2,753 students sat latest assessment

The pass rate for the latest sitting of part two of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE2) has reached a record high of 82%, according to new figures released by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

The April–May 2025 sitting saw 2,753 candidates sit the assessment, with first-time sitters — making up the bulk of the cohort at 2,577 candidates — achieving an even higher pass rate of 84%.

This surpasses the previous high of 81%, recorded earlier this year.

SQE2 comprises 16 stations in total, including 12 written assessments and four oral assessments, testing practical skills and the application of legal knowledge. You can read the SRA’s latest statistical report in full here.

News of the pass rates comes as a petition calling for an overhaul of the SQE surpassed 1,500 signatures. The anonymous trainee behind the petition argues that the exams are “not fit for purpose” and discriminate against candidates from diverse backgrounds and those with different learning styles. They also shared how preparing for the SQE has taken a serious toll on their mental, financial and physical wellbeing.

Loughborough Uni general counsel and AstraZeneca senior lawyer among those to publicly criticise new assessment regime

Several senior in-house lawyers have voiced concerns about the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), with one describing it as an “oppressive” and “irrational” system that jeopardises students’ wellbeing.

In a letter to Solicitors Regulation Authority’s chief executive Paul Philip, Samuel McGinty, general counsel and director of legal services at Loughborough University, said his team had been “struck by the unnecessary complexity and what I would describe as the oppressive nature of the SQE arrangements”.

Although the university does not offer legal education, it employs a solicitor apprentice who sat SQE1. McGinty praised the apprentice as “very professional and capable”, but said her experience of the exam process had highlighted serious systemic flaws.

Among the issues raised by McGinty were confusing booking processes, strict and intrusive exam rules, and the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), which he argued “acts as a block to development and improvement”.

“I do however feel that requiring candidates to complete a formal non-disclosure agreement is disproportionate, especially in the context of their candidacy to join a profession which is bound by professional rules around integrity and confidentiality,” McGinty wrote.

He also criticised what he called an “oppressive” exam environment, which he claims includes “close surveillance”, “personal searches”, and restrictions on bringing water into the five-hour assessment. “Surely being able to take water into an exam of that length is something to which all candidates should be entitled?” he added.

On the design of the exam itself, McGinty argued that the highly time-pressured multiple-choice format seems “irrational”, “bears no resemblance to practice” and amounts to little more than a “memory test”.

The letter also raised concerns over mental health and wellbeing, citing reports of candidates experiencing panic attacks and exacerbation of existing health conditions in exam centres. “This is at best an inauspicious start to a career as a regulated professional and at worst communicates that the SRA’s concern as to wellbeing in the profession is not reflected in their own practices,” McGinty said.

McGinty warned that these issues could disproportionately affect candidates from less privileged backgrounds, undermining the SRA’s stated mission to improve access and diversity in the profession. “For those from less privileged backgrounds, the previously described experience will be more acute,” he cautioned.

The letter ends with a call for urgent reform: “I would urge the SRA to promptly review the way the assessment is designed and administered to protect the wellbeing of the candidates and to effectively prepare candidates for practice.”

In a LinkedIn post accompanying his letter, McGinty revealed that he had written it last year but felt compelled to share it publicly this week, following the launch of a petition by a trainee solicitor calling for changes to the SQE. “Some of the issues being raised now are ones I flagged to the SRA a year ago,” he wrote. “Nothing appears to have changed since then.”

The Loughborough GC isn’t the only in-house lawyer speaking out.

Tanya Dolan, senior legal counsel at AstraZeneca UK, urged people across the profession to sign the trainee’s petition, which argues that the new exams are “disproportionately challenging” and have taken a severe toll on candidates’ mental, financial and physical wellbeing.

“For some time, I have been working to understand why so little is being done to address the serious impact of the SQE exams on students’ mental and physical health and why, in practice, the SQE is creating more barriers to entering the legal profession,” Dolan wrote in a post shared on LinkedIn.

While urging people to sign the petition, she asked them to reflect on the serious questions it raises about the SQE’s implementation and oversight.

Separately, Madeleine Weber, commercial counsel at the software company Sitestacker, also criticised the SQE in response to an article by former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who branded students signing the petition as “snowflakes” and claimed they simply wanted the exams to be made easier.

“This is not about lowering standards,” Weber writes on LinkedIn. “Candidates aren’t asking to be handed qualification on a plate.” She goes on to say that students seek clarity on exam content, fewer admin errors, access to the right prep tools as well as more financials support to fund exams. “An exam can be rigorous and well-run,” she continues. “It can maintain high standards while giving candidates a fair shot.”

In a statement in response to the petition, the SRA said: “We understand that candidates can find the SQE challenging, both to prepare for and sit. It is a demanding, high stakes assessment that gives successful candidates access to a licence to practise.”

It continued:

“The questions are written by a pool of solicitors reflecting what is expected of a newly qualified solicitor and the pass mark is determined using well-established methods. The SQE’s independent reviewer has confirmed it’s a robust and fair assessment. Many candidates have now passed the SQE. Pass rates and statistical information about candidates are published after each sitting. Differential outcomes by ethnicity are widely seen in legal professional exams, in other sectors and at different stages of education. Informed by research commissioned from the University of Exeter, we are taking action to address the causes of such differential outcomes that are within our influence.”

Support paralegals to qualify as solicitors

The College of Legal Practice has teamed up with Pinsent Masons’ flexible lawyering arm to support its paralegals on the path to solicitor qualification.

The online law school will deliver SQE prep to paralegals at Vario, Pinsents’ flexible legal services arm, through a new initiative dubbed ‘MLS Qualify’. The first two MLS trainees will begin their roles in September, with SQE training due to finish by summer 2027.

