreements such as TV shows featuring the police.

“For me, it’s been massive to go from a global law firm, which focuses on providing the best legal services across the world, to now being in the police force, which makes a real direct impact on people’s lives. And I’ve seen that culture shift and it’s so uplifting and has definitely given me more motivation as I continue my legal journey.”

Baljinder, Commercial In-House Solicitor, West Midlands Police

“For many years, I worked as an immigration solicitor in a not-for-profit Law Centre. I would advise, assist, and represent clients from many parts of the world on a broad range of immigration matters, in particular issues that engaged the law on family reunion, asylum and human rights.

“We were working in what is now very commonly described as a hostile environment towards asylum seekers, in terms of the laws, regimes, and way the Home Office processed and managed asylum applications. So, it was a kind of double whammy of a challenge— we faced funding cuts and constant insecurity around where additional funding would be secured, alongside a tough legislative landscape. It was an extremely difficult time in which we were having to deliver services.

“However, those moments where you were able to secure refugee status for people who had fled war and persecution were some of the most rewarding moments of my career. They meant that that person, or that child, or that family were given a lifeline. They were given an opportunity to start again, to pick up the fragments of their lives and feel safe in a whole new way of living.”

Sajida, Immigration Solicitor and Supervisor at the College

HOW DO I KNOW IF LAW WILL BE THE RIGHT CAREER FOR ME?

Nothing in life is ever set in stone, and a legal education is always a great springboard for other careers. But as training to be a solicitor involves considerable financial and time investments, it’s a good idea to figure out as early as possible whether you’d find it fulfilling as a career.

Sophie, a London-based restructuring & insolvency solicitor and early legal careers expert, highlights the following factors as signs that you could make a great legal professional:

You enjoy reading and writing

Solicitors spend much of their day either drafting or reviewing documents (which can often be quite lengthy). Plus, in legal documents, every word means something; you’ll often spend quite some time carefully constructing a particular sentence or paragraph. So, if you’re a ‘words person’ rather than a ‘numbers person’, this could be a great line of work for you.

Sophie’s bonus tip:

“This isn’t to say that basic numeracy isn’t helpful to solicitors – for example, I did a Business Studies degree and regularly found that the basic Corporate Finance that I studied came in handy, particularly during my Finance and Corporate seats!”

You can communicate well and build relationships

Solicitors need to communicate clearly and effectively both with their clients and others they are working with. Learning to write clearly and being able to explain things simply are skills that you will need to use every day.

Sophie’s bonus tip:

“If you are nervous about speaking to clients, block out time to prepare for your calls or meetings, review the client file and ask any silly questions of your supervisor that you need to.”

You place importance in employability and job value

Once you’ve qualified as a solicitor, you’ve essentially got a profession for life, which affords you a really flexible career path. You’ll be able to use your qualification in a number of legal settings and jurisdictions, not to mention in other career paths altogether. Solicitors are also comparatively well-paid as a profession, and salary levels are quite transparent.

Sophie’s bonus tip:

“Solicitors’ pay can vary hugely depending on the type of firm, the region, and whether you decide to work in-house or in private practice, amongst many other factors which are worth bearing in mind when making your decision.”

You thrive when working with others as part of a team towards a common goal

A working day as a solicitor can often be spent working in small ‘project’ teams with colleagues, to bring about a certain result for a client. If you really enjoy working with others (such as in any previous part-time work or university group work projects), you could be well-suited to life as a solicitor.

Sophie’s bonus tip:

“It’s worth noting here that working as a barrister can be a much more solitary existence, so if you prefer to get your head down and crack on under your own steam, that may be more suited to you.”

Career progression is important to you

Solicitors can have quite well-defined career paths with certainty around structure and hierarchy, especially at larger firms and organisations. This can be really appealing if you’re ambitious and would like to plan for the future, or if you just value transparency in terms of how your career may play out.

Sophie’s bonus tip:

“Although there are usually some pretty set/standard timeframes for promotions within law firms and large corporates, there will usually be flexibility for ‘superstars’. Equally, many firms now have alternative promotion pathways – such as ‘Counsel’ positions – if partnership isn’t your goal.”

It suits your timelines and lifestyle

There are a wide range of modes of study and routes to qualification as a solicitor, depending on your circumstances and preferences. And when it comes to timing, it’s never too late to study – you could decide to work in a law firm first to see if it could be for you, and then do the SQE later.

Sophie’s bonus tip:

“Did you know that the average age of qualification as a solicitor is 29? The profession is FULL of career changers and mature students.”

You’re prepared to make a time and cost investment

It’s no secret that becoming a solicitor involves a fair amount of studying, whichever route to qualification you take. These courses also aren’t cheap – although the SQE is aiming to bring down the cost of studying the law, compared to the LPC.

