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Passing the SQE: legal training course is crucial

24 September 2021
Student walking into building
BPPEditorial Team

Why You Should Take a Preparation Course for the SQE

The introduction of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) means that you are no longer required by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to have a law degree or law conversion course (such as a PGDL or GDL) - or follow a specific postgraduate solicitor training programme. The new route simply requires that you have a degree (in any subject), pass two stages of exams (SQE1 and SQE2), complete two years’ Qualifying Work Experience and pass the SRA’s character and suitability assessment.

This crucial change in legal training gives you the benefit of choosing the solicitor training that you feel will get you through the challenging SQE assessments while preparing you for success in practice.

Gain the knowledge, skills and experience you need to succeed

Preparing for the SQE will take serious commitment and dedication.

While the SQE offers new and different pathways to qualify as a solicitor, the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to perform well remain unchanged.

Each stage of the SQE involves answering 360 multiple choice questions that test your knowledge of fundamental legal principles and practice across core areas. In addition, there are 16 assessments that test those practice areas across a variety of skills. Each paper takes five hours and six minutes to complete.

Which is exactly why significant preparation and understanding are key to passing these challenging and rigorous assessments.

At BPP, we believe that aspiring solicitors need to choose training courses that develop their critical legal knowledge, competencies and skills to ensure success in the SQE assessments and in practice. Our approach to the SQE has been developed to meet the demands of the UK’s leading law firms, in consultation with our regulators and professional bodies. Meaning we know exactly what they’re looking for, and we know how to get you through the assessments and ready for a fulfilling and exciting career in practice.

Pass first time

By choosing the right SQE preparation course, you’ll be able to sit the assessments with the confidence, knowledge and skills you require to pass first time - and avoid costly re-sit fees.

The total cost of both SQE assessments is £3,980. If you fail you will need to pay in full each time to re-sit: you can have up to three attempts to pass each stage – meaning one initial sitting, and two re-sits can be taken.

Our sector research has shown that simply passing the assessments won’t be enough for many legal recruiters. 77% of firms expect future trainees to have undertaken additional training and gained key legal skills and specialist knowledge before starting their qualifying work experience. Which is why we created our Essentials for Practice course, which focuses on building your legal knowledge in the specialist areas of law and practice that employers are looking for. It also develops those key skills that will enhance your employability and provides you with that all-important competitive edge.

Find out more about the skills aspiring solicitors need.

Choosing the right course for you

Whether you choose to study remotely or in-centre, full-time or part-time, our range of SQE courses provides you with the choice and flexibility to progress through your solicitor training on the SQE route in a way that suits you.

You can opt for a standalone course that progresses your legal training to the next stage or choose a more comprehensive package of courses which will give you better value.

Non-law graduates

Discover our SQE training package for non-law graduates.

Law graduates

Discover our SQE training package for law graduates.