How to Become a Solicitor

There is no longer a single route into the solicitor profession. The SRA introduced the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) in September 2021 and now recognises four main routes to qualification, including two apprenticeship routes that let you earn a salary and qualify without tuition debt. This guide walks you through each route, the entry requirements, the timelines, the application windows and how to decide which one fits your age, your finances and the life you want.

Solicitor Apprenticeship

The six-year, Level 7 route from school leaver to qualified solicitor. Your employer funds the training, pays a salary from day one, and covers the SQE as part of the programme. No tuition debt, and you qualify alongside peers who went to university.

Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship

A shorter apprenticeship (typically 2.5 years) for people who already have a degree. It wraps the SQE, the two years of qualifying work experience and a salary into a single employer-sponsored programme.

SQE Route

The self-funded route. You sit SQE1 and SQE2 after a degree in any subject, and complete two years of qualifying work experience. Flexible but the exam and preparation course fees come out of your own pocket unless an employer sponsors you.

LPC + Training Contract

The traditional route, closing on 31 December 2032. Only available to candidates already in the transitional arrangements before 1 September 2021. No new starts are being accepted.

Qualified Lawyer Transfer

If you're already qualified in another jurisdiction, you can become a solicitor of England and Wales by taking SQE2 (and in some cases SQE1). The SRA also grants exemptions for certain foreign qualifications.

Chartered Legal Executive to Solicitor

Chartered Legal Executives (CILEx Fellows) can qualify as solicitors without a training contract. You take the SQE, and your existing CILEx work counts as qualifying work experience.

The Typical Journey to Qualification

Every route ends at the same destination: admission to the Roll of Solicitors, which gives you practice rights anywhere in England and Wales. What differs is the time it takes, how you pay for it, and what the days look like while you’re qualifying.

A school leaver on the solicitor apprenticeship will spend six years working full time at a law firm while studying one day a week. A graduate sitting the SQE privately might study full time for six to twelve months, then complete two years of qualifying work experience. The LPC-plus-training-contract route takes three years after a law degree. These are the rough shapes of each route:

  • Solicitor Apprenticeship: 6 years, all paid, no tuition fees, SQE included
  • Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship: 2.5 years on top of a degree, all paid
  • SQE Route: 2 to 3 years after a degree, exam fees paid by you or a sponsor
  • LPC + Training Contract: 3 years after a degree (closing 31 December 2032)
  • Qualified Lawyer Transfer: 6 to 18 months to take SQE2 and any required SQE1
  • CILEx to Solicitor: SQE exams on top of existing CILEx Fellow status

Who Can Apply for Each Route?

Different routes have different entry points. Some open straight from school, some need a degree, and some require you to already be working in law. Most apprenticeships are funded by the government, so your age and prior qualifications affect whether your employer can use funding to pay for your training.

These are the main entry points, with the qualifications and conditions each one expects:

  • School leavers (16 to 19) with GCSEs 4-9 including English and Maths, on the Paralegal or Solicitor Apprenticeship
  • Sixth-form leavers (18+) with three A-levels or equivalent, on the Solicitor Apprenticeship
  • Graduates with a degree in any subject, on the SQE route or the Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship
  • Career changers and mature students, on the SQE route with any level 6 qualification or equivalent experience
  • Already-qualified lawyers from other jurisdictions, on the Qualified Lawyer Transfer route

How the Routes Compare

The four main routes differ on three things that matter most: total time, who pays, and what the first year looks like. A traditional LPC student pays £12,000 to £20,000 in course fees and takes on more student debt. An apprentice earns from day one and finishes the six years with no tuition debt at all. The SQE route sits in the middle: shorter on paper, but exam fees and preparation courses add up to around £5,000 to £18,000 depending on the provider.

The differences extend beyond money. Here’s what sets each route apart:

  • Cost to you: apprenticeships free, SQE route around £5k to £18k, LPC around £12k to £20k plus living costs
  • Earning while you learn: apprenticeships pay a salary, SQE and LPC students usually do not
  • Time commitment: apprenticeships 2.5 to 6 years, SQE 2 to 3 years post-degree, LPC 3 years post-degree
  • Assessment style: apprenticeships and SQE end with the same SQE1 and SQE2 exams, LPC has coursework and exams
  • Flexibility: SQE allows part-time self-study, apprenticeships follow employer's schedule, LPC is fixed
  • Competitiveness: apprenticeships have fewer places than SQE routes but high completion rates

The Step-by-Step Application Process

Whichever route you pick, the application process follows a similar rhythm. Apprenticeship vacancies usually open between September and December each year for September starts, and close as soon as positions are filled. SQE sittings run in January and July, with registration opening three to four months earlier.

Plan ahead. Most competitive programmes close twelve months before the start date. Here is the process, stage by stage:

  • Research the role thoroughly and shadow a solicitor if you can, before committing to any route
  • Compare routes using a tool like the pathway quiz, or by reading each route's detail page
  • Check the entry requirements for your chosen route and address any gaps (GCSE retakes, work experience)
  • Build your CV and a covering letter that shows commercial awareness, not just strong grades
  • Apply directly to employers (apprenticeships) or to SQE preparation providers (self-funded route)
  • Prepare for assessments: psychometric tests, written exercises, case studies and interviews
  • Accept an offer and confirm any funding, student finance or bursaries that apply
  • Start the programme and begin recording your qualifying work experience from day one

Compare the Routes Side by Side

Now you’ve seen each route at a high level, the next step is to compare them in detail. The comparison pages below break down the practical differences between SQE, LPC, apprenticeships and training contracts, so you can see which one suits you best.

Take the Pathway Quiz