1. Delivering the SQE: next steps in implementation 18 December 2018

2. Director of Education and Training, SRA
Welcome and SQE update
Julie Brannan,
Director of Education and Training, SRA

3. What is the SQE?
A single national licensing examination for admission as a solicitor of England and Wales – Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE)
We will no longer specify routes to admission as a solicitor

4. The Assessment SQE 1 Functioning Legal Knowledge Assessments
Substantive and procedural law
Test of application of fundamental legal principles
Computer based assessment
Practical Legal Skills Assessment
Legal Research and Writing Skills
SQE 2
Practical Legal Skills Assessments
Client interviewing, advocacy, case and matter analysis, legal research and written advice, legal drafting
Simulated role plays

5. Practical arrangements2
Initially, two exam sittings per year; 3 attempts; 6-year validity; SQE 2 only after passing SQE 1; SQE 1 to be taken in one sitting
SQE available in England and Wales; wide geographic network for written tests; limited number of centres for oral skills
And (for written tests) internationally
Future – sittings/venues will keep pace with demand

6. Timing and transition
To give training providers and employers time to prepare for new system, we will introduce the SQE in Autumn 2021
Start Qualifying Law Degree/Common Professional Examination before 2021: choose to continue under old system to 2032, or qualify under SQE

7. Progress during 2018
April 2018: Legal Services Board (LSB) approved the regulatory framework for the SQE
Second stage application in 2020
August 2018: announcement of Kaplan’s appointment as SQE assessment provider

8. Progress during 2018 Autumn 2018:
Design of SQE 1 assessment model to be taken into pilot
Information about introduction date, assessment design and indicative cost published
November 2018: SQE 1 pilot recruitment launched
November 2018: LSB approval of SQE transitional regulations

9. Indicative fee range £3,000 - £4,500 for SQE 1 and SQE 2
Indicative only – eventual fee may be inside or outside this fee range. Variables:
Size of assessments: numbers of questions, numbers of contexts and length of testing time
Offering SQE in both English and Welsh

10. Indicative fee range
Comparable with similar professional assessments leading to being licenced to practice
Cost of training
Will be wide range of models, from SQE-inclusive law degrees, through bespoke training courses to new US-style JD programmes
Example of assessment + training cost, based on QLTS training costs: £4,700 - £10,140
Funding will depend on route; but greater opportunity for earning and learning; no more “LPC gamble”

11. Assessment development 2019
First half 2019
Publication of revised assessment specification for Stage 1 pilot, and stakeholder input
March 2019 pilot for SQE Stage 1
Design pilot for Stage 2

12. Assessment development 2019
Second half 2019
Publication of revised assessment specification for Stage 2 pilot and stakeholder input
Results of the Stage 1 pilot
Finalisation of design of Stage 1 and publication of sample questions for Stage 1
Pilot for Stage 2

13. Assessment development 2020
First half 2020
Results of Stage 2 pilot and publication of sample questions for
Stage 2
Completion of programme of piloting and testing
Publication of final version of assessment specification

14. Future plans: other work (2019 – 2020)
SQE in Welsh?
Looking at logistics, quality assurance and cost
Publication of information about logistics
Dates of windows for sittings
Timetable for registration and publication of results
Spring 2020
Second application to LSB

15. Today Working on the detail of SQE:
Writing multiple choice questions for SQE 1
Setting the standard for SQE 2
Blueprinting for SQE 1, Functioning Legal Knowledge
Legal content for SQE 1