Led by Richard Coffey, head of Vario Managed Legal Services Delivery, the new pathway is designed to support social mobility and provide a clear progression route for paralegals working in non-traditional legal roles.

“MLS Qualify was designed to reflect the changing nature of legal practice and the myriad routes by which people can choose to pursue a career in law,” Coffey said. “For us at Vario, the emphasis has always been on ensuring there’s no glass ceiling to the paralegal career pathway.”

He continued: “This initiative is specifically designed to offer MLS Trainees experience of legal technology teams and other non-traditional work as part of their training, to ensure that innovation in legal services delivery is a core part of their learning.”

The College will deliver flexible, online SQE prep through a year-long programme that fits around trainees’ day-to-day client work while allowing ample time for study alongside their existing roles at Vario.

This more flexible route to qualification is possible thanks to changes introduced with the SQE, which allow aspiring lawyers to bypass the traditional training contract and instead complete Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) with up to four different employers, including law firms, in-house legal teams and law clinics.

Dr Giles Proctor, chief executive of the College, commented:

“We are delighted to have been selected to train Vario’s first MLS Trainees and be part of this new pathway to SQE success. The College shares many of Vario’s values and ethos, focusing on flexibility, responsiveness and innovation, and ensuring a good work life balance for our students.”

The College already has SQE training partnerships in place with firms including Reed Smith and Accutrainee.

Former Home Sec slammed students calling for exam overhaul

The trainee solicitor behind a petition calling for an overhaul of the “disproportionately challenging” Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) has hit back at lawyer-turned-politician Suella Braverman KC, after she claimed in a national newspaper that those signing it had a “snowflake sensibility”.

For Legal Cheek readers who haven’t been following the story, we first reported late last week that someone purporting to be a trainee at an international law firm had launched a petition calling for reform of the SQE.

In it, they argue the new exams are “not fit for purpose” and claim they discriminate against candidates from diverse backgrounds and those with different learning styles. The trainee also described how the SQE had taken a serious toll on their mental, financial, and physical wellbeing. The petition has since attracted nearly 900 signatures.

One person we can safely assume hasn’t signed the petition is former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who — much to our surprise — took to the pages of The Telegraph to voice her displeasure.

“A cohort of aspiring solicitors has taken to petitioning for the SQE to be made easier,” she writes. “Their complaint? The exams are ‘too hard, disproportionately challenging’, and, of course, ‘biased towards certain backgrounds and learning styles’. In other words: ‘We didn’t do well, and it must be someone else’s fault.’”

The former Cambridge-educated barrister goes on to argue that the “snowflake sensibility — once confined to undergraduate common rooms and the wilder fringes of social media — has now infected even the corridors of legal ambition”.

Well, the rookie solicitor who launched the petition has now responded to Braverman’s comments in a brief update posted on the Change.org website.

“Nowhere in the petition did I claim that the exam was ‘too hard’,” they say. “I’m not a wet lettuce, for Christ’s sake.” Doubling down on their argument that the SQE is “disproportionately challenging”, they urged the Conservative MP to “don your reading spectacles and place your thinking cap firmly on and re-read [the petition].”

They go on to list what they describe as the key issues currently affecting the SQE and the students expected to pass it — many of which are already highlighted in the original petition.

These include the “extortionate” cost of sitting the exams, the lack of past papers, reports of candidates allegedly being “denied access [to] water during the exam,” and concerns that the questions do not reflect real-life legal practice.

“I am somewhat disappointed that a KC could not identify the more nuanced points made within the petition,” they write. “However, I guess that comes with the territory of using the penniless youth trying hard to succeed in your political point scoring,” before the trainee signs off, “Yours sincerely, A snowflake x.”

In response to the petition, a spokesperson for the SRA previously said: “We understand that candidates can find the SQE challenging, both to prepare for and sit. It is a demanding, high stakes assessment that gives successful candidates access to a licence to practise.”

They continued:

“The questions are written by a pool of solicitors reflecting what is expected of a newly qualified solicitor and the pass mark is determined using well-established methods. The SQE’s independent reviewer has confirmed it’s a robust and fair assessment. Many candidates have now passed the SQE. Pass rates and statistical information about candidates are published after each sitting. Differential outcomes by ethnicity are widely seen in legal professional exams, in other sectors and at different stages of education. Informed by research commissioned from the University of Exeter, we are taking action to address the causes of such differential outcomes that are within our influence.”

Support up to 190 aspiring solicitors

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has dished out £360,000 to support disadvantaged candidates taking the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), using money from fines imposed on assessment provider Kaplan.

The SQE Access and Reinvestment Fund, which has been accumulating since the SQE launched in 2021, will help cover exam fees for up to 190 aspiring solicitors from underrepresented backgrounds in its first round of distribution.

The funding has been allocated to 11 organisations, including social mobility charities, universities, and training providers. Recipients include the Legal Social Mobility Fund, Black and Proud CIC, and The Law Society’s Diversity Access Scheme, as well as law schools such as The College of Legal Practice and The University of Law.

Each organisation will run its own process to determine which aspiring lawyers are selected, with the first cohort potentially starting as early as January 2026.

The fund consists of performance-based payments from Kaplan, in line with its contract with the SRA. Over the past two years, the assessment provider has faced criticism for administrative failings, including wrongly informing 175 candidates that they had failed the SQE.

Paul Philip, SRA chief executive, said:

“One of the objectives of the SQE is to promote a diverse profession by removing artificial and unjustifiable barriers. Our decision to distribute the fund in this way reflects our commitment to meeting the SQE objectives. The fund recognises that talent, not financial circumstances, should determine who can become a solicitor. Up to 190 candidates could be supported through the scheme. We look forward to following their journeys.”