Sophie’s bonus tip:

“Lots is being done to improve accessibility to the profession and reduce the cost burden of qualifying. For example, scholarships or private loans are available for SQE prep courses, and if you obtain an apprenticeship, training contract or qualify through QWE, many employers will sponsor your studies.”

For more advice from Sophie - read her Become a Solicitor Series.

WAYS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LEGAL INDUSTRY

Next, learn about yourself, your strengths and your weaknesses. Your university’s careers portal may have useful online strength assessments to help you find out more about yourself and whether you might have the aptitude to become a solicitor.

Getting “exposure” to the profession is essential to help you get a feel for what the industry is really like. Much of this research can be done online, but we recommend that you reach out to hear directly from firms and solicitors to really learn about their practice.

“Read about the variable types of work that a solicitor does and see what you might be interested in. Try and speak to others in the profession and secure some work experience, this will help you to see what goes on in the office and whether this will suit you.”

Fiona, Clinical Negligence Litigation Non-Practising Solicitor and Module Leader at the College

Here are just some of the ways in which you can start to explore the industry:

Legal sector & university career fairs: Attend virtual and campus-based careers fairs, particularly in the autumn term. Every conversation will help your communication and networking skills.

Insight days: Firms are increasingly offering short insight days to help you get a feel for working at the organisation.

Social media: Research, follow, and connect with graduate recruitment teams to see videos of their trainees, read top tips, and seek advice, so you can find out whether their firm is right for you.

Law school, university, and regional law society events: Take up the opportunities offered to you in your university’s law society and your regional network. These societies will usually bring in solicitors and firms to discuss what their work is like, to help you learn more about the legal profession.

“Instead of attending individual school, colleges, and university careers events, we’ve decided to host our own events online and invite everybody, to better support social mobility. We also put on more inclusive events, featuring in-house lawyers and even other law firms, to showcase the wider profession to as many people as possible.”

Tom, Head of Resourcing at Browne Jacobson

We recognise that many students are working alongside studying and therefore some of these in-person opportunities are limited. That’s why there has been a wider a move to creating more virtual, accessible opportunities. For instance, The College of Legal Practice hosts virtual open evenings and webinars to help students meet the team, find out more about our courses, and learn the different routes to solicitor qualification. Do seek these events out, as they are aimed at improving social mobility and giving everyone an equal opportunity to learn about the profession.

“Being a paralegal allowed me to try out the legal field before committing to it. There are lots of opportunities and directions available when you graduate so, for me, it was a way to test it out and have an inside look into the work environment.”

Nabeala, Solicitor and Module Leader at the College

DECIDING WHAT KIND OF SOLICITOR YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE

Once you’ve explored the legal profession a little, you should have a strong idea of whether it’s for you. Now, it’s time to deepen your knowledge and understanding of the practice areas you are interested in and the organisations you would like to work for. Research is an important part of being a solicitor, so hone those research skills by finding out all that you can about the organisations you are interested in.

“There’s also a heightened emphasis on having a professional network, including networking skills, communication skills, and being able to reach out to other lawyers, businesses, and individuals. This way, we can build networks where we can refer work to each other and share resources. For example, if you have a client who needs support with immigration law but that isn’t your specialism, you can refer them to someone who does specialise in it. This enables you to still assist and retain that client.”

Michelle, Associate Solicitor at Irwin Mitchell

When you visit career fairs and networking events with organisations, ask about the day-to-day experiences of their trainees and paralegals and the things that are important to you, like sustainability, diversity, networking or wellbeing. Find out what are they looking for in their junior employees in terms of academic record, skills, behaviours and experiences. How can you stand out from the crowd?

“My biggest networking tip is to treat the person you are speaking to as a human being, not their title. Ask them about their day and anything interesting they got up to before the event, make the conversation light and personal and remember people love speaking about themselves. Show sincere interest in them as a person before you jump into asking questions that could help you in your training contract application. They are far more likely to want to help you and also remember you when you follow up later because you made them feel comfortable and heard and treated them with kindness.”

Maab, In-House Trainee Solicitor

GETTING LEGAL WORK EXPERIENCE

“I honestly don’t think I would have been able to secure my training contract without doing paralegal experience first. I also worked as a secretary doing admin support to boost my CV.”

Michelle, Associate Solicitor at Irwin Mitchell

Next, grow your legal skills and work experience via vacation schemes, internships or voluntary work experience through your law school, clinical legal skills modules, or law clinics. Any work experience gained not only strengthens your applications but could even contribute to your Qualifying Work Experience (QWE), of which you need two years to become a qualified solicitor. Initial options include:

Local shadowing & work experience: Ask local firms if you can shadow their paralegals and solicitors and get involved in any work experience possible, even if only for a short period. Your local high street firm is worth a knock on the door or letter through the post—firms will want to see you being proactive whilst studying.

