The SQE route to qualifying as a solicitor

The route to qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales has changed. The LPC has been replaced by the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), and understanding the new system early gives you a real advantage.

The four requirements

To qualify, you need:

1. A degree (in any subject) or equivalent.

2. SQE1 — assessing functioning legal knowledge through multiple-choice exams.

3. SQE2 — assessing practical legal skills (client interviewing, advocacy, drafting, research).

4. Two years of qualifying work experience (QWE).

What's genuinely new: flexible QWE

The biggest shift is QWE. It's no longer restricted to a traditional training contract. You can build your two years across up to four different organisations — a law-clinic placement, a paralegal role, a vacation-scheme stint and a training contract could, in combination, count.

This opens up routes for people who don't land a training contract straight away. That said, a training contract at a firm remains the most structured and best-supported path, typically offering four six-month "seats" across practice areas, with the firm funding your SQE preparation.

Why the timeline matters

Recruitment still runs years ahead. Applying for a 2026 vacation scheme generally targets a training contract starting in 2028. If you want a 2028 start at a City firm, you're applying *now*. Map backwards from when you want to qualify.

The practical takeaway

Decide early whether you're aiming for the structured training-contract route or assembling QWE more flexibly. Either way, start building legal experience — clinics, pro bono, paralegal work — because under the SQE, that experience can directly count towards qualification.