SQE or LPC? A Comprehensive Breakdown

Oct 26, 2023

Written By Nandini Jadeja

The introduction of the SQE has left many students wondering whether it is still worth pursuing the traditional LPC (Legal Practice Course), or if it is worth choosing the new SQE (Solicitors’ Qualifying Examination) instead. This article will discuss the main differences between the two courses, including aspects such as the cost, time and assessment structure.

Understanding the SQE

The SQE is the new standardised qualification route for solicitors in England and Wales, and is overseen by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). The SQE is split into two sections, the SQE1 and the SQE2, and each assesses different skills that the SRA believes are necessary for solicitors to have.

While SQE1 focuses on legal knowledge, SQE2 focuses on practical skills and the assessments for each are designed to assess these skills differently. SQE1 is assessed via multiple choice questions around legal knowledge in different areas, while SQE 2 is assessed by testing oral and written legal skills in different legal scenarios.

Benefits to choosing the SQE is that there is considerably more flexibility in preparation, assessment and work experience. There are many providers of the SQE, and some firms are choosing to combine SQE preparation with a degree apprenticeship or an LLM (master’s in law). The assessment is also more varied than the LPC, allowing aspiring solicitors to strengthen certain skills prior to qualifying as a solicitor. The two years work experience requirement can also be met in several ways, including working at a legal aid clinic or working as a paralegal.

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The traditional LPC route

The Legal Practice Course is a well-established route to solicitor qualification in the UK and was the primary method of qualification for many years. The LPC is a skills-based qualification, and teaching is based around the following core modules: Criminal litigation, Business law and practice, Property law and practice, Civil litigation and wills and probate.

You will also be required to choose from several electives; the number and format will be determined by your course provider. Many law firms will specify which electives they want you to take depending on their own interests and practice areas. Finally, you will need to master several practical skills including advocacy and negotiating, interviewing, writing and drafting and legal research.

Benefits of the LPC include it being well established and having a less stressful assessment process than the SQE. Since solicitors have been qualifying via the LPC for 30 years, there is plenty of information and guidance around how to approach it, and course providers are well versed in getting students through the process.

Note that since the introduction of the SQE, only those who have started their journey to qualification before 2022 can qualify for the LPC. Those beginning their journey to qualification from 2023 onwards will only be eligible for the SQE. According to the SRA, the LPC will be available until 2026, but if you hadn’t started a law course before September 2021, the SQE will be the path for you.

SQE vs LPC: A comprehensive comparison

Assessment methods:

LPC: The LPC is assessed mainly via written examinations. There are also two oral assessments, an online multiple-choice assessment, and a takeaway research paper (similar to coursework).

SQE: SQE1 is assessed through two examinations of 180 multiple choice questions (single best answer). SQE2 is a single, uniform assessment consisting of 15-18 exercises (‘stations’) which assess skills and practice areas.

Cost and duration:

LPC: The LPC can be studied part or full-time, with the full-time course taking nine months (face to face or online). For full-time, there will be 10-12 contact hours per week, and at least 45 hours a week will be needed to study.

The LPC generally costs between £9,000 - £17,000, depending on where you choose to study and the type of course you choose.

SQE: The SQE can also be studied part or full time, online or face to face. Preparation for SQE 1 takes 5-6 months with 15-20 hours of study a week, and SQE 2 preparation takes 2-4 months, studying 15-20 hours per week.

Most course providers will offer preparation for SQE1 and SQE2 in conjunction. The complete training normally costs between £9,500 and £11,500, although if you self-study it will cost less. Longer courses (like an LLM with SQE prep built in) will be more expensive, but doing this will make you eligible for a postgraduate loan.

The assessments for both SQE1 and SQE2 cost £4,564.

Flexibility:

LPC: With the LPC, you can choose from a range of elective modules in addition to your core and practical modules. However, the LPC has a more fixed structure, as securing a training contract is the only way to become a solicitor. The LPC can also only be undertaken by a law student, or a non-law student who has completed a law conversion course.

SQE: The SQE’s structure is more flexible in the sense that you can complete it in any order. Work experience can be undertaken even before taking the SQE assessments, and the ways of gaining work experience are more diverse than the LPC. For example, you can work at four different organisations, working in fields like paralegal work, and in a legal aid clinic. Non-law students can now skip the conversion course necessary and move straight to the SQE if they prepare for it on their own.

Pass rates and challenges:

LPC: The pass mark for all core and elective assessments is 50%. In 2019/20. 57.7% of students successfully completed the LPC.

SQE: The SQE’s pass mark is around 65%. In the latest SQE1 exam (released in March 2023), 51% of students passed.

Making the decision

Now that you have all the facts, you are ready to decide. Reflect on your personal strengths, preferences and career goals, and also whether or not you qualify to choose the LPC. You should also seek advice from legal professionals, lecturers or personal tutors, as they can provide guidance based on their own experiences and the current legal landscape.

To summarise, the main differences between the SQE and LPC are in terms of flexibility, cost, and preparation/assessment structure. It is important to make an informed decision based on your individual strengths, personal circumstances and career goals.

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