Volunteer: If you can volunteer with a charity such as Citizens Advice Bureau or a law clinic, you’ll get to learn whether you enjoy supporting clients and improve your client service skills at the same time.

Virtual work experience: Increasingly, organisations are offering virtual work experience placements. Whilst they might not quite offer on-the-ground insights, they are accessible and free and will help you to understand the life of a solicitor. Plus, you never know where they might lead.

“You can start your qualifying work experience from the moment you begin your course, and it can be carried out at the legal clinics of different firms, so it takes off the pressure of obtaining a single training contract.”

Monica, Conveyancing Solicitor

POSITIONING YOURSELF AND APPLYING FOR ROLES

“At this stage of your career, law firms are not expecting you to have years of legal experience. If you’re not able to draw on past cases or client interactions, that’s nothing to worry about. Instead, draw on experience from your personal life, such as volunteering and parttime work. I use my six years working as a supervisor in a Co-op supermarket in all my applications because it shows my skills around communication, conflict resolution, and teamwork.”

Michelle, Associate Solicitor at Irwin Mitchell

To position yourself strongly in the market, get your LinkedIn profile set up and start interacting with people in the practice areas you are interested in. Draft a strong CV and original cover letter, tweaking it to match each opportunity that you apply for.

Rather than just a sole focus on fee-earning and technical legal knowledge, employers want to see how individuals can work in teams and draw on the best resources and practices. It’s all about transferable skills, from work experience to activities outside of the world of work, and how you can then apply them to the challenges that you might face when you do come into a law firm.”

Dan, Human Resources Director at Clarke Willmott

Where you see a vacation scheme open, or an opportunity for work experience, send an application. Even if you’re unsuccessful, you’ll get to develop your formal writing skills and positioning of yourself. Gaining any type of customerfacing experience, from retail to a call centre, will help with future applications.

“It’s also important to only apply to the firms whose values align with yours and whose work areas are the ones that you’re interested in. Then, you’re really going to be able to focus your application, your time, and your energy in the right places.”

Patricia, Early Careers Business Partner at Capsticks LLP

Ultimately, getting a role in the legal sector is hard. Remember to seek feedback from applications and your tutor and lecturers if you are at university, and be receptive to it improving your skills and knowledge. The good news is that the SQE route to qualification means you don’t need to go down the formal training contract route if it isn’t for you, so try not to put too much pressure on yourself.

“If you get rejected from a couple of roles, don’t lose hope. Everyone’s been through it, and it’s such a competitive process. I responded to one of the companies that rejected me offering to do voluntary work experience, and that actually led to a training contract, so always go back and ask for feedback.”

Nabeala, Solicitor and Module Leader at the College

Lastly, don’t forget that your academic record may be important: some firms require 2:1, but not exclusively. Fortunately, the SQE route takes the pressure off should you not get the grades you need.

For more advice on accessing the profession visit the College’s Access to Law Hub.

CAN I STILL

BECOME

SOLICITOR IF I

DIDN’T STUDY LAW?

If you didn’t study law at university but still want to be a solicitor, don’t worry! Conversion courses, which you complete after your degree, put non-law students on an equal footing with those who studied law. You don’t even need to take one to start the SQE, although we’d highly advise that you do.

“As a non-law graduate you are likely to bring something slightly different to the table, particularly if you are also a career-changer. More frequently we are realising that differences can be hugely positive, so it’s worth thinking about what makes you stand out, what skills and experience you have that make you unique.”

Laura, Non practising Solicitor and Module Leader at the College

“A key skill is inquisitiveness. Solicitors need good critical problem-solving skills and the ability to do research and analyse information. Someone who is interested in, and has potential in, that wider commercial knowledge and analysis brings different benefits to is more important than somebody who is coming through only with very deep technical knowledge.”

Dan, Human Resources Director at Clarke Willmott

We no longer have academic thresholds as part of our recruitment criteria. I’m yet to see anyone who, in 20+ years of my recruitment career, be successful in the role of a solicitor based on academic success alone. Talent is so much more than just grades. Today, we recruit candidates based on their potential and by seeking skills & behaviours that are directly relevant to the job.”

Tom, Head of Resourcing at Browne Jacobson

Some non-law graduates opt to take a law conversion course, the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) conversion course, or even the College’s own Graduate Diploma in Law Programme (GDL).

HOW DO I BECOME A QUALIFIED SOLICITOR?

Becoming a fully qualified solicitor after your degree or conversion course involves the completion of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). The SQE was introduced in September 2021, replacing the LPC as the main route to qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales.

