Will my law firm pay for my SQE training course?

If you’ve secured a training contract that’s starting after the 2021/22 academic year, you’ll know that before starting your placement you’ll be taking the first half of the new set of exams that make up the route towards qualifying as a solicitor. Although the full details on the cost of SQE training courses are yet to be disclosed by providers, it’s very likely that law firms’ arrangements to sponsor their future trainees’ courses will continue once the new exam comes into force from autumn 2021.

This is already the case with the GDL and LPC, with funding sometimes stretching to a maintenance grant for living costs during the time you’re studying. The extent to which you’ll be sponsored depends on the law firm taking you on, as well as the location at which you’ll be doing your training contract and studying - in many cases, the amount available for London-based firms will be higher.

What fees will be covered?

Overall, sitting the SQE exam will cost a total of £3980 - where the initial entrance fee for SQE1 is set at £1558, and then on passing all of its components you’ll need to pay an extra £2422 to sit the SQE2 assessments. Added to this will be the cost of the training course, which will be unveiled by universities as we move towards the release of SQE in the autumn of next year.

Several City firms have already designated and reached an agreement with specific institutions to deliver SQE preparation courses, so you won’t need to choose between the various providers. Otherwise, there will be a wide range of courses available to choose from depending on your arrangements - for instance, The University of Law’s SQE preparation courses.

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