The 11 organisations receiving funding are: Aberystwyth University Veterans’ Legal Link, Accutrainee, Black and Proud CIC, Bristol Law Society, Law Training Centre, Legal Social Mobility Fund, Social Welfare Solicitors’ Qualification Fund, The College of Legal Practice, The Law Society of England and Wales (Diversity Access Scheme), The University of Central Lancashire, and The University of Law.

New training regime slammed by TC holder

An individual claiming to be a future trainee solicitor has launched a public campaign calling for reform of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), citing the “severe toll” it has taken on her mental, financial and physical wellbeing.

Using the name ‘Hannah Cox’, which she’s since stated is an alias, the petitioner raises several key concerns, including what she describes as the “opaque nature” of SQE administration, particularly the SRA’s delay in publishing individual exam providers’ pass rates. This lack of transparency has, she argues, eroded trust among aspiring lawyers and is further compounded by reports of inaccurate exam results and an inadequate appeals process.

“The SQE is not fit for purpose,” states the petition, which has attracted over 260 signatures. It highlights concerns that elements of the exam may discriminate against candidates from diverse backgrounds and with different learning styles. This, she says, poses a threat to the diversity of the legal profession and risks excluding valuable perspectives that “enrich legal practice”.

The petition also addresses concerns about the SQE’s impact on students’ mental health. “The pressure and uncertainty surrounding the SQE is damaging, with many candidates enduring extreme stress and anxiety,” she writes. This mental toll is an “unacceptable consequence” of an exam meant to broaden access to the profession.

The future trainee continues:

“Despite being academically very strong, with a law degree from a top university and a training contract with an international firm, I have found the SQE disproportionately challenging. It has not only affected my academic life but has also taken a severe toll on my mental, financial, and physical well-being. This is a sentiment echoed by the vast majority of other candidates who have undertaken this exam.”

“Future legal professionals deserve a fair and equitable path to qualification,” she continues, calling on the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to improve transparency and conduct a thorough review of the SQE’s content and structure. She argues that the exam should accurately assess a candidate’s capability without placing undue strain on their mental and physical health.

Since its introduction in 2021, the SQE has not delivered the smooth rollout the SRA had hoped for. Legal Cheek has previously reported a range of issues, including IT failures at test centres, long online queues to book exam slots, and what is arguably the most serious error to date — a calculation blunder that wrongly informed 175 students they had failed SQE1.

An SRA spokesperson said: “We understand that candidates can find the SQE challenging, both to prepare for and sit. It is a demanding, high stakes assessment that gives successful candidates access to a licence to practise.”

They continued:

“The questions are written by a pool of solicitors reflecting what is expected of a newly qualified solicitor and the pass mark is determined using well-established methods. The SQE’s independent reviewer has confirmed it’s a robust and fair assessment. Many candidates have now passed the SQE. Pass rates and statistical information about candidates are published after each sitting. Differential outcomes by ethnicity are widely seen in legal professional exams, in other sectors and at different stages of education. Informed by research commissioned from the University of Exeter, we are taking action to address the causes of such differential outcomes that are within our influence.”

BPP’s head of outreach Jonny Hurst guides you through them

The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) has remained a significant challenge for aspiring solicitors, with its assessment formats differing markedly from those most law students were used to.

At a recent virtual student workshop held in partnership with BPP University Law School, head of outreach Jonny Hurst offered an in-depth look at the ‘single best answer’ multiple-choice questions (MCQs) that candidates must master to pass the first stage of the SQE.

Hurst, a former City law firm partner, guided a virtual audience of aspiring lawyers on how to approach and prepare for MCQs, while also giving them an opportunity to put their own knowledge to the test with a series of mock questions.

Legal Cheek is running ‘The SQE series’ with BPP University Law School. The video of each session will be made available one month after each virtual event together with further FAQs arising from each session which SQE experts from BPP are answering.

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Appeal follows latest exam results

A popular lawfluencer has urged law firms to reconsider before severing ties with future trainees who fail the SQE, highlighting ongoing “glitches” in the new qualification process and urging firms to give students “the benefit of the doubt”.

The appeal, posted to LinkedIn today by medical and cosmetic injury solicitor Chrissie Wolfe, argues that the “hard” exam is meant to replace a training contract, not supplement it, and that requiring students to do both effectively tests their competence twice. “You can afford to give them some leeway,” she writes.

“There are still a number of glitches with various aspects of the process meaning that many students aren’t being taught the proper content for the exams, provided the correct conditions for taking the exams or afforded equal opportunity of passing,” Wolfe continues. “It’s still a new system, give the students the benefit of the doubt”.

Wolfe, who regularly shares legal career advice on Instagram and TikTok, emphasises that “humility breeds loyalty and the more you support your candidates, the more they will support you back”.

The lawyer’s post follows a recent Legal Cheek Career Conundrum featuring a student whose training contract offer was revoked after failing SQE1 on the first attempt — despite having mitigating circumstances.

The post sparked plenty of comments, with advice ranging from appealing to the SRA to have the attempt struck out to publicly calling out the firm.

Regulator will keep responding to student feedback

The chair of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has acknowledged “teething problems” in the transition to the SQE, as part of a summary of discussions from the regulator’s latest board meeting.

Since its introduction in 2021, the SQE route to qualification has come under criticism as candidates have been forced to contend with clunky online booking systems, disruptive tech issues and marking blunders.

