The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is the single, centralised assessment that all aspiring solicitors in England and Wales must pass to qualify. It was introduced by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to replace the previous LPC/training contract route and create a consistent, rigorous standard across all qualification paths.

The SQE has been the primary route to qualification since 1 September 2021. It is split into two stages: SQE1 (legal knowledge) and SQE2 (practical skills).

1. A degree or equivalent — in any subject, or a Level 6/7 qualification or equivalent experience
2. Pass SQE1 and SQE2 — both must be passed; there is no time limit between them
3. Two years' qualifying work experience (QWE) — full-time or part-time equivalent, across up to four organisations
4. Pass the SRA's character and suitability assessment — a background check applied at admission

No. You do not need a degree or equivalent qualification to sit SQE1 or SQE2. However, you must hold a degree or equivalent at the point you apply for admission as a solicitor. You can sit the exams at any stage.

There is no single fixed pass mark. The pass mark for each sitting of both SQE1 and SQE2 is set by the SQE Assessment Board in line with the SQE Marking and Standard Setting Policy. This approach — known as standard setting — ensures that the passing standard remains consistent from one sitting to the next, even if the difficulty of questions varies slightly.

There are no quotas for the number of candidates who can pass. The pass mark is published after each Assessment Board meeting and is included in individual results notifications.

The SRA has awarded £360,000 to 11 organisations through its SQE Fund for Disadvantaged Candidates, to support people from disadvantaged backgrounds with the cost of the SQE assessments. Details of the fund and eligibility are available at sra.org.uk — SQE access fund.

Some employers, law firms, and training providers also offer bursaries, sponsorship, or funded preparation courses. The SRA's SQE training course finder can help compare costs across providers.

SQE1 tests Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK) across two papers:

• FLK1 — Business Law and Practice; Dispute Resolution; Contract; Tort; Legal System of England & Wales; Constitutional and Administrative Law; EU Law and Legal Services
• FLK2 — Property Practice; Wills and the Administration of Estates; Solicitors Accounts; Land Law; Trusts; Criminal Law and Practice

Each paper consists of 180 single best answer (SBA) multiple-choice questions, totalling 360 questions across the sitting.

SQE1 is held twice a year, with sittings typically starting in the third week of January and July. These are indicative — exact dates are published at least 12 months in advance on the SQE assessment website.

To book, you register on the SQE assessment website and pay the relevant assessment fee to Kaplan. You do not need to be registered with the SRA to sit SQE1.

There is no limit on the number of resits for SQE1, and there is no overall time limit on how long you can take to complete the SQE route. You can rebook for the next available sitting after an unsuccessful attempt.

Yes. FLK1 and FLK2 are both taken as part of the same SQE1 sitting. You cannot take them separately. If you do not pass both papers at a sitting, you must resit the full SQE1 assessment at a future sitting.

The SRA does not prescribe or mandate a specific preparation course for SQE1. Candidates may choose from:

• Full preparation courses at law schools and training providers
• Online self-study materials and question banks
• University degree programmes that incorporate SQE1 preparation
• Self-directed reading using recommended textbooks

The SRA's SQE training and course finder lists providers, costs, and course structures to help candidates compare options.

SQE2 assesses practical legal skills across 16 assessment stations, combining written and oral tasks. The six skill areas tested are:

• Client interviewing and attendance note / legal analysis
• Advocacy / persuasive oral communication
• Case and matter analysis
• Legal research and written advice
• Legal writing
• Legal drafting

These skills are assessed across five practice areas: Criminal Litigation, Dispute Resolution, Property Practice, Business Law and Practice, and Wills & Intestacy / Probate Administration and Practice.

SQE2 is offered four times a year — in January, April, July, and October. Assessment windows typically begin in the final week of the relevant month. Specific dates are published at least 12 months in advance on the SQE assessment website.

There is no time restriction between sitting SQE1 and SQE2 — you can take SQE2 before, after, or at the same time as SQE1.

No. You can sit SQE2 without having passed — or even sat — SQE1. There is no prerequisite ordering. However, you must have passed both SQE1 and SQE2 before you can apply to the SRA for admission as a solicitor.

Oral stations within SQE2 (such as client interviewing and advocacy) are assessed by trained, standardised assessors. Assessors use structured marking criteria to ensure consistency across candidates. Oral assessments are conducted in person at test centres.

Full details of assessment format, timing, and logistics are available in the SQE2 assessment specification published by Kaplan on behalf of the SRA.

As with SQE1, the SRA does not mandate specific SQE2 preparation. Options include:

• Dedicated SQE2 preparation courses at law schools (practical skills-focused)
• Mock assessments and role-play practice sessions
• Online skills-based courses and video materials
• Preparation gained through qualifying work experience itself

Many candidates find that SQE2 preparation benefits significantly from real legal work experience, as the assessments mirror the skills used day-to-day in a legal environment. Use the SRA training options page to explore providers.

