Become a solicitor
The way of becoming a solicitor in England and Wales is changing. The SQE is the new qualification for aspiring solicitors. The route you take depends on where you are in your current legal studies.
The solicitor route for law graduates
Law graduates can now qualify via the new Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) training route. The SQE is the biggest change in solicitors’ training for nearly 30 years and will eventually completely replace the traditional Legal Practice Course pathway.
SQE candidates are required to pass two sets of assessments (SQE 1 and SQE 2) and complete two years of qualifying work experience (‘QWE’) to qualify as a solicitor, the latter of which is replacing the traditional training contract. BPP offers a wide range of SQE courses to help law graduates complete the SQE, including postgraduate and shorter, exam preparation courses.
An apprenticeship offers an alternative to the more traditional postgraduate pathway. It is a work-based route into the profession, with many firms opting to take on trainees through a 30-month Graduate Entry Solicitor Apprenticeship. This allows you to develop the knowledge, skills and competencies required for practice, whilst working and studying towards the SQE assessments, before qualifying as a solicitor.
Recommended courses for law graduates
The solicitor route for non-law graduates
The SQE route is also open to non-law graduates and unqualified legal professionals with experience of legal practice although there is an expectation from the majority of the legal profession that they need to complete a law conversion course before commencing their SQE preparation. This is because the level of legal knowledge and skills required to pass the SQE is very high and and you are required to have a suitable level of experience and understanding of the law.
Recommended law conversion courses
Non-graduates seeking to enter the legal profession
There are many ways into the legal sector through apprenticeships. You can earn the same qualifications as those who have taken the more traditional route but instead of studying full time, you will be employed and earning a salary while you learn and receive on-the-job training.
Visit the GOV.uk site to look for legal apprenticeship jobs to build your law career.
Further reading
The role of a solicitor
What's a career as a solicitor really like? All you need to know.
Qualifying work experience (QWE)
If you’re taking the SQE route to become a qualified solicitor, you will need to complete two years of full-time qualifying work experience (QWE).A laywer looks like me
We’re here to inspire the next generation of legal talent – by breaking down stereotypes and barriers to show that with hard work, determination and passion, anyone can be a lawyer. In this video we speak to Amy Marren, a solicitor apprentice and former 2x Paralympic swimmer and world record holder, whose own life experiences led to a passion to study law and become a solicitor.
Frequently asked questions
If you can’t find the answer to a question, our advisers will be happy to help.
How long it takes to qualify as a solicitor depends on whether you choose to study full time, part time or via an apprenticeship. For those who’ve undertaken an LLB and choose to study full time, it takes at least 6 years to qualify as a solicitor, including your training contract or qualifying work experience. If you’ve studied a different degree, you’ll need to factor in additional time to study a law conversion course as well.