SRA boss Anna Bradley has acknowledged these issues, stating that “there have inevitably been some teething problems” with the new system and promising to continue responding to “feedback about the candidate experience”.

The board highlighted the attainment gap between Black and Asian candidates and their white counterparts as a key area of focus. “This is not specifically an SQE issue,” Bradley explains, noting that similar disparities were observed in the LPC and other non-legal assessments. She adds that the SRA is “developing an action plan” to address this issue, based on the findings of the review it commissioned in 2023.

Despite these challenges, the board’s overall reflections on the SQE appear positive. Bradley writes, “The primary aim was to ensure that every solicitor was being assessed to the same high standard, and we are confident that this is the case.” The board also expressed confidence that the new qualification route will improve access to the profession, with Bradley stating: “There is also more opportunity to earn-as-you-learn, and a range of more affordable choices in the training market, which we hope will enable wider access to the profession.”

Focus on functioning legal knowledge

The regulator is inviting all stakeholders, including students, to provide feedback on the Functional Legal Knowledge (FLK) elements of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) as part of its annual review.

he aim of the review is to update the FLK to reflect changes in law and practice and to make any other essential adjustments. It also provides an opportunity to clarify points based on feedback from stakeholders, where needed.

SQE1 consists of two parts: FLK1 and FLK2. It covers 12 legal subjects, including business law, tort, contract, and land law, and is assessed through single-best-answer multiple-choice questions over a two-day period. SQE2, on the other hand, tests the application of legal knowledge through a series of written and practical exercises.

Feedback will be reviewed by the assessment provider, Kaplan, and any decisions to make changes to the FLK will be made in conjunction with the regulator. The deadline for feedback is 5pm on 28 February.

This review is separate from the independent review commissioned by the SRA late last year to evaluate whether the SQE is progressing towards meeting its objectives.

Will assess whether new pathway is on track to achieving its objectives

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has commissioned an independent review to evaluate whether the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is on track to achieving some of its objectives.

In a bulletin this week, the regulator confirmed that IFF, a social and market research agency, will conduct the first independent evaluation of the new pathway since its launch in 2021.

The SRA said that the review will assess whether the SQE is “providing greater assurance of consistent standards at the point of admission” and “encouraging the development of new and diverse pathways to qualification”.

The marketing agency will survey SQE students, employers, and law schools to gather their insights and experiences with the SQE and qualifying work experience (QWE). A small pilot survey launched last month, with a larger survey set to begin in early 2025.

Last month, Legal Cheek reported a slight drop in the SQE2 pass rate to 74%, while in October, the SQE1 pass rate hit an all-time low of 44%.

Earlier this year, Kaplan, the company responsible for administering the SQE, issued an apology after 175 students were mistakenly informed that they had failed parts of their assessments.

Over 900 students sat latest exams

The results for the latest sitting of part two of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) were released yesterday, showing a slight drop in the pass rate to 74%.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s latest report shows that 932 candidates sat part two of the SQE in July and August this year.

The pass rate for first-time sitters, comprising 860 candidates, was slightly higher at 77%.

The overall pass rate of 74% represents a slight decrease from the earlier sitting this year, where 79% of students passed.

SQE2 is made up of 16 stations, including 12 written exams and four oral assessments, all aimed at testing practical skills and the application of legal knowledge.

Last month, Legal Cheek reported that the SQE1 pass rate had fallen to a record low of 44%.

Earlier this year, Kaplan, the company responsible for administering the SQE, issued an apology after 175 students were mistakenly informed that they had failed parts of their assessments.

SQE student Brian Okwaisie discusses balancing revision strategies and why he chose BPP

The introduction of the SQE in 2021 transformed the qualification process for future solicitors in the UK. Its roll-out has been far from smooth, marred by organisational chaos, marking errors and strikingly low pass rates — with only 44% of candidates passing SQE1 this summer.

Many students face the challenge of tackling these rigorous exams while juggling jobs and applying for vacation schemes and training contracts. To learn how to navigate such a demanding schedule, I spoke with Brian Okwaisie, a student enrolled in the SQE 1+2 LLM program at BPP University Law School, about his strategies for successfully passing SQE1 while managing a host of other commitments.

Balancing competing commitments is a common struggle SQE students face while preparing for their exams. Okwaisie opted to take BPP’s SQE 1+2 LLM course online, allowing himself some extra flexibility. “I chose BPP because of their success rate compared to some other SQE providers I looked at,” he tells me. Okwaisie goes on to give me an insight into what his typical week looked like on the SQE1 prep course. “I had around five two-hour online workshops each week. You are expected to turn up to the sessions knowing the content so you can spend the session going through practice questions and asking clarification questions to your tutor,” he says. Okwaisie admits that this made for a challenging weekly timetable: “To be honest, I didn’t have much of a work/life balance. It was very much just working and studying for those three months.”

I am curious to know how BPP supported Okwaisie as he completed the SQE1 prep course. “The support from BPP was really good. I had the option to study my course online which was really good because it allowed me a bit more flexibility,” he responds. He also mentions the support of the tutors at BPP:

“Sometimes when you’re balancing study and work you will get behind on a few tasks but my tutors were very happy to help me catch up and they were always available to answer questions over email,” he tells me.

BPP tutors also play a role in helping students manage their time to prevent themselves falling behind. “I was given a personal tutor who could help me manage my time and create a plan for balancing work and studying,” Okwaisie says. “I was able to go and see my tutor and discuss my progress and my wider career goals.”

Okwaisie shared some of his top tips for staying sane while coping with a challenging workload. “What really helped was making lists when I felt overwhelmed. This helped me break down my work into manageable chunks and be practical instead of panicking,” he says. “I had a detailed timetable to make sure I knew what I needed to do.”

