Law Society of England and Wales publishes its synopsis of the new solicitor exam

The document outlines what is currently known about the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) plans for the SQE. It may assist aspiring solicitors (also foreign-qualified), employers, providers of legal education and other organisations offering training in deciding what they can do to prepare at this stage.

The SQE is going to be introduced in 2020 and will replace the current routes to solicitor qualification, including the Qualied Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS) for foreign-qualified lawyers. While the detail of the SQE assessments is still being developed, there is much that has already been decided by the SRA and approved by the Legal Services Board or which has been the subject of SRA advice.

The new centrally set ’super-exam’ will involve important decisions for anyone thinking of entering the profession, or those already some way along the road to becoming a solicitor. There is a particular need for clarity ahead of the lengthy transitional period while the new system is phased in.