What do I need to know about the postgraduate law courses? In brief, before you start pupillage
How much longer will it take to qualify if I choose a non- law undergraduate degree? It takes only one year longer to
(to become a barrister), you must complete the compulsory vocational stage (ie, a Bar course and the exams). Bar courses are usually one-year courses, but can be done over two years, part time or by distance learning (depending on the provider). Meanwhile, while the SRA doesn’t stipulate when aspiring solicitors should complete the QWE element of the SQE, aspiring solicitors who’ve been accepted onto a law firm’s training programme will follow the firm’s training structure, which could involve completing the SQE assessments prior to commencing the on-the-job training.
qualify if you choose a degree other than law (if studying full time). After graduating, you’ll complete a law conversion that covers the key parts of a law degree, before progressing onto the SQE or Bar course.
Are postgraduate law courses expensive? Do I have to pay for them myself? The total cost of qualifying
as a solicitor or barrister shouldn’t be underestimated. Over and above the £9,535 per year you’re likely to pay for your undergraduate degree, you’ll have to pay around £14,000 or £20,000 (plus living costs) for, respectively, the SQE and Bar course in 2025/26. And unlike undergraduate and LLM degrees, postgraduate loans are unavailable for the SQE and Bar course (unless they include an LLM on top of the core qualification). SQE prep courses with an LLM can cost around £18,000. If you’re not doing an LLM, it’s best to have a training contract or pupillage lined up before embarking on any of the courses – many large firms/chambers offer sponsorship (usually covering course fees and maintenance grant) to their future trainees/pupils. Bank loans are usually the preferred option for those who self-fund. In addition, the cost of taking the SQE can be broken down into two parts, with SQE1 costing £1,934 and SQE2 costing £2,974 from September 2025. For more detailed funding advice, look at the ‘Finances’ section on LawCareers.Net.
What’s the SQE? The SRA introduced the SQE in 2021 to replace the LPC as the assessments that all solicitors
must pass to qualify. It’s designed to ensure that all qualified solicitors are of the same high standard, regardless of the route (eg, university or apprenticeship) they take to get there. Unlike the Postgraduate Diploma in Law and LPC, the SQE isn’t a course but a series of exams divided into two stages – SQE1 and SQE2. Check LawCareers.Net’s dedicated SQE hub for the latest information on transitional arrangements, SQE prep courses, fees, exam results and more!
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