ASPIRING to beCOME a SOLICITOR or barrister?

The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is the centralised assessment for anyone who wants to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. 

To qualify and become a solicitor you will need to complete the following:-

1) A minimum of two years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE)

2) Pass SQE1 and SQE2 assessments 

You will also need a  degree in any subject or equivalent, for example, a qualification or apprenticeship at level 6 or above. If you do not have this, then a sufficient standard of general education (i.e. level 3 equivalent) and prior work experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis (this does not have to be law-related work experience). Finally, when applying to become a solicitor, you will need to meet the character and suitability requirements.

Full and up-to-date details about all Solicitor Regulation Authority (SRA) matters, SQE and qualifying as a solicitor should be checked with the SRA directly, as information on our site may not be complete, correct or up to date.    

The introduction of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) in September 2021 meant that there is now a modern and new centralised way to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. This was introduced to replace the old Legal Practice Course (LPC)/training contract route to practice.  

We understand that the old 'LPC route' will remain valid until 2032 for those who have already started their journey to qualification in 2021. 

If you have started or completed the LPC and cannot find a training contract, please see the relevant FAQ below about this issue and how we may be able to assist.

The key element of our innovative programme is to provide the mandatory two-year Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) that aspiring solicitors (lawyers) are required to complete. As this is done online/remotely, many students also prefer to self-study for the SQE assessments, and as a result of this, every person who is accepted on our programme will be provided with a brief guide/booklet which provides self-study tips, suggested books/study materials list and external links to sample test/questions (where available). For aspiring solicitors who prefer to be taught, there are reputable SQE training establishments that will help with the SQE assessment preparation. Any fees for exams/assessments are payable by you directly to the SRA or relevant entity.

The type of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) we offer is highly sought after, most of the areas we offer experience in are considered to be amongst the highest paid legal areas/specialisms i.e. once qualified and in suitable employment.

During the two-year QWE, you will gain experience in a range of matters and practice areas, these include Business (Commercial, Corporate,  Intellectual property, IT/software and Construction), Health & Safety and Employment law.

Such coveted and wide-ranging experience has the potential to give those who are accepted onto our QWE programme some of the best future employment opportunities.

 QWE can be started before, during or after sitting the SQE assessments.  

 We encourage aspiring solicitors to do this as we feel it can help when undertaking the SQE assessments. 

Many people do this, but it will depend on your time management skills. 

 Yes, we have designed our QWE to cater for this. All matters are dealt with online and via email and this mode of delivery and contact provides flexibility and convenience for aspiring solicitors. 

While legal work can be exciting, challenging and fun to some people, to others it can sometimes be or seem the opposite. Every person has different expectations and satisfaction levels, we therefore cannot guarantee satisfaction with QWE. For most aspiring solicitors their key priority is to complete QWE and to become a solicitor, but we hope everyone also enjoys the QWE we offer as we put a great deal of effort into providing experience in a variety of highly regarded practice areas while also offering the most convenient way to complete QWE.

You will work on a wide range of matters, these can typically involve researching legislation for specific tasks through to producing appropriate guidance to assist clients. You will develop knowledge through undertaking a range of reviewing and drafting tasks, involving important documents such as contracts, agreements, letters, policies etc.

To maintain high standards and to assist professional development, you will need to adhere to any relevant SRA matters and our procedures in relation to professionalism, honesty, ethics, confidentiality etc, which are in line with required/common standards. 

As mentioned earlier, in addition to providing a convenient way to complete QWE i.e. online/remotely, many aspiring solicitors also prefer to self-study for the SQE assessments, as a result of this, every person who is accepted on our programme will be provided with a brief guide/booklet which provides self-study tips, suggested books/study materials list and external links to sample test/questions (where available).

Competition for solicitor training contracts has always been fierce. We are therefore approached by many LPC students and graduates and who cannot find a training contract and wish to utilise our QWE as an alternative.

Completing the LPC means that you will normally be exempt from SQE 1.  You will need QWE  (Qualifying Work Experience) in order to qualify through the SQE route. We offer QWE, so we should be able to assist.

As very few people secure pupillages, we are often approached by those who were contemplating starting or have already completed the Bar course and are now considering becoming a lawyer via the solicitor/SQE route. After qualifying as a solicitor some also choose to transfer to the Bar to practice as a barrister. The good news is that becoming a solicitor does not mean an end to aspirations of becoming an advocate.

Qualified solicitors also have the option to become solicitor advocates by completing the Higher Rights of Audience (HRA) assessments. This allows them to represent clients in the same way that barristers can, in both the lower and higher courts. There is no mandatory training requirement, but many people choose to do a short course with a suitable provider to help complete and train for the HRA assessments. Depending on the course provider chosen, training usually only lasts for under a week. 

With regard to initially qualifying as a solicitor/completing SQE assessments, if you have completed the Bar course, a large portion of the course content should already be familiar to you, this should make passing SQE 1 and SQE 2 easier. 

You will also need Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) to qualify as a solicitor through the SQE route. We offer QWE, so we should be able to assist. 