I am curious to know about the revision strategies that helped Okwaisie pass SQE1. “My first tip would be to start early,” he says. “I was revising the content little and often from the start of the course.” He also recommends identifying your weaker topics and targeting your revision accordingly. “I had existing knowledge of some of the SQE topics from my undergraduate law degree, but I needed to refresh my knowledge on subjects like land law which I hadn’t studied since my second year. I identified topics like these which I would need to work harder on. I blocked out time in the week to go over these topics, for me it was on a Sunday.”

Okwaisie adapted his approach as the exam drew nearer. “When the SQE course finished in December, I focused on doing practice questions, making a Word document of the questions I got wrong along with a note of the underlying law.” Again, starting this process early was key. “By the time it got to January, I had a 20 or 30-page document for each FLK (Functioning Legal Knowledge paper) which covered the topics I was weaker on. I tried to go through these every day.”

All this hard work paid off and Okwaisie passed the SQE1. I ask about how the SQE experience differed from that of his undergraduate law degree. “Because I was studying my undergrad during the pandemic, I actually didn’t have any in-person exams. Instead, we had 24-hour open book exams,” Okwaisie explains, raising the fact that the SQE may prove particularly challenging for this current generation of ‘Covid graduates’. “During the SQE, you’re in that hall by yourself with no notes,” Okwaisie says. “I had to approach my preparation differently and focus on memorising the content as well as understanding it.”

Okwaisie is currently waiting for the results of his SQE2 exam which he sat a few weeks ago. Looking to the future, he tells me about the careers support BPP offers in addition to the SQE prep course. “There’s the BPP futures website which has a jobs board,” he says. “You can also send applications over to the careers service who will review them for you. I am finding this very helpful as I’m hoping to qualify as a solicitor at a commercial firm.”

Brian Okwaisie will be speaking at ‘Why is the SQE so hard to pass? — with BPP University Law School’, a virtual student event taking place TOMORROW (Tuesday 26 November). Apply now to attend.

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One aspiring lawyer is eager to know what the most challenging part is and why

In the latest in of our Career Conundrums series, one aspiring solicitor finds themselves grappling with concerns about taking the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).

“Hello, I have a career conundrum for you to post please. I am due to sit SQE1 early next year and I am really worried if I am being honest. I have read some of the comments on your website and posts on different message boards, most of which are really negative about the whole SQE experience. Also the recent story about the SQE1 pass rate dropping to 44% has me stressing! I am looking for a bit of advice for those who have been through the process about what they found the most difficult and why. I am hoping this will help me better prepare. I am also keen to hear from your readers who may not have been successful first time around, and what they did/are doing differently this time. Please keep anon, thanks.”

If you have a career conundrum, email us at tips@legalcheek.com.

As a major law firm overhauls its SQE partnership, Legal Cheek assesses the battle for law school dominance

Just over three years ago, the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) made its debut, transforming the path to becoming a solicitor and reshaping the legal training landscape in England and Wales.

While the regulator continues to tackle challenges with its delivery — ranging from painfully slow booking processes and tech issues to marking blunders — law schools are fighting their own battle for a share of the prep market.

There was a notable scuffle last week, as The College of Legal Practice (CoLP) out-wrestled fellow new entrant to the SQE market, Barbri, to win an exclusive deal to train global law firm Reed Smith‘s future London trainees. Previously CoLP and Barbri had shared the training responsibilities for the firm, having nabbed the contract four years ago from BPP University Law School. BPP, alongside The University of Law (ULaw), represent the legal education establishment, and despite an increase in competition — and the loss of the odd firm like Reed Smith — they continue to dominate the future lawyer training market.

Law firm partnerships are important in this respect. Around 2,500 students are trained up this way each year. Although that represents only about 30% of the approximately 9,000 students doing the SQE and legacy LPC courses annually, the indirect benefits of being associated with top law firms have a much wider effect in attracting self-funded students.

BPP probably just edges ULaw here, with both having carried over most of their deals from the LPC to the SQE. Indeed BPP’s loss of Reed Smith, which offers a significant but not massive 26 training contracts each year in London, was something of an aberration. Importantly, BPP retained its crown jewel deal with the ‘City Consortium‘, a group of six elite City law firms. The group — comprising Freshfields, Herbert Smith Freehills, Hogan Lovells, Linklaters, Norton Rose Fulbright, and Slaughter and May — recruits over 400 trainees annually, with BPP exclusively responsible for preparing them to sit the SQE.

BPP also has long list of standalone firm partnerships with a raft of other leading law firms such as Addleshaw Goddard, Dentons, DWF, Osborne Clarke and Travers Smith.

ULaw isn’t far behind. The biggest name on its roster is Magic Circle giant Clifford Chance, that recruits around 100 trainees annually. This partnership has been in place since the summer of 2021. It also has pairings with many other leading law firms, including Silver Circle member Ashurst, City firms Charles Russell Speechlys, RPC, Taylor Wessing, and Trowers & Hamlins, as well as US firms Akin, Milbank and White & Case.

ULaw has a second string to its bow in the firm of university collaborations, an important new source of business for SQE providers. It has secured agreements to deliver its SQE courses via mini campuses at universities such as Exeter, Liverpool, Reading, Royal Holloway, Newcastle, Southampton and UEA.

And then come Barbri and CoLP. The SRA’s website lists over 130 “training providers” but currently these are the only two among the upstarts that can be classed as major players, having gained significant ground in the UK training market since the introduction of the SQE.

