want to Become a Lawyer? (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 as 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 an equivalent qualification or experience, such as a qualification or apprenticeship at level 6 or above. If you do not have a degree or an equivalent qualification, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) may, on a case-by-case basis, consider a combination of a sufficient standard of general education (equivalent to level 3) and work experience involving considerable work-based learning. Your prior work experience does not need to be law-related. This provides a potential pathway for individuals from non-traditional backgrounds to qualify as solicitors.

Please note that the information we provide may not always be comprehensive, accurate, or current.

For the most up-to-date details on the SQE and qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales, we recommend consulting the relevant official organisation, such as the Solicitors Regulation Authority. 

The introduction of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) in September 2021 created a new, centralised pathway to qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales, effectively replacing the traditional LPC and training contract route for new entrants.

However, the old LPC route remains available for those who started their journey before 2021 and will remain valid until 2032.

If you have started or completed the LPC but have been unable to secure a training contract, please refer to the relevant FAQ's below for information on how we may be able to assist.

The central aspect of our innovative programme is to provide the two years’ Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) required for aspiring solicitors (lawyers). Offered online, this flexible and convenient approach gives participants the opportunity to fit the QWE around their existing commitments.

To assist those preparing for the SQE through self-study, each participant in our QWE programme will also receive a brief self-study guide. This digital booklet includes self-study and exam preparation tips, a suggested reading list, and links to sample questions and test (where available).

For aspiring solicitors who prefer structured learning, it may be helpful to explore reputable SQE training providers that offer tailored preparation for the assessments. Please note that any fees payable to third parties, such as SQE assessment fees, must be paid by you directly to the relevant organisation or provider. 

One of the reasons the QWE we offer is sought after is that it provides experience in practice areas often associated with higher earning potential for qualified solicitors in suitable roles.

During the full programme duration, you will gain exposure to key practice areas, covering Business (Commercial, Corporate, Intellectual Property, IT/Software, and Construction), Health & Safety and Employment Law—areas that are integral and widely applied across virtually every sector. This exposure is designed to build your legal knowledge and skills, supporting your development as a well-rounded legal professional in a competitive market. 

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

We also suggest starting QWE before the SQE assessments, as it provides valuable experience that can help you apply legal knowledge and support your preparation for the SQE. 

Our QWE is designed to be flexible, allowing many people to successfully balance it alongside other commitments.  However, completing the QWE in the shortest possible time will depend on a range of factors, including your consistency, discipline and time management skills. 

Yes, we’ve specifically designed our QWE to accommodate this. Tasks and communication are handled online and via email, providing flexibility regardless of your location. 

You’ll just need a computer, internet access, and standard software such as a word processor and PDF reader to use common file formats like .docx and PDF. 

While legal work can be challenging and fulfilling for some, it may not be the same experience for everyone. Individual expectations and experiences will naturally vary, and we cannot guarantee that the QWE experience will meet every participant’s individual expectations. Our focus is on supporting participants in completing QWE and providing exposure to a range of practice areas in a flexible and accessible way. 

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. With a key focus on English law, you will gain experience through undertaking a variety of reviewing and drafting tasks, involving important documents such as contracts, agreements, letters, policies, etc.

To comply with standards and requirements and to support your professional development, you will need to adhere to all relevant SRA and regulatory matters and all of our systems, procedures and requirements, including those relating to professionalism, honesty, ethics, confidentiality and conduct.  

As mentioned earlier, the central aspect of our innovative programme is to provide the two years’ Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) required for aspiring solicitors (lawyers). Offered online, this flexible and convenient approach gives participants the opportunity to fit the QWE around their existing commitments.

While we do not offer tuition or assistance for the SQE assessments, we provide each QWE participant with a brief SQE self-study guide. This booklet is designed to assist those preparing for the SQE through self-study. It includes self-study and exam preparation tips, a suggested reading list and links to sample questions and test (where available).

Competition for solicitor training contracts has always been intense. As a result, many LPC students and graduates, unable to secure training contracts, approach us to explore using our QWE as an alternative pathway. 

If you have completed the LPC, you will normally be exempt from SQE 1. However, you will still need Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) to qualify through the SQE route. As we offer QWE, we should be able to assist you on your journey to qualification. 