As mentioned earlier, in addition to us providing a convenient way to complete QWE i.e. online/remotely, many aspiring solicitors also prefer to self-study for the SQE assessments, as a result of this, everybody who is accepted on our programme will be provided with a self-study guide/booklet (details of this are in other FAQ's).

Full and up-to-date details about becoming a barrister and transferring to the Bar after qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales should be checked with the relevant organisations such as the Bar standards board and the Bar council, as information on our site may not be complete, correct or up to date.   

The two-year programme works out at £200 a month. There is also a one-time payment of £295 (sign-up and processing fee). 

Due to the nature of the QWE provision, payment for the two-year duration is required to be made in a single total upfront payment of £4800 + sign-up and processing fee

As mentioned above, payment for the two-year duration is made in a single upfront payment. 

We sometimes allocate a small number of places to allow payment by instalments, these places are reserved for those in extreme hardship and are taken up quickly. 

If you would like to be considered for the instalment payment allocation, ensure you mention this when you apply. We want to ensure these places are allocated to people in genuine hardship, so in addition to the application requirements, we require you to write a one-page statement (minimum 500 words) to outline your situation. Evidence may be requested when your application is being considered.

For those accepted on the instalment option, the first payment will be larger as it comprises an initial lump sum payment (£1000 for those on the two-year QWE) + sign-up fee + first month's instalment.  Failure to keep up monthly instalment payments will result in an immediate end to the QWE.

PLEASE NOTE:- DUE TO THE VOLUME OF APPLICATIONS, YOU WILL HAVE A MUCH HIGHER CHANCE OF SECURING A PLACE ON OUR QWE PROGRAMME IF YOU DO NOT REQUEST PAYMENT BY INSTALMENTS.

We aim to deal with all applications within two weeks. If there is a delay, we will attempt to inform you, but If you have not heard back from us after two weeks, feel free to send us an email. Due to processing and allocation, waiting times can sometimes take longer. Unfortunately, we cannot accept everyone onto the QWE programme as we need to allocate sufficient qualified staff and resources for the entire duration.

While we try to accommodate a large percentage of applicants, unfortunately, we cannot accept every applicant onto the QWE programme. The hourly rate of lawyers and legal experts working at firms often start at £250+ per hour, so the fact the two-year QWE programme works out at £200 a month means we can only allocate a certain amount of staff and resources to assist aspiring solicitors.

We are often asked why we don't increase our fees to accommodate more aspiring solicitors onto the programme. While many people on the QWE programme are in employment or are self-employed, we also understand that many aspiring solicitors have limited resources and this is one of the main reasons why we have made this as affordable as possible and have therefore chosen not to increase our fees.

Through feedback sessions with professionals and aspiring solicitors, we found that access to QWE in areas that are considered to be amongst the most sought-after tended to be limited to the best candidates (e.g. academically excellent) and people from privileged backgrounds/with contacts in such firms. As we offer QWE in such areas, we want to make such an experience accessible to a diverse range of people, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Therefore, if you have not been accepted, please do not be discouraged, you can apply again after one month.

If you have been allocated a place on the QWE programme, you will be given 7 days to accept/complete the payment, otherwise, your place will be offered to someone else. After you apply we suggest you check your email daily (check your junk folder too as emails are sometimes diverted there).

Failure to take up an offer will likely result in a future application not being looked upon favourably. 

Our QWE programme is in high demand, to avoid holding up other applicants please only apply if you are ready to commence the QWE and have the funds to complete the payment.

Qualifying as a Solicitor/lawyer in England and Wales is a prestigious achievement and is highly regarded and valued by many around the world. 

Gaining experience in some of the most sought-after areas of law, such as the ones we offer, provides the potential to join some of the most reputable UK and international law firms.

After qualifying as a solicitor some also apply to transfer to the Bar to practice as a barrister. 

Due to the transferrable skills gained, many solicitors also choose to enter other industries such as business, politics, media, education etc. 

Some also choose to practice as a lawyer in other countries. Mutual recognition of professional qualifications varies greatly between countries, but in many cases, it is easier to obtain the right to practice within another country if you apply after becoming qualified in England and Wales..

If your plans change for any reason e.g. you want to leave the QWE, you can do so at any time. Please note, we do not issue refunds.

As we may need to confirm the QWE period that you have done with us (e.g. for SRA purposes), you therefore need to let us know the day you intend to leave and submit the work you have completed up to that date.  

For SRA purposes, confirmation/sign-off on Qualifying Work Experience is dependent on you doing the work that is assigned to you. Failure to do work within set timeframes may extend the QWE period. 

Yes, we receive many applications from people all over the world who wish to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. As mentioned above, matters are dealt with online/via email and this mode of delivery and contact provides flexibility and convenience for aspiring solicitors.

We sometimes get requests asking for a shorter period of QWE (e.g. for a few months or one year instead of the usual mandatory two years). Such requests are usually made because a period of QWE has already been completed at another firm and they wish to complete the remainder at our firm.

Depending on the length of QWE required, and due to the bespoke and limited nature of such requests, a higher monthly equivalent fee may be charged (as with our two-year QWE, payment for the shorter duration QWE is made in a single total upfront payment). 

Send your email to contact@buckinghambarkley.com