US-based Barbri is the much bigger of the two, providing the training for many of America’s state bar exams. Drawing on its expertise in preparing aspiring US lawyers for the bar exam, which has a similar multiple-choice structure to the SQE, Barbri is well positioned to have a run at the England & Wales market.

Unlike BPP and ULaw, which offer both in-person and online options, Barbri offers exclusively web-based teaching. This model means it can slightly undercut BPP and ULaw on price. The US company’s UK arm has secured partnerships with a number of prominent law firms, including Brabners, Baker McKenzie, Orrick and Vinson & Elkins, as well as BCLP (in a shared deal with BPP).

Outside of corporate law, Barbri also supports many aspiring solicitors aiming to qualify in the social welfare sector. This is made possible through its partnership with the Social Welfare Solicitors Qualification Fund (SWSQF), a fund supported by leading law firms that covers the preparation course fees and exam costs for students who would otherwise be unable to afford them.

Barbri has also established partnerships with universities including London South Bank, De Montfort University, and Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), as well as training providers like the on-demand paralegal service Flex Legal and apprenticeship specialist Damar Training.

CoLP, an offshoot of The College of Law Australia and New Zealand, has been following a similar strategy. So far it seems to be attempting to differentiate itself on price, with course fees lower than other larger providers. It has attracted partnerships with the aforementioned Reed Smith, as well as mid-sized regional outfits like Browne Jacobson, Capsticks, Clarke Willmott and Wright Hassall.

CoLP, too, has formed multiple partnerships with universities to deliver its SQE preparation courses and supporting modules on campus. These universities include Keele, Southampton Solent, Manchester Met and Middlesex Uni.

Other providers to watch include the likes of QLTS School and Law Training Centre, as well as the SQE arms of established universities offering vocational courses, such as City Law School, Nottingham Law School, Coventry Law School and De Montfort University.

How the battle of the law schools shakes out is a tough one to call. Law firm partnerships will surely always play a part, bringing future trainees in bulk as well as prestige, while the convenience of the law school tie-up model could lure ever more aspiring lawyers. But ultimately, it could come down to pass rates.

As part of the switch from the LPC to the SQE, the SRA pledged to publish student success rates broken down per provider. Slightly oddly, this hasn’t happened yet. When (or should that be ‘If’?) it does, a new front in this battle will open that could transform all that has come before.

Barbri loses out as firm relaunches training programme

Reed Smith has refreshed its approach to preparing trainees for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), including ending its partnership with one of its training providers.

The firm announced today the launch of an updated version of its ‘Professional SQE Programme’ and its decision to partner exclusively with The College of Legal Practice (CoLP) moving forward.

In the original version of the programme, launched in 2022, Reed Smith partnered with both CoLP and Barbri to support its future trainees. However, Barbri will continue to support the firm in delivering SQE prep for its lawyers seeking dual qualification.

Under the updated version, trainees complete CoLP’s SQE prep courses along with specially designed modules in areas such as dispute resolution, private acquisitions, and corporate finance, with the option to pursue an LLM in legal practice.

The global outfit’s London arm confirmed that the first cohort of 26 trainees has already begun the new programme.

In addition to SQE prep and tailored modules, trainees undertake paid internships with the firm before starting their Qualifying Work Experience (QWE). The first involves working in one of the business services teams, such as marketing, practice innovation, business development, pro bono, or legal operations. The second will have future trainees complete a consultancy-style project for a client.

Reed Smith’s training principal, David Ashmore commented:

“We are delighted to continue working with CoLP on our Professional SQE Programme. This innovative route will equip the next generation of exceptionally talented Reed Smith Trainees with the skills, knowledge and practical experience to ‘hit the ground running’ and excel during their QWE and beyond.”

Dr Giles Proctor, chief executive officer of CoLP, added: “We have thoroughly enjoyed working with the Reed Smith team over the last three years and very pleased that they have now chosen to partner with us to deliver their whole Professional SQE Programme programme. The continuity through the programme will ensure that we can give Reed Smith’s trainees a seamless learning experience and consistent support. The team is looking forward to welcoming their September trainees.”

CoLP, the UK virtual branch of The College of Law Australia and New Zealand, also partners on the SQE with law firms such as Accutrainee and Ashfords. Barbri, an exam prep powerhouse in its native US, meanwhile has SQE tie-ups with the likes of Baker McKenzie and Vinson & Elkins. But the law firm training market remains dominated by established players The University of Law and BPP University Law School.

All the above mentioned law schools will be appearing at LegalEdCon 2025 on Thursday 15 May next year. Sales of super early bird tickets open next month.

BARBRI’s Emily Allen discusses the perks of flexible learning, the importance of downtime and the challenges of exam prep

“There’s no limit to how many questions you should ask,” says Emily Allen, senior tutor at BARBRI. “I had one student who posted one hundred queries on our online platform all in one day. We answered all of them.”

Allen began her career as a criminal barrister before realising that her vocation lay outside of practice. She started teaching the LLB and GDL in 2008 and now has over 14 years’ experience in legal education. She joined BARBRI in 2021 where she now prepares students to sit part one of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). “Getting into law is really challenging, as we all know,” she tells me, explaining her motivation for moving into teaching. “Helping people who are going through the process is really satisfying; it’s nice to help people on their journeys.”

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) rolled out the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) in September 2021 in an effort to address some of these challenges that aspiring solicitors face. “One of the great things about the SQE is that it’s designed to open access to this career,” Allen says. However, she admits that this new exam brings with it challenges of its own, “In terms of the psychology of it all, it’s a bit of a battering sitting this exam.” The SQE requires candidates to swot up on 16 course modules which are all tested in two five-hour mega-exams. Allen acknowledges the difficulty of this, refuting claims that these exams constitute a “dumbing down” of legal education, “Actually, getting through this exam with 360 questions on 16 different modules all within two days and where the percentage pass rate is likely to be in the fifties. That’s really challenging.” Candidates need to answer just over half of the questions correct in order to pass.

