Confused about Training contracts and SQE

You can apply to TCs before doing the SQE, if you secure one before doing the SQE, you have a chance that your firm will pay for your SQE. That being said, one of the main difference between Vacation Schemes and TCs is that with the first you don’t need legal experience. Without legal experiences you’ll have much more chances of succeeding with VC application than TC.

You can do the SQE without a training contract. There are a lot of webinars on the route become a solicitor via the SQE, have a look on internet.

Law firms recruit for TC in advance, which means that your start date will be aligned with whatever academic requirement you need to get. I am not sure but I don’t think a firm will let you work as a trainee and do your SQE at the same. I know some paralegals that do the SQE part time and work as well, but never heard that for trainees.

Overall, everything will hinge on whether you get a TC. If you do (and I wish that for you) you can then assess how to proceed with the input of your firm. Hope my answer was clear and helped