What is the Solicitors Qualifying Examination? What are the differences between SQE1 and SQE2?
Most aspiring solicitors of England and Wales need to take five specific steps to make their dream a reality. Two of those steps include step 2, passing Solicitors Qualifying Exam One (SQE1) and step 3, passing Solicitors Qualifying Exam Two (SQE2). Both examinations, though completed separately, form the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).
This blog includes descriptions of both parts of the SQE and provides answers to the following questions:
What is the Solicitors Qualifying Examination?
What does SQE1 assess?
What does SQE2 assess?
What qualifications do you need to have before taking SQE1?
How do most candidates prepare for the SQE?
If you do not have a law degree, should you enrol in an SQE1 course?
What is The Solicitors Qualifying Examination?
The SQE is the centralised examination for aspiring solicitors of England and Wales.
It is a two part examination which includes Solicitors Qualifying Exam One (SQE1) and Solicitors Qualifying Exam Two (SQE2).
To qualify as a solicitor of England and Wales, aspiring solicitors need to pass both parts of the SQE. All candidates must pass Solicitors Qualifying Examination One (SQE1) before they are eligible to sit Solicitors Qualifying Examination Two (SQE2).
The SQE assesses application of legal knowledge and candidates’ competence in their practical application of certain legal skills. The examination assesses candidates at the level of a newly qualified competent solicitor. This means the standard set on the examination, and that which you are expected to reach is not that of a very experienced solicitor, but that of a recently qualified one.
What does SQE1 assess?
SQE1 assesses aspiring solicitors’ functioning legal knowledge,that is, your ability to apply knowledge of legal rules and principles of a number of areas of law to real life situations.
It aims to assess how well you know how to apply the legal knowledge you have, not whether or not you simply know the law and legal principles of England and Wales.
Read this blog and watch this video to learn more about SQE1.
What does SQE2 assess?
SQE2 assesses particular skills you will need to function effectively as a solicitor. It assesses your practical legal skills and how competently you apply legal knowledge in practice. To learn more about the SQE2 assessments, read this blog and watch this video.
What qualifications do you need to have before taking SQE1?
You do not need to complete a degree or a level 6 or 7 qualification before sitting SQE1. A candidate without these qualifications is permitted to take SQE1 and SQE2. However, qualifying as a solicitor will require completion of a degree or a level 6 or level 7 qualification and most candidates will normally have completed one of the aforementioned qualifications before taking SQE1.
How do most candidates prepare for the SQE?
To prepare for SQE1 and SQE2, most candidates choose to enroll in a preparation course.
Most courses on the market are not designed to prepare learners for both parts of the SQE. Courses typically either allow for preparation for SQE1 or SQE2.
Learners normally enrol in an SQE1 preparation course, and on successful completion of the exam, they enrol on an SQE2 preparation course
If you do not have a law degree, should you enroll in an SQE1 course?
While some course providers will accept candidates without a law degree, some will not.
This is because while the SRA makes clear that a law degree is not necessary for qualification as a solicitor, most legal educators are aware that some form of legal knowledge is necessary before students begin preparing for the SQE.
Consequently, most course providers will require non-law graduates to complete a graduate diploma in law (GDL) prior to enrolling in an SQE preparation course. To learn more about why completion of a graduate diploma in law is strongly recommended before commencing an SQE preparation course, read this blog and watch this video.