Allen goes on to explain how this can affect students’ motivation in the exam room:

“As you sit the test you are very aware of the fact that you’re getting loads of questions wrong,” she says. “It’s really important to remember that even if you get one in three questions wrong, you’re doing really well. When students leave the exam, even the best performing candidates often feel as if they’ve failed.”

These “psychologically much tougher” exams are something that the BARBRI SQE1 takes into account. “Prepping students for exam day is a large part of the prep course,” Allen tells me. “At BARBRI we have learning coaches and performance coaches that students can have as many appointments with as they want,” she explains. Allen herself is a learning coach, “I have some students who will book in with me every week to have a check-in and talk through any worries they have that week. I don’t answer legal questions in these sessions, it’s all about pastoral and wellbeing support.” Students in need of emotional bolstering can choose between appointments with a learning coach like Allen or a BARBRI performance coach, “these are trained coaches, rather than qualified lawyers.” This is an important way that the course brings connection into online learning, Allen explains, “Students don’t feel isolated because we have these opportunities for one-on-one appointments. It’s available to anyone and they can have as much as they want. I think that’s pretty special.”

I am curious to hear Allen’s advice for students who are preparing for the SQE1 as we speak. “You cannot cram for this exam,” she answers. Acknowledging that sometimes this advice is easier said than done, she admits, “I am someone who crammed for my law exams when I did the GDL. But I could cram for that format of exam. It’s just not an option for SQE1 because there’s so much content for two days’ work of assessment.” She recommends “being organised and finding a way to get through the content one way or another. Don’t beat yourself up when you fall behind but re-engage with the material and make sure you get to the end.”

So, what would Allen’s advice be for students who are worried that they have fallen behind already? “The first thing to is to acknowledge that it’s very normal to fall behind,” she responds “it’s not a failure in any way; life happens. The key is getting back into the swing of things.” Allen goes on to explain how the BARBRI prep course is designed to accommodate students’ changing needs through their online Personal Study Plan (PSP). “Once you’ve signed up to a course, lots of things could happen,” she says, “You might get ill, you might start a job, you might take on new care responsibilities, all of this will affect your study.” She adds, “If you have fallen significantly behind, my advice would be to adjust your PSP. It will increase the number of study hours you need to do between now and the exam so you are no longer behind.” Don’t catastrophise, instead focus on what your next steps are is Allen’s advice, “getting students to see that it’s not as bad as they thought is often all they need to get back on track,” she says.

While students make their way through the course content, Allen is keen to stress the importance of relaxation and downtime. “It’s important to block out study time in your diary. Not just so you can get the work done but also, perhaps more importantly, so that you can see where your free time is,” she explains. “The risk is that students are always either studying, or if they’re not studying, they’re feeling really guilty because they feel like they should be studying. This can be really draining and demotivating.” To keep your spirits up, Allen recommends “being kind to yourself, being realistic and giving yourself the freedom to enjoy your down time.”

BARBRI’s fully remote offering lets students decide for themselves how they do this. Allen describes the course as “super flexible” and tells me, “It’s really easy to integrate studying at BARBRI into otherwise busy lives, and lots of our students do have very busy lives. It fits because you can choose how you make it fit.” BARBRI sets students up on their online platform where they can find all the learning materials for the course and practice exam questions. Lectures are available offline so students can listen on their morning commute or even during a flight! “Because you can study from anywhere and learn in bitesize chunks, our exercises tend to be only of half an hour or so, it is really easy to combine this study with other obligations,” Allen tells me.

Despite the flexibility that online learning has to offer, Allen is aware of the fact that some students might balk at the idea of a fully remote course. “One of the reasons people hesitate about online learning is that they’re worried they might feel isolated and unsupported,” she acknowledges, but is keen to emphasise that “studying online doesn’t have to be lonely.” BARBRI have thought of this as well, it seems, “We have systems in place to help students form study groups. If they want to go away and study together in-person, they can do that too,” Allen says. She also mentions the live sessions that are on offer at BARBRI, including group strategy sessions and live online law clinics, which give students the chance to connect, “you really can personalise your experience,” she finishes.

Emily Allen will be speaking at ‘SQE success strategies: tailoring prep to your individual needs — with BARBRI’, a virtual student event taking THIS AFTERNOON (Wednesday, 25 September). Apply for one of the final few places.

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BPP’s Head of Outreach joins future trainees to discuss the key considerations when selecting a prep course

With so many options available, choosing the right Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) course can feel overwhelming for aspiring lawyers.

During a recent Legal Cheek virtual event (full video embedded above), Jonny Hurst, BPP’s Head of Outreach and former partner at a City law firm, teamed up with SQE1 Award Leader Julie Harris to discuss key factors to consider when making this crucial decision, including costs, pass rates, reputation and content.

They were joined by future trainees from two City firms and a current trainee from BPP’s Social Impact Team, who shared their experiences of preparing for the exams and offered advice to those considering this route to qualification as solicitors.

Legal Cheek is running ‘The SQE series’ with BPP University Law School. The video of each session will be made available one month after each virtual event together with further FAQs arising from each session which SQE experts from BPP are answering.

