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Charity talks to Seema Gill, Charity and Social Business Solicitor (Property) at Russell-Cooke Solicitors, about the SQE Review -from a Candidates perspective.
In December 2024, The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) commissioned the IFF, a social and market research agency, to conduct an independent review on the premise of evaluating whether the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is achieving its objectives.
As a candidate who actually completed the SQE courses and assessments, what is your general view of the SQE as a route to qualification?
I had a positive experience overall in qualifying via the SQE and I think it has achieved one of the aims of removing the barrier of a training contract for some candidates.
However, I think there is still a long way to go before the SRA achieves the aim of the SQE promoting a diverse profession and the practicalities of administering the SQE exams and results have been disappointing.
There seem to be concerns about the pass rate (in particular for the SQE1 assessments).
For example, in October 2024, the pass rate hit an all time low of 44%.
What do you think are the contributing factors? and
It is difficult to know the contributing factors without carrying out more research, but I’d say a multiple choice examination was not something I had much experience of, prior to preparing for the SQE. The content is very broad so it may be a challenge for some candidates to switch from writing essays and learning subjects in great detail to knowing how to answer multiple choice questions on a range of areas of law in one sitting.
What solutions would you as a former SQE candidate suggest to remedy this?
The potential solution is to research course providers (if choosing yourself) as they should be able to guide you and just keep practising multiple choice questions.
What do you perceive to be the positive aspects of the SQE? and
The positive aspect of the SQE has been removing the requirement of a training contract which has increased flexibility in the way candidates are able to qualify. This has also meant that paralegals who have been doing work equivalent to that of a trainee solicitor have been able to take more control over their route to qualification.
The negative aspects of the SQE?
The negative aspects have been the various issues with administering the exams and results – from problems with booking the exams, system failures when sitting the exams and marking errors, it has not been good enough.
As a former candidate, what advice and guidance would you give to those wishing to qualify through the SQE route?
The advice I would give is to seek support when you need it- that may be from colleagues, tutors, or other people who have gone through the SQE. Try to focus on yourself and your preparation.
What aspects of the SQE do you think could be improved to enable the SRA to achieve its goal of advancing social mobility in the legal profession? and
I think the cost of qualifying is still a major obstacle to qualification. The SQE was introduced as being less expensive than the LPC, but most candidates realistically need a preparation course before sitting the exams. The cost of the courses plus the exams themselves are still very high and have increased since the SQE was introduced.
What feasible steps does the SRA need to take to ensure they achieve this?
The SRA could reconsider the fees charged and/or look further into the financial support available to candidates. If the SRA’s goal is to advance social mobility in the profession, then perhaps they should offer bursaries on exam fees to those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
Seema Gill
Charity and Social Business Solicitor (Property)
Russell-Cooke Solicitors
https://www.linkedin.com/in/seema-gill-9a7647231/
Interviewed by Charity Mafuba
Commissioning Editor,
Solicitor (England and Wales), New York Attorney