How to train to be a solicitor after doing non-law degree
Hi there,
I'm about to graduate in a couple of months and my postgraduate plans are sorted, but out of interest I was wondering what the route would be if I decided to change my plans and study law after completing a non-law degree.
I've done a bit of research and apparently instead of taking a law conversion course, nowadays you have to take something called the SQE, but the information online about how you prepare for this is not very clear.
Any help appreciated, thanks
I'm about to graduate in a couple of months and my postgraduate plans are sorted, but out of interest I was wondering what the route would be if I decided to change my plans and study law after completing a non-law degree.
I've done a bit of research and apparently instead of taking a law conversion course, nowadays you have to take something called the SQE, but the information online about how you prepare for this is not very clear.
Any help appreciated, thanks
You need to pass SQE1 and SQE2 exams to be a Solicitor.
In theory you can sit the SQE without a law degree or postgraduate law conversion but cost of sitting both exams is nearly £5000, resits are full price and you can only have 3 attempts and pass rate for SQE1 is low around 50%.
General feeling is it would be very difficult to attempt SQE exams without a law degree or a postgraduate diploma in law. Many firms are still insisting their solicitors have a qualifying law degree or degree and postgraduate diploma in law.
There are SQE prep courses. Most assume you have a law degree or postgraduate conversion but there are some eg barbri that offer extended courses for none law graduates.
Do check carefully what any course fees cover - most require payment of the SQE exam fees on top.
In theory you can sit the SQE without a law degree or postgraduate law conversion but cost of sitting both exams is nearly £5000, resits are full price and you can only have 3 attempts and pass rate for SQE1 is low around 50%.
General feeling is it would be very difficult to attempt SQE exams without a law degree or a postgraduate diploma in law. Many firms are still insisting their solicitors have a qualifying law degree or degree and postgraduate diploma in law.
There are SQE prep courses. Most assume you have a law degree or postgraduate conversion but there are some eg barbri that offer extended courses for none law graduates.
Do check carefully what any course fees cover - most require payment of the SQE exam fees on top.
Original post by Dixiechick1975
You need to pass SQE1 and SQE2 exams to be a Solicitor.
In theory you can sit the SQE without a law degree or postgraduate law conversion but cost of sitting both exams is nearly £5000, resits are full price and you can only have 3 attempts and pass rate for SQE1 is low around 50%.
General feeling is it would be very difficult to attempt SQE exams without a law degree or a postgraduate diploma in law. Many firms are still insisting their solicitors have a qualifying law degree or degree and postgraduate diploma in law.
There are SQE prep courses. Most assume you have a law degree or postgraduate conversion but there are some eg barbri that offer extended courses for none law graduates.
Do check carefully what any course fees cover - most require payment of the SQE exam fees on top.
In theory you can sit the SQE without a law degree or postgraduate law conversion but cost of sitting both exams is nearly £5000, resits are full price and you can only have 3 attempts and pass rate for SQE1 is low around 50%.
General feeling is it would be very difficult to attempt SQE exams without a law degree or a postgraduate diploma in law. Many firms are still insisting their solicitors have a qualifying law degree or degree and postgraduate diploma in law.
There are SQE prep courses. Most assume you have a law degree or postgraduate conversion but there are some eg barbri that offer extended courses for none law graduates.
Do check carefully what any course fees cover - most require payment of the SQE exam fees on top.
Thanks, that’s very helpful
Hello,
The SQE is the new route to solicitor qualification, you’re interested in learning more about it, we’ve got an overview and FAQs page here: https://www.bpp.com/courses/law/postgraduate/sqe.
As a non-law graduate, we recommend you study a law conversion course (PGDL) before attempting the SQE. A law conversion course will give you the foundational legal knowledge and skills you’ll need before you become a lawyer. Most legal employers, such as law firms, will expect you to have completed a conversion course before attempting the SQE. We also recommend this as the SQE exams are extremely challenging, and you’ll need to make sure you’re well prepared to sit them.
You can read more about the pass rates here: https://www.bpp.com/insights/sqe-exam-results-importance-of-sqe-prep.
You can also learn more about the SQE, including how the exams are assessed, by looking through the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) website: https://sqe.sra.org.uk/. Unfortunately, there aren’t any past papers available and only a handful of example questions, but on an SQE preparation course you’ll be tested throughout in the style of the SQE exams.
Finally, this video on taking the SQE route as a non-law graduate is really helpful: https://youtu.be/f58obphKeLw?si=YDTiHqKJ2ktrASVD
If you have any specific questions please let me know!