QWE is experience of providing legal services that gives you the opportunity to develop the SRA's prescribed competences for solicitors. It must:

• Total at least two years' full-time or equivalent
• Have been undertaken in no more than four different organisations
• Be confirmed in writing by a solicitor or COLP (Compliance Officer for Legal Practice) at each organisation

Yes. Paralegal experience can count as QWE, provided it meets the criteria: it involves providing legal services that develop the prescribed solicitor competences, spans at least two years in total (full-time equivalent), and is confirmed by a solicitor or COLP at the organisation.

This means someone working as a paralegal right now may already be accumulating QWE that will count towards qualification under the SQE route.

No. QWE can be completed before, during, or after sitting SQE1 and SQE2. All four requirements (degree/equivalent, SQE1, SQE2, and QWE) simply need to be met before you apply for admission. There is no prescribed order.

QWE confirmation is managed through the SRA's mySRA portal. The process is:

1. Your employer (a solicitor or COLP) submits the QWE record to mySRA
2. You receive an email notification asking you to confirm the period of QWE
3. You log in to mySRA and confirm using the link provided
4. The SRA then approves or rejects the submission

QWE must be confirmed by a solicitor or COLP from each organisation separately. You cannot self-certify QWE.

Yes. The two-year requirement is based on full-time equivalent. Part-time work, placement years, vacation schemes, and pro bono work can all count, so long as the total adds up to at least two years' full-time equivalent and meets the other criteria.

No. The SQE route accepts a degree in any subject. You do not need a qualifying law degree (QLD) or Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL). The legal knowledge is tested through SQE1 itself.

This is one of the key advantages of the SQE route over the old LPC route — candidates from any academic background can qualify as solicitors.

If you do not have a traditional bachelor's degree, the SRA will accept:

• A Level 6 or Level 7 apprenticeship (including the solicitor apprenticeship, which is Level 7)
• A Level 6 or Level 7 professional qualification
• In some cases, substantial work experience may be counted as equivalent — the SRA assesses this individually

Use the SRA degree and qualification checker to confirm whether your qualification counts.

Yes. If you are at school, you will need to qualify through the SQE route (unless the LPC transitional arrangements apply to you by 31 December 2032). Steps to plan ahead:

1. Study for a degree in any subject (or explore the solicitor apprenticeship)
2. Begin building QWE as early as possible — vacation schemes, pro bono, and part-time legal work all count
3. Research SQE1 and SQE2 preparation courses at the right time
4. Sit SQE1, then SQE2
5. Apply to the SRA for admission once all four requirements are met

There is no specific type of A-level or school qualification required — the route is open to anyone who can meet the four requirements above.

A law degree remains a strong foundation for both pathways, though it is no longer required for the solicitor SQE route. However, if you are considering the Bar, a law degree or GDL remains the typical entry point for the Bar Training Course (BTC).

Check with your university whether their law degree or LLB programme incorporates SQE preparation — many now do. For the Bar, visit the Bar Standards Board for entry requirements.

The SRA assesses whether candidates meet the standards of character and suitability required to be admitted as a solicitor. This check is carried out when you apply for admission — it is not part of the SQE exams themselves.

The SRA considers a range of matters, including criminal records, financial history, regulatory proceedings, and dishonesty. Having a relevant history does not automatically prevent admission — the SRA assesses each case individually.

Having a criminal record does not automatically prevent you from qualifying as a solicitor. The SRA assesses each case individually, taking into account the nature of the offence, how long ago it occurred, and the circumstances surrounding it.

You can apply for an early assessment of character and suitability before committing to SQE training, so you receive a preliminary view on whether you are likely to pass the suitability check. This service is available at sra.org.uk — early assessment.

The character and suitability check is applied when you apply for admission as a solicitor — after you have passed both SQE1 and SQE2 and completed your QWE. It is not assessed at any earlier stage of the SQE process, and you do not need SRA approval to sit the exams or undertake QWE.

However, if you have concerns about your suitability, the SRA's early assessment service means you can get guidance at any point.

Once you have passed SQE1, SQE2, completed two years' QWE, and hold a degree or equivalent, you apply to the SRA for admission through mySRA. The application involves:

1. Submitting evidence of your degree or equivalent
2. Confirming your SQE pass results (shared directly from Kaplan)
3. Confirming your QWE records (already submitted via mySRA)
4. Completing the character and suitability declaration
5. Paying the admission fee

The SRA processes applications and you are formally admitted at one of the scheduled admission dates. See SRA admission dates. There is no time limit between completing the apprenticeship or SQE and applying for admission.

Yes. The SRA charges an admission fee. Current fee information is published at sra.org.uk — admission fees. Fees are separate from the cost of the SQE assessments themselves (paid to Kaplan) and any SQE preparation course costs.