To become a solicitor, you must complete the following:

The SQE qualification is split into two halves, SQE1 and SQE2. SQE1 tests your Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK) across a range of subject areas. The exam has two parts - FLK1 and FLK2. You’ll need to complete both parts to pass SQE1 and move onto SQE2.

If you have completed the LPC you will be exempt from SQE1, and if you are a qualified lawyer you might be able to apply for an exemption too. It is worth visiting the SRA's website to find out more.

Business Law and Practice

Dispute Resolution

Contract

Tort

Legal System of England and Wales

Constitutional and Administrative Law and EU Law and Legal Services

Property Practice

Wills and the Administration of Estates

Solicitors Accounts

Land Law

Trusts

Criminal Law and Practice

SQE2 assesses practical legal skills and also has two parts: Oral assessments and Written assessments.

practice areas in which these legal skills are assessed are:

Criminal Litigation (including advising clients at the police station)

Dispute Resolution 3. Property Practice

Wills and Intestacy, Probate Administration and Practice 5. Business organisations rules and procedures (including money laundering and financial services)

Still got questions on the SQE? Visit the College's SQE Hub.

WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO QUALIFY AS A SOLICITOR?

Practical training has also long been a part of the route to qualifying as a solicitor. The idea is that real-life experience of providing legal services is essential to acquire the necessary skills for practice.

It has always been necessary to complete a period of practical training in order to satisfy the regulatory requirements for entry to the roll of solicitors. In regulatory terms, the requirements for qualifying work experience (QWE) are simply stated:

It must be undertaken over a period equivalent to 2 years full time

It can be done in up to 4 institutions (there is no specified minimum or maximum duration at any one), and

It must be ‘experience of providing legal services that offers a candidate the opportunity to develop some or all of the competences needed to practise as a solicitor’.

What counts as QWE is an “incredibly broad brush”. QWE can be voluntary or paid, obtained from different organisations which don’t necessarily have to be law firms, and can include in-house teams, law clinics and unregulated providers of legal services. Moreover, QWE can be obtained from overseas organisations – music to the ears of international students and professionals looking to qualify in the UK. Some larger corporate law firms may prefer candidates to have “at least some experience in a corporate setting”.

You can also obtain your QWE before, during or after taking the SQE exams- which greatly helps those needing to work to access the profession.

However, while the route to qualification does not require you to do any or all of your QWE before attempting SQE2, it is clear that the aim of QWE is to expose you to real-life experiences in the workplace to prepare you for SQE2 assessments. In fact, those candidates who are already working as legal professionals tend to do better in SQE2.

“My first legal work experience was as a paralegal at a high street firm in Liverpool, which led to a training contract nine months later.”

Fiona, Clinical Negligence Litigation Non-Practising Solicitor and Module Leader

at the College

For more details, visit the College’s QWE hub.

CONSIDERATIONS WHEN THINKING ABOUT TAKING THE SQE

Here are three of the more common SQE pathways that you might want to follow:

Full-time and Focused

“I know I want to be a solicitor, and I want to get my qualifications done and out the way”

Choose full-time study and sit the exams at your earliest opportunity.

Earn ‘n’ Learn “I need to work whilst I study”

Complete your 2 years QWE whilst preparing for your SQE assessments.

Undecided?

Make steps to qualify by completing some QWE to decide if the career is for you before you start your SQE prep.

You can also take SQE1 and SQE2 prep as part of an LLM in Legal Practice at many law schools including The College of Legal Practice.

What you should consider for your own SQE journey:

Knowledge

When did you last study law?

What is your current level of knowledge of the law of England and Wales?

Time

How much time do you have to learn and revise alongside your work/other commitments?

When are you able to take time to study and revise over the assessment period?

How quickly do you want to qualify?

Will your employer support flexible working and additional study leave?

Finances

Do you need to work whilst you are studying?

Do you need funding support via instalments/student loans?

Will your employer fund your SQE assessment or prep training costs?

QWE

Can you gain QWE whilst you study for the SQE?

Does completing SQE1 help in securing work/QWE?

“It is official! I am over the moon to be admitted as a solicitor. I am very grateful for all of the support I received from The College of Legal Practice and for their brilliant preparation for both SQE1 and SQE2. Time to celebrate!”

Dan, Solicitor and LLM Student at the College

MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES FOR YOU

For more information, visit:

The College’s SQE Hub

Access to Law career guidance and resources

ABOUT THE COLLEGE

We are a fully accredited postgraduate legal education provider based in the UK and specialising in the SQE. We are part of The College of Law, a global notfor-profit group with over 50 years of legal training expertise.

The College is passionate about increasing access to the profession, through offering inclusive, flexible and affordable SQE programmes with exceptional individual support.

For an informal discussion regarding which course may work best for you, please get in touch at info@collegalpractice.com or call 020 3884 4112

Information correct at time of publication. Date of publication: July 2024