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BPP student Ifeoluwa Aderibigbe shares her experience and why legal work can be the key to success

“The Solicitors Qualifying Exams (SQE) have been interesting,” says Ifeoluwa Aderibigbe, current SQE 1&2 LLM student at BPP University Law School. “I’ve never had to do anything like this before, because all of my exams on my law degree were essay-based. So, it’s taken me some time to get used to the multiple-choice question (MCQ) style.” With this interview coming straight off the back of Aderibigbe finishing her SQE2 exams, Legal Cheek Careers is keen to find out more about her experience so far.

“Even though I’ve done work in a legal clinic, I had never engaged with legal drafting and legal research prior to starting SQE2 preparation, so it has come as somewhat of a challenge,” notes Aderibigbe. “But overall, I’ve found the experience really beneficial because it has taught me so many of the skills that I’ve needed for my work at BPP’s Legal Clinic.”  By working for BPP’s Social Impact team, Aderibigbe is building up her Qualifying Work Experience (QWE). This means that by the time she finishes her six-month placement with BPP, she will have completed 25% of her QWE if she decides to qualify via the QWE portfolio route.

However, she still hopes to secure a two-year traditional training contract at a single employer. “My SQE experience has been really fundamental in helping me to build the skills that I use day-to-day working on cases at the clinic, but also to help build those skills that I’ll need when I ultimately become a qualified solicitor,” she explains.

Talking on why she chose BPP as a provider, she tells us that it’s undeniable that the pass rate influenced her choice. “It’s significantly higher than the national average at BPP, so I wanted to ensure that I was choosing a provider which would give me the best chance of success,” she explains. “And, I have to say that I have no regrets choosing BPP as a provider for the SQE. We’re provided with revision notes and videos which help you to navigate the knowledge that you need to bring over from a law degree,” she says.

“And aside from this, the structure of teaching at BPP is very good,” she continues. “Before each class, we’re all given a ‘prepare task’, and during the session we’re given an ‘apply task’, which really helped me personally to cement my knowledge.”

So, she says, even during SQE1 preparation, students already have an idea of the types of skills they’ll need for SQE2 — given that most of the knowledge tested is ‘applied’ within the classroom. “The tasks that we’re given throughout, whether these are the tasks during each session or the practice exams, all really resonated with the actual formulation of the exams, so in my opinion BPP’s SQE prep course can’t be faulted,” she explains.

After announcing last year that BPP was taking on five ‘qualifying work experience’ trainees to work within its pro bono clinic, Aderibigbe found herself as one of the law school’s first student recruits. We probed her on the kind of work she’s been undertaking. “I had some previous experience in BPP’s Legal Advice Clinic, so I wanted to explore my legal journey with the Social Impact team,” she explains. “But since I’ve started, I advise on civil litigation matters which really relate to what I’ll be doing in practice. I meet with clients and conduct client interviews with a solicitor supervisor, and afterwards I send letters of advice out to each client on their case,” she says. “So, it helps me both to revise all of the knowledge I’ve learned throughout my undergraduate degree and the SQE exams, but also to put this knowledge into practice.”

Although she’s still planning on going down the traditional training contract route rather than building her QWE across multiple organisations, this experience is guaranteed to help her stand out from the TC-hunting crowd. “Interviewing clients is something which I’ve always wanted to do. I really enjoy the aspect of seeing a case through from start to finish, and I find it so rewarding to be able build my confidence and experience,” she says. Working with a lot of qualified solicitors, she tells us that it’s also been incredible exposure to legal practice.

Noting how much this experience helped her in the SQE2 exams, she says:

 “I would advise anyone taking SQE2 to gain work experience before they take the exam. It really helps. When I walked into the client interviewing assessment on the SQE2 exam, it felt so natural because this is something that I do every day at work!”

Aderibigbe will be speaking at Legal Cheek’s event, “SQE courses: everything you need to know”, which is just around the corner, on 6 June. With this in mind, we quiz her on her general advice for SQE students. “The first tip I would give is to make the decision not to self-study. Self-study for the SQE is not going to take you as far as with a provider. There are some things my tutors taught me in class which are not in the materials, yet still became fundamental to my success on the exams,” she explains. “Aside from this, as I mentioned previously, work experience really is key to the SQE2 exams. And, finally, although practice exams are key, try not to focus solely on MCQ prep. Broadening your knowledge so that it’s applicable widely to many types of questions prevents students from the path-dependency that comes with over-reliance on previous practice exam answers.”

On a final note, she urges SQE students to prepare for all eventualities. “The SQE exams can surprise you. Choosing to study in a way which is new or unfamiliar to you may be the key to success. Expect the unexpected”.

Ifeoluwa Aderibigbe will be speaking at ‘SQE courses: everything you need to know — with BPP University Law School’, a virtual student event taking place on Thursday 6 June. Apply now to attend.

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Over 870 aspiring lawyers completed latest sitting

Results for the latest sittings of part two of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) have been released today, with the overall pass rate climbing to 73%.

This marks a 9% increase from the previous sitting, where the number of passing students was 64%

In order to pass, students were required to score above 61-62%, depending on whether they took part in the first or second sitting. Across the two sittings, both taking place in January and February this year, the pass rate for the 876 candidates varied between 71% and 75%.

For those taking their first shot at the exam the pass rate was higher at 76%.

As in the last round of results there are significant variations across the scores, with the highest scoring candidates clocking north of 90%, whilst some scored below 30%.

A student’s overall mark is an average of their performance across 16 stations — 12 written stations and four oral stations. These assess skills and applied legal knowledge.

To undertake SQE2 students must first pass SQE1, a test of their grasp of black letter law across two multiple-choice exams.

In April this year 175 students were incorrectly told they had failed their SQE1 exams after a marking error by exam administrator Kaplan. To make matters worse, Legal Cheek later revealed that some students impacted by the blunder had seen their training contract offers revoked.