Zak
The SQE is the new route to solicitor qualification, you’re interested in learning more about it, we’ve got an overview and FAQs page here: https://www.bpp.com/courses/law/postgraduate/sqe.
As a non-law graduate, we recommend you study a law conversion course (PGDL) before attempting the SQE. A law conversion course will give you the foundational legal knowledge and skills you’ll need before you become a lawyer. Most legal employers, such as law firms, will expect you to have completed a conversion course before attempting the SQE. We also recommend this as the SQE exams are extremely challenging, and you’ll need to make sure you’re well prepared to sit them.
You can read more about the pass rates here: https://www.bpp.com/insights/sqe-exam-results-importance-of-sqe-prep.
You can also learn more about the SQE, including how the exams are assessed, by looking through the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) website: https://sqe.sra.org.uk/. Unfortunately, there aren’t any past papers available and only a handful of example questions, but on an SQE preparation course you’ll be tested throughout in the style of the SQE exams.
Finally, this video on taking the SQE route as a non-law graduate is really helpful: https://youtu.be/f58obphKeLw?si=YDTiHqKJ2ktrASVD
If you have any specific questions please let me know!
Zak
Hi there
To qualify as a solicitor you will have to pass the SQE exams. This consists of the SQE1 & 2. Additional to this, you will have to complete 2 years of qualifying work experience (for example as a paralegal). To prepare for the SQE exams, most students will choose to take a course in person or online. It is possible to self-study for it, however, it may be a bit more difficult if you come from a non-law background.
It is possible to take the SQE exams before, during, or after you complete the 2 years of qualifying work experience. If you are able to find a good work experience provider, they may fund your SQE prep course and exams.
I hope this helps.
Chloe
University of Kent Student Rep
To qualify as a solicitor you will have to pass the SQE exams. This consists of the SQE1 & 2. Additional to this, you will have to complete 2 years of qualifying work experience (for example as a paralegal). To prepare for the SQE exams, most students will choose to take a course in person or online. It is possible to self-study for it, however, it may be a bit more difficult if you come from a non-law background.
It is possible to take the SQE exams before, during, or after you complete the 2 years of qualifying work experience. If you are able to find a good work experience provider, they may fund your SQE prep course and exams.
I hope this helps.
Chloe
University of Kent Student Rep
Original post by MJ1148
Hi there,
I'm about to graduate in a couple of months and my postgraduate plans are sorted, but out of interest I was wondering what the route would be if I decided to change my plans and study law after completing a non-law degree.
I've done a bit of research and apparently instead of taking a law conversion course, nowadays you have to take something called the SQE, but the information online about how you prepare for this is not very clear.
Any help appreciated, thanks
I'm about to graduate in a couple of months and my postgraduate plans are sorted, but out of interest I was wondering what the route would be if I decided to change my plans and study law after completing a non-law degree.
I've done a bit of research and apparently instead of taking a law conversion course, nowadays you have to take something called the SQE, but the information online about how you prepare for this is not very clear.
Any help appreciated, thanks
If you're planning on going down the commerical law route and get a training contract (TC) during your postgrad degree, the firm will pay for you to do the SQE so it's definitely worth considering applying for vacation schemes to secure at TC.
Original post by MJ1148
Hi there,
I'm about to graduate in a couple of months and my postgraduate plans are sorted, but out of interest I was wondering what the route would be if I decided to change my plans and study law after completing a non-law degree.
I've done a bit of research and apparently instead of taking a law conversion course, nowadays you have to take something called the SQE, but the information online about how you prepare for this is not very clear.
Any help appreciated, thanks
I'm about to graduate in a couple of months and my postgraduate plans are sorted, but out of interest I was wondering what the route would be if I decided to change my plans and study law after completing a non-law degree.
I've done a bit of research and apparently instead of taking a law conversion course, nowadays you have to take something called the SQE, but the information online about how you prepare for this is not very clear.
Any help appreciated, thanks
Hi!
You have to pass SQE 1 and SQE 2 exams to become a solicitor. You actually no longer have to do a law conversion or any sort of prep course to sit these exams. However, as they are quite difficult, lots of people choose to do a taught preparation course before sitting them. Some of these prep courses require a GDL or similar but if you can show that you have an understanding of the key areas of law then you would be able to study this at ULaw without a GDL. As well as passing the SQE exams, you will also have to complete 2 years of qualifying work experience. Once you have completed all that, you will be a fully qualified solicitor!
This article seems like a valuable resource for clarifying some of your concerns - https://superexam.uk/sqe-for-non-law-grads/
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