Due to the high level of competition, securing a pupillage is a challenge that very few are able to overcome. As a result, many individuals who have completed or are considering the Bar course approach us to explore qualifying as a solicitor via the 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 qualifying as a solicitor doesn’t mean the end of your aspirations to become an advocate. 

Qualified solicitors also have the option to become solicitor advocates by completing the Higher Rights of Audience (HRA) assessments, allowing them to represent clients in the same way that barristers can, in both the lower and higher courts. While there is no mandatory training for the HRA assessments, many choose to undertake a short preparatory course with a training provider, typically lasting less than a week. 

With regard to initially qualifying as a solicitor and completing the SQE assessments, the Bar course provides a solid foundation for those transitioning to the solicitor route. If you have completed the Bar course, a large portion of the course content should already be familiar to you, which should make passing the SQE 1 and SQE 2 easier. You will also need Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) to qualify through the SQE route. As we offer QWE, we should be able to assist you on your journey to qualification. 

Please note that the information we provide may not always be comprehensive, accurate, or current. For the most up-to-date details on becoming a barrister and transferring to the Bar after qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales, we recommend consulting the relevant official organisations, such as the Bar Standards Board or the Bar Council.

The full fee for our QWE programme is £4,800. This is payable upfront, along with a one-off registration and administration fee of £195.

Although payable upfront, the total programme fee of £4,800 equates to £200 per month when calculated over the standard two-year QWE period. No additional fees are charged if completion of the QWE takes longer than two years.

While we do not currently offer an instalment option, many applicants use personal savings, family support, employer support, or other funding arrangements that suit their individual circumstances.

As a forward-looking firm, we take a positive approach to developing our services. As part of this, we may make improvements or other necessary changes to the QWE programme to reflect organisational or regulatory requirements. At present, operational considerations do not support an instalment payment option.

Although waiting times may occasionally be longer, we aim to process all applications within two weeks. If you have not received a response after two weeks, please feel free to contact us by email. 

If you have been allocated a place on the QWE programme, you will have 7 days from the date of your offer to complete payment. If payment is not completed within this timeframe, your allocated place will be offered to another applicant.

After applying, we recommend checking your email regularly, including your junk folder, as our emails may occasionally be redirected there.

Please note that failure to complete payment within the required timeframe will be taken into account when considering any future application.

Given the popularity of our QWE programme, and to avoid delays for other applicants, we ask that you only apply if you have the necessary funds available.

While we strive to accommodate as many applicants as possible, we cannot accept everyone onto the QWE programme. Rather than increasing fees, we have chosen to keep the programme affordable while balancing the wider considerations involved. 

If your application is unsuccessful, please do not be discouraged. We review availability regularly, and you are welcome to submit a new application after one month. 

If for any reason your place on the programme ends early, for example if you choose to leave the QWE programme (which you are free to do at any time), your participation will simply end at that point.  

All payments are non-refundable, including for non-commencement or non-completion of the programme.

If your place on the programme ends early and you wish to have your QWE considered for confirmation and sign-off for SRA purposes, you will need to ensure that all completed work is submitted to us by your final day on the programme. 

Requests for a shorter QWE period are usually made by applicants who have already completed part of their QWE elsewhere. If you require a shorter period, simply apply for our QWE programme and leave once you have completed the required period with us.

Those undertaking a shorter period with us may not gain exposure to all of the practice areas we offer compared to those completing the full duration of our QWE programme. 

Qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales is a prestigious achievement and is widely respected around the world. The English and Welsh legal system, shaped by centuries of development, is highly regarded for its influence on legal systems worldwide.

Gaining experience in sought-after practice areas, such as those we offer, can enhance prospects for future opportunities with reputable UK and international firms. Those who qualify as solicitors may later choose to transfer to the Bar and practise as barristers, while others may leverage their legal skills to transition into fields such as business, politics, media, education and other industries.

For those who may wish to pursue international opportunities in the future, qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales can be highly advantageous. While recognition of professional qualifications varies between countries, qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales can provide a valuable foundation when exploring opportunities to practise in other jurisdictions.

Send your email to contact@buckinghambarkley.com