Is the SQE cheaper than the LPC?

Jan 11, 2025

Written By Helena Kudiabor

One of the reasons why the SQE was introduced was the fact that the previous route was very expensive, as you would have to pay for the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and sometimes the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL). The new SQE route is a lot cheaper.

How much do the SQE exams cost?

With the SQE route, you’ll need to take two exams, the SQE1 and the SQE2. As of January 2025, The SQE1 costs £1,888 to complete, while the SQE2 costs £2,902. This means that you’ll have to pay £4,790 in total. While this may seem quite costly, it is actually far less than the previous route to qualification.

The LPC costs between £12,000-£17,000, while the GDL can cost between £7,000-£13,000, depending on where in the country you study. If you need to complete both courses, as is the case if you don’t have a qualifying law degree, you’ll be paying up to £30,000. In comparison to this, the SQE is much cheaper.

As a result, the SQE is more accessible to those from a lower income background.

How much does it cost to prepare for the SQE?

The cost depends on how much support you think you need. For example, if you’re not too confident with the law, or you don’t have much legal experience, it might be helpful to take a preparation course. These provide you with tips and tricks to ace the exam, and often provide you with study resources as well.

These preparation courses often cost between £3,500-£6,000, although you’ll need to take two, one for each SQE exam. There is also the options to do the courses either in-person or online, which may also help with the living fees if you are doing the courses online.

If you’re quite confident with your legal knowledge, you may wish to self-study the exam. There are practice questions online for free, but you may wish to buy textbooks and other educational resources. While the SQE is still relatively new, there are many resources available online which include question banks, summaries and more.

Will my law firm cover the cost of the SQE?

Many large law firms covered the cost of the LPC and the GDL for their trainees. Some also provided maintenance grants, to help support you while you’re studying. With the introduction of the SQE, many of these law firms have pledged to cover the cost of the SQE, as well as preparation courses.

To qualify for this, you’ll need to have a training contract with the firm, or be doing your qualifying work experience for them. If you’re interested in completing a solicitor’s apprenticeship, your employer will also cover the cost of the exam.

Although the preparation courses can be pricey, overall it works out to be much cheaper than the LPC route.

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