PG Cert Legal Practice (SQE1)

This Postgraduate Certificate in Legal Practice is a Level 7 course, which can be studied full-time for one semester or part-time across two semesters. It is designed for law graduates who want to have the best possible preparation for Part One of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE 1). 

The course is designed to meet the diverse needs of our students who wish to qualify as solicitors. It will not only provide you with the practical legal knowledge you need to supplement your degree or Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), it will also prepare you for the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) examination, which will take you towards your goal of becoming a qualified solicitor.

The SQE assessments, comprising Part One (SQE 1) and Part Two (SQE 2), are integral to qualifying as a solicitor. The Legal Practice (SQE 1) PG Cert course can help you prepare to pass SQE 1, but you will also need to pass SQE 2, have a degree or equivalent qualification/experience, complete two years of qualifying work experience and meet the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s character and suitability requirements.

If you are a UK student, our flexible timetable means you can study either during the day (on campus) or in the evening (online) or by any workable combination of the two – whatever suits your work commitments and lifestyle. If you are an international student, you can study online in the evenings (UK time).

Whichever method of study you adopt, you will have live workshop sessions with highly qualified legal practitioners, who will be able to guide you through the intricacies of the SQE syllabus and enable you to hone in on the techniques needed to pass the rigorous SQE 1 examination.

You will study two modules (each worth 30 credits), which exactly match the Solicitors Regulation Authority syllabuses for Functioning Legal Knowledge, as assessed through the SQE 1 examination.

In addition to preparing you for the SQE 1 exam, if you pass the University examinations, you will be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Legal Practice (worth 60 Level 7 credits). You may then top that up to a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice by taking our SQE 2 preparation course (worth an additional 60 Level 7 credits) and to a full Legal Practice LLM degree by taking a dissertation module (worth an additional 60 Level 7 credits). 

You will also have the opportunity to go beyond the SQE syllabus by engaging with the experiential extracurricular activities within our Guildhall School of Business and Law, including our prestigious mooting competition, the final of which is often judged by Lord Reed PSC. 

You’ll also have the opportunity to engage with our Pro Bono Legal Advice Clinic, which can earn you up to six months of qualifying work experience (QWE). This would contribute to the two years of full-time (or equivalent) qualifying work experience required by candidates looking to qualify through the SQE route.

Classes are delivered live by our expert team of experienced solicitors and senior academics through a combination of lectures, workshops, interactive seminars, one-to-one supervision and directed self-study. You will be encouraged to read from specified case law, practitioners’ textbooks and legal journals, as well as having the opportunity to discuss theoretical issues and practical problem solving.?  

You will be provided with online and printed learning materials to ensure you have the resources you need to succeed. You'll also have 24/7 access to our vast online library, including Westlaw and Lexis+. If you study on campus you will also have access to our expansive Learning Centre on Holloway Road. 

As well as having access to our wide range of student services such as our Careers and Employability team and Disabilities and Dyslexia Service, you will have an individual personal tutor who can provide you with advice and support. The academic mentor for law and your module tutors will also be happy to assist you throughout your studies.