SQE Legal in-house 101 - Attracting, Nurturing & Retaining legal talent - What is the SQE?

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Angel

SQE Legal in-house 101 explains the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) route for legal qualification in England and Wales, outlining SRA objectives, assessment stages, eligibility, and benefits for building a more diverse profession. It details SQE1 as a mixed-subject, multiple-choice, two-day computer-based exam with key subject areas, then describes SQE2 as a legal skills assessment covering client interviewing, advocacy, analysis, research, writing, and drafting. Includes timeline and exam fee information.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages26

Reading Time1 h 6 min

AccessFree to download

What is the SQE?

SQE objectives

Benefits of SQE

SQE route overview

SQE Stage 1

SQE Stage 2

SQE1 key information and subjects tested

SQE2 legal skills assessment and subjects covered

LPC/GDL vs SQE Mythbusting

SQE Legal in-house 101: Attracting, Nurturing & Retaining legal talent What is the SQE? The SRA’s objectives for SQE 1. Greater assurance of consistent high standards at the point of admission 2. the development of new and diverse pathways to qualification, which are responsive to the changing legal services market and promote a diverse profession by removing artificial and unjustifiable barriers The benefits SQE brings to promote amore diverse profession 􀂃 New and diverse pathways 􀂃 Lower cost & flexible‘earn while you learn’opportunities 􀂃 QWE model promotes greater opportunity to qualify by removing the‘training contract’bottleneck 􀂃 New qualification route through solicitor apprenticeships Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) Key Information The new route to legal qualification in England & Wales A two-stage exam assessment: 1. SQE1-Mixed subject, multiple choice questions 2. SQE2-Legal skills assessment Available for law and non-law students From November 2021 A more flexible approach The SQE route SQE Stage 1 SQE Stage 2 Qualifying Work Experience Qualified Character & Suitability Requirements SQE1 Exam Functioning Legal Knowledge Mixed subject, multiple-choice Two-day exam with 360 questions Computer-based Can be studied alongside fulltime employment £1,798 exam fee SQE1 Exam What subjects are tested? • Business Law and Practice (including taxation) • Dispute Resolution • Contract • Tort • The Legal System of England and Wales • Constitutional & Administrative Law & EU law • Legal Services • Property Practice (including taxation) • Wills and the Administration of Estates (including taxation) • Solicitors’Accounts • Land Law • Trusts • Criminal law and Practice Ethics & professional conduct are pervasive subjects SQE2 Exam Legal Skills Assessment Available after passing SQE1 Can be studied alongside full-time employment Subjects covered: • Client interviewing • Advocacy • Case & matter analysis • Legal research, writing and drafting £2,766 exam fee LPC/GDL v SQE Mythbusting

FAQs

What are the two stages of the SQE assessment?

The SQE is assessed in two stages: SQE1 uses mixed-subject, multiple-choice questions, and SQE2 is a legal skills assessment.

Who can take the SQE and when is it available?

The SQE route is available for both law and non-law students from November 2021.

What subjects are tested in SQE1?

SQE1 tests areas including Business Law and Practice, Dispute Resolution, Contract, Tort, the Legal System of England and Wales, Constitutional & Administrative Law and EU law, Legal Services, Property Practice, Wills and the Administration of Estates, Solicitors’ Accounts, Land Law, Trusts, and Criminal law and Practice, with ethics and professional conduct woven throughout.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Angel