Want to become a solicitor? Whether you’ve completed a law or non-law degree at undergraduate level, we have a range of postgraduate law courses which will prepare you for a career as a solicitor. If you are looking to study the Legal Practice Course (LPC), please note that the last intake will be delivered part-time online, in September 2026.
The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) has transformed the process of qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales, offering a new and more accessible route into the profession.
This pathway opens doors for many but also raises important questions - do you have to study a specific course? How do you obtain Qualifying Work Experience? Should you still do the LPC?
If you’re exploring whether the SQE is the right path for you, our comprehensive guide has the answers. From understanding the steps to qualification, to exploring career opportunities, courses, and funding options, find everything you need to make an informed decision about your future.
Our intelligent, free SQE Revision App is here to help prepare you for SQE1, part of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE1). The App has been specifically designed to help you improve your Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK), as well as your technique and confidence in attempting Single Best Answer Question (SBAQ) assessments. Students studying our applicable SQE courses will receive access to the full version of the App which includes a bank of over 3,000 SBAQs together with smart performance insights.
From September 2021, the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) became the centralised assessment for anyone who wants to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales, replacing the Legal Practice Course (LPC) route to practice.
The SQE is part of a four-stage route to becoming a solicitor:
Unlike the LPC, the SQE is not a course of study but an examination. However, to pass SQE1 and SQE2, you may wish to undergo a course of professional training. We've developed a range of SQE courses that will prepare you for a career as a solicitor, as well as SQE success. Our courses are delivered by expert lecturers, including subject matter specialists, former and current practitioners, and research and teaching focused academics.
A non-law graduate will need to acquire the foundational legal knowledge necessary to start these courses. Most will undertake a conversion course such as our Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL), Master of Arts in Law (MA Law Conversion), Master of Arts in Law (MA Law SQE1) or SQE Law Essentials Online.
Please note: The University of Law will be offering one final intake for the LPC in September 2026 (Part-time, Online only). It will not be possible to start the LPC after September 2026 and you must complete your programme by July 2028.
You can view the full infographic outlining the SQE route to qualifying as a solicitor here.
The final intake of the LPC will be in September 2026 (Part-time, Online only). There are no more face-to-face (full-time) intakes available.
You can continue with the LPC route if you completed, started, accepted an offer, or paid a non-refundable deposit for one of the following by 31 August 2021:
For a qualifying law degree (QLD) and exempting law degree (ELD), such as our LLB, you must have completed, started, accepted an offer or paid a non-refundable deposit by 21 September 2021.
In most cases, for the QLD, ELD and CPE, the relevant course must have started at the latest on or before 31 December 2021.
If you have already started a qualifying law degree, GDL or training contract there are transition arrangements in place until 31 December 2032 to qualify as a solicitor under the current routes, as long as courses still remain available.
You can view the full infographic outlining the LPC route here.
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We're proud to share our SQE pass rates and celebrate the success of our students.
SQE1: 75% of our students passed the January 2025 SQE1 assessments first time, compared to the industry average first attempt pass rate of 60%*
SQE2: 89% of our students passed SQE2 in October 2024 compared to the industry average pass rate of 81%**
*All eligible cohorts contacted, results based on over 2,000 responses.
**All eligible cohorts contacted, results based on student responses.
Join us at one of our Postgraduate Open Days held both on campus and virtually throughout the year. These events will provide you with the opportunity to find out more about the various academic and professional postgraduate qualifications we offer, which are designed to support your future career ambitions and set you up for success.
Wednesday 10 December 2025, 16:00 – 17:00
This timely and exciting session will explore the current threats facing the United Kingdom and how the counterterrorism laws and policy have augmented over time. Since al-Qaeda’s attack on the USA on 11 September 2001, and the homegrown Islamist inspired attack in London on 7th July 2005, the UK government has increased, over time of course and usually in response to further successful attacks and potential threats identified, the governance of security. Since the introduction of the Terrorism Act 2000, which legally redefined broadly what terrorism is, we have seen the introduction of ten Acts of Parliament, all aimed at dealing in some way with the threat. We will discuss these Acts in more detail, alongside new single-issue threats that have been emerging in the UK. We will additionally cover single-issue threats that fall below the capture of current counterterrorism laws.
Wednesday 7 January 2026, 16:00 – 17:00
From secret courts to super injunctions, journalists and bloggers face a range of restrictions on what they can report about court proceedings. Sometimes this means that the public can never be told the full facts about crimes, civil claims or other wrongdoing. But if justice is not ‘seen to be done’, is that really justice? In this Real World Lecture, we will explore the concept of ‘open justice’, some of the reasons for reporting restrictions, and whether they can survive in a social media age.
We caught up with the ULaw National Programme Director for the SQE, Jill Howell Williams, to learn more about each route and why you might choose one over the other.
Read onHear from our expert lecturers about what to expect when studying a solicitor course with us and what exactly you’ll learn.
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We understand that moving to a new country for your studies is a big decision, and we're here to support you every step of the way as you settle into life in the UK.
Learn more about how we can help with funding your law studies and guide you through the visa application process.
Whether you’re converting to law study in order to start your journey towards becoming a solicitor, or you already hold a qualifying law degree, our course comparison guide will help you find the right course for you.
Our law course finder can help you understand the route to becoming a solicitor with The University of Law. Find the right course for you based on your background and aspirations.
This course is designed for graduates who want to qualify as a solicitor using the new SQE route to practice and also gain a Master’s award. We focus on the skills that employers are seeking so that you can enhance your academic knowledge while preparing for the realities of life in legal practice. This course will ensure you’re fully prepared for your career as a solicitor, as well as success in the SQE exams. You’ll also get the opportunity to complete four weeks Qualifying Work Experience within one of our Legal Advice Centres.
Find out moreJoin the largest community of LPC students*. This course is designed for law graduates, or those who have completed a law conversion course, and wish to qualify as a solicitor using the LPC route to practice. You can also add an MSc in Law, Business and Management or LLM in Professional Legal Practice at no extra cost. *Central Applications Board (LawCAB) 2023
Find out moreThis course is for those who wish to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales using the SQE pathway to qualification. Although there are no formal entry requirements, it is recommended that you have a law degree or have completed a law conversion course. The course will prepare you for the SRA’s centralised SQE1 assessments, which will test functioning legal knowledge (FLK).
Find out moreThis course is designed for those who’ve completed SQE1 training. This course will prepare you for the SRA’s centralised SQE2 skills assessments, which will test the practical legal skills of client interviewing, advocacy, legal writing, drafting and research, and case and matter analysis.
Find out more
