The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) is an independent centralised assessment, introduced in September 2021, which every aspiring solicitor in England and Wales must undergo.
To pass the SQE you must complete both the SQE 1 and SQE2.
Baker McKenzie has partnered with BARBRI as our SQE providers.
SQE1: This consists of two Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK) assessments. LPC graduates are exempt from the SQE1 exam.
We choose to send our students on the 20-week SQE1 prep course. If you are a non-law student, to supplement your knowledge you will complete a 4 week course called Foundations, which gives non-law students an overview of the common law system and gets them up to speed on the language used in the English & Welsh legal system.
SQE2: This is the stage of the practical legal skills assessment. A candidate must pass the SQE1 exam before proceeding with sitting the SQE2 exam, unless they are exempt.
We have chosen the accelerated SQE2 Prep course, which is 10 weeks.
In addition you will take part in our 9 week Prep for Practice course which has been designed by the firm to help build your commercial awareness, client relationship skills and soft skills, to ensure you are fully prepared ahead of your qualifying work experience.