Yes. For candidates on the LPC route who cannot complete a Period of Recognised Training (PRT / training contract), the SRA will accept two years' QWE plus a pass in SQE2 as equivalent to a PRT. This is known as the Equivalent Means route.

The solicitor apprenticeship is a Level 7 qualification that allows you to qualify as a solicitor while working and earning, without the need to take out student loans for a degree. Apprentices are employed and paid a salary throughout the programme.

On successful completion, the apprenticeship satisfies the degree equivalent requirement and the two-year QWE requirement. Apprentices must still pass SQE1 and SQE2 to qualify.

Within the solicitor apprenticeship:

• SQE1 forms part of the on-programme assessment and is typically sat during the apprenticeship
• SQE2 is the end-point assessment — sat at the end of the programme once the employer and training provider confirm that all gateway requirements are met

SQE1 sittings are in January and July. SQE2 sittings are in January, April, July, and October.

No. Employers do not need to be registered with the SRA to recruit solicitor apprentices. Training providers do not need SRA validation. In England, training providers are authorised by the Department for Education through the Education and Skills Funding Agency's Register of Training Organisations.

Apprentices only need to register with the SRA at the point of applying for admission after completing their programme.

Yes. Apprentices are employees and earn a salary throughout the programme. There is a statutory minimum apprenticeship salary, but many employers in the legal sector pay significantly more. Government funding towards training costs is available — details are published on GOV.UK — apprenticeships.

Yes, but only if you started qualifying through the LPC route before 1 September 2021 (specifically: you completed, started, accepted an offer for, or paid a non-refundable deposit for an LLD, CPE/GDL, LPC, or training contract before that date). The LPC route remains open to eligible candidates until 31 December 2032.

Anyone who does not fall within these transitional arrangements must qualify through the SQE route.

If you hold an LPC and cannot secure a Period of Recognised Training (training contract), you have two options:

• Continue under the LPC route: if eligible under transitional arrangements, secure a training contract and complete it by 31 December 2032
• Switch to the Equivalent Means route: complete two years' QWE and pass SQE2 — the SRA will treat this as equivalent to a training contract

Under the second option, you still need to pass SQE1 and SQE2 in addition to the QWE, even though you hold an LPC.

No. The SRA is clear that the SQE does not imply that solicitors who qualified through the LPC route are less competent. Both routes involved extensive and rigorous training. All qualified solicitors — regardless of which route they took — are subject to the same ongoing continuing competence requirements and the SRA Code of Conduct.

Qualified lawyers from other jurisdictions (including barristers, Scottish solicitors, and overseas lawyers) may be eligible for SQE exemptions depending on their qualifications and experience. The SRA assesses each application individually.

Details of available exemptions and the application process are at sra.org.uk — SQE exemptions.

For example, if you first sit SQE1 in July 2026, you must have passed both SQE1 and SQE2 by July 2032, and you may not sit SQE1 more than three times in total within that period.

SQE1 is held twice a year (January and July). FLK1 and FLK2 are taken in the same sitting window, spread across two consecutive weeks.

SQE2 is held four times a year (January, April, July, October). Each window includes both written and oral assessments — the order between written and oral may vary per sitting. Oral assessments take place at centres in Birmingham, Cardiff, London, and Manchester. Written assessments take place at Pearson VUE test centres across the UK and internationally.

Source: sqe.sra.org.uk — updated December 2025. Always check sqe.sra.org.uk/booking-windows for the latest dates.

Booking for both SQE1 and SQE2 closes approximately five weeks before the assessment sitting starts. Late bookings are not accepted. Key upcoming closing dates:

• SQE1 July 2026 — booking closes 28 May 2026
• SQE2 July 2026 — booking closes 10 June 2026
• All other 2026–2027 closing dates are TBC — check sqe.sra.org.uk regularly

The examinable law cut-off date is the date up to which legal developments (new legislation, case law, regulatory changes) may be tested in that sitting. Law and practice changes published after the cut-off date will not appear in that assessment.

For example, for SQE1 in July 2026, the cut-off is 13 March 2026 — so only law in force as of that date is examinable. This is important when planning your preparation: make sure your study materials are up to date as of the relevant cut-off, not just the exam date.

SQE2 oral assessments are held at exam venues in Birmingham, Cardiff, London, and Manchester. Not all locations are available for every sitting within an assessment window — specific venues are confirmed when booking opens.

SQE2 written assessments take place at Pearson VUE test centres across the UK and internationally. You can also take the SQE in Welsh — see sqe.sra.org.uk/booking/sqe-welsh for details.

SQE1 and SQE2 written assessments can be taken at international Pearson VUE centres. However, SQE2 oral assessments are only available in the UK (Birmingham, Cardiff, London, Manchester).

If sitting internationally, note that assessment start times vary by time zone — check the local start time carefully when booking. International candidates should confirm availability at their nearest Pearson VUE centre on the SQE test centres page.