What Is the SQE Exam? A Clear Guide for Future Solicitors

If you want to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales, you’ve probably heard about the SQE. But what exactly is it, how does it work, and what does it mean for your route to qualification?

Practice Questions here: FLK1 https://amzn.eu/d/07iVRup0 and https://amzn.eu/d/064LrKbA

FLK2 Practice Questions: https://amzn.eu/d/0fwHiHTE

Plan your study https://amzn.eu/d/0eIwUq4u and https://amzn.eu/d/05K21los

Review notes available here: https://amzn.eu/d/0hefvrir and https://amzn.eu/d/0aqz3cUP

SQE1 MCQ Strategy: https://amzn.eu/d/04jafgSK

This guide breaks down the SQE in simple, practical terms.

1. What Is the SQE?

The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is the central exam you must pass to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. It is set and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

Instead of different routes and exams depending on your background (such as the LPC), the SQE is designed as a single, standardised assessment for all aspiring solicitors, whether you are:

A law graduate

A non-law graduate

An overseas lawyer

Someone changing careers

2. Why Was the SQE Introduced?

The SQE was brought in to:

Create a single, consistent standard for all new solicitors

Increase flexibility in how candidates study and gain experience

Open up more routes to qualification beyond the traditional university + LPC + training contract model

In short, the SQE is meant to ensure that everyone who qualifies as a solicitor has been tested to the same level, regardless of their background or chosen study route.

3. The Two Parts of the SQE: SQE1 and SQE2

The SQE is split into two main stages.

SQE1 – Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK)

SQE1 tests your ability to apply core legal principles to practical scenarios through computer-based multiple-choice questions.

It is divided into two papers:

FLK1 – typically covers areas like business law, dispute resolution, contract, tort, legal system and ethics.

FLK2 – typically covers areas like property practice, wills and probate, criminal law and practice, and more ethics.

You must pass SQE1 before you can sit SQE2.

SQE2 – Practical Legal Skills

SQE2 tests the practical skills you will use as a solicitor, such as:

Client interviewing

Advocacy

Legal research

Legal writing and drafting

Case and matter analysis

These skills are assessed through written and oral tasks based on realistic legal scenarios.

4. What Else Do You Need to Qualify?

Passing SQE1 and SQE2 is essential, but it’s not the only requirement. To qualify as a solicitor, you must also:

Hold a degree or equivalent (this doesn’t have to be a law degree).

Complete two years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) – this can be gained in a range of settings, such as law firms, legal clinics, in-house roles or similar.

Meet the SRA’s character and suitability requirements – for example, honesty, integrity and professionalism.

These elements, together with SQE1 and SQE2, form the full qualification route.

5. Who Is the SQE For?

The SQE applies to most people starting their journey to qualification now. It is particularly relevant if you:

Are beginning a law degree or conversion course

Are a non-law graduate looking at a legal career

Are overseas-qualified and want to re-qualify in England and Wales

Some candidates who started under the old system may still be able to follow the previous LPC route, depending on their “transitional arrangements,” but the SQE is now the main path going forward.

6. How Is the SQE Different from the Old System?

Under the previous system, many candidates:

Took a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) or conversion course

Completed the Legal Practice Course (LPC)

Then secured and completed a two-year training contract

With the SQE:

There is no single prescribed course you must take – you prepare in a way that suits you.

QWE is more flexible than a traditional training contract and can be built up across several roles.

Everyone is assessed through the same central exams (SQE1 and SQE2).

7. Why the SQE Matters for You

Understanding the SQE helps you:

Plan your studies and preparation timeline

Choose the right prep programme and resources

Make informed decisions about QWE and your career path

Instead of thinking of the SQE as “just an exam,” it’s better to see it as the central testing point around which you organise your learning, skills, and experience.

Final Thoughts

The SQE exam is now the gateway to becoming a solicitor in England and Wales. It’s a single, standardised assessment made up of:

SQE1 – testing your functioning legal knowledge

SQE2 – testing your practical legal skills

Alongside SQE1 and SQE2, you need a degree (or equivalent), two years of qualifying work experience, and to meet the SRA’s character and suitability requirements.

Once you understand what the SQE is and how it fits into the qualification process, you can start focusing on the real challenge: preparing effectively and giving yourself the best chance of success.