Consultation on the proposal to introduce the Solicitors Qualifying Examination - Consultation responses - April 2017

Sep 26, 2026

Consultation responses dated April 2017 address proposals to introduce the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). The responses evaluate whether the proposed SQE is a robust and effective measure of competence and provide comments on concerns about the balance and delivery of short questions/MCT alongside essay formats. Feedback also covers qualifying legal work experience proposals, including reliance on a market model and test results, and raises views on opportunities for dual qualification across Scotland and England. Participants suggest a minimum workplace experience requirement of two years.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages726

Reading Time30 h 30 min

AccessFree to download

Responses

Individuals and organisations

Consultation questionnaire

Identity and attribution

SQE competence measure agreement and comments

Qualifying legal work experience proposals

Minimum workplace experience duration

Consultation responses A new route to qualification: the Solicitors Qualifying Examination Consultation on a proposal to introduce the Solicitors Qualifying Examination: Consultation responses April 2017 Contents Responses Abbe Brown Accutrainee Limited AGCAS (Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services) Legal Task Group Alex LI Ami Amin Anthony Martin Ashley Lawson Aspiring Solicitors Junior Advisory Board Association of Law Teachers Barry Baines Behnam Balalimood Bell & Buxton LLP Bernard George Berwin Leighton Paisner Bharat Mankad Birmingham City University Birmingham Law Society BPP University Bristol Junior Lawyers Division Bristol Law Society Burges Salmon LLP Cardiff and District Law Society Charlotte Lucy Wildig Christina Perry Christina Severn CILEx Cindy Namal Perera City Law School-University of London City of London Law Society Clinical Legal Education Organisation Clyde & Co LLP Committee of Heads of UK Law Schools Criminal Law Solicitors' Association Dechert LLPDLA Piper Edward Iredale Elizabeth Gillow Eric Golding Four Law Subject Associations: the Socio-Legal Studies Association,the Committee of Heads of University Law Schools, the Association of Law Teachersand the Society of Legal Scholars Francesco del Balzo Fresh Professional Development Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP George Russell Ghulam Mustafa Government Legal Service Hassan Zainab Hogan Lovells International LLP Holman Fenwick Willan Hull Incorporated Law Society Ian Williams Jackie Murphy Jenny Mary Knox Jessica Isabel Austen Jill Phillips Jodi Belinda Halkier Junior Lawyers Division for Cardiff and South East Wales Kaplan Katie Jukes Kayleigh Ann Fantoni Kent Law Society Kimberly Gamez Kimberly Gamez Kyrakides Klearachos Laura Richards Lauren Van Buren Law Centres Network Lawyers with Disabilities Division of the Law Society of England and Wales LEAPS Research Group Leeds Beckett University Leeds Law Society Legal Education & Training Group Legal Services Consumer Panel Linklaters Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool Law Society London Criminal Courts Solicitors' Association (LCCSA) London South Bank University Lucy Burrows Manchester Law Society Manchester Metropolitan University Marcos Roper Marriott Harrison LLP Mary Bonsor Merseyside Junior Lawyers Division Michael Awala Michael Jefferson Michael Nathan Michael Rutstein Miller, Warwick and Partners LLP Monmouthshire Incorporated Law Society Morrish Solicitors LLP Nataliya Bondarets Nir Chanoch Noor Miah North Yorkshire Law Nottinghamshire Law Society Nottingham Trent University Oxford University Paul Catley Paul Garforth Kidd Paul Nicholas Downing Peter Gordon Collier Peter William Jordan Phoebe Shi Yi Tan Queen's University Belfast Rachael Kirkup Raynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP Reading University Rebecca Yates Riverview Law Rosemary Cantwell Scott Silbereis Sean Gerard Mac Cann Seema Laura Maybud Shearman & Sterling (London) LLP Sheffield and District Law Society Singletons Society of Asian Lawyers Society of Legal Scholars Socio-Legal Studies Association Sonal Babre South London Law Society Stephen Cutter Stewarts Law LLP Student Law Think Tank-Northumbria University The Law Society-Junior Lawyers Division The Law Society of England & Wales The Law Society of Scotland The Legal Education Foundation The Yorkshire Union of Law Societies Tobias John Latham Tony King Tracy Savage Travers Smith Tricia Chatterton Tunbridge Wells Tonbridge and District Law Society University of Cardiff University of Bristol University of Dundee University of Exeter University of Kent University of Law University of Leeds University of Leicester University of Lincoln University of Nottingham University of Sheffield University of Southampton University of Sunderland University of the West of England University of Warwick University of Westministe

FAQs

Do respondents generally agree that the proposed SQE is a robust measure of competence?

Responses state agreement, with comments expressing concern about the focus on short questions/MCT alongside essay requirements and the need to deliver them at the appropriate level.

What concerns are raised about the qualifying legal work experience proposals?

Comments note strong reliance on a market model and test results rather than broader professional support, with additional observations from a Scottish perspective about work experience options for dual qualification.

What minimum workplace experience duration do respondents suggest?

Respondents suggest two years as the most appropriate minimum requirement for workplace experience.

Sep 26, 2026

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