Legal Practice Course (LPC)
Updated 13 March 2024
You can only qualify through this route if you meet our transitional requirements. If you do not meet these, you will need to qualify under the SQE.
What you will need to do before applying for admission
Alongside having a qualifying law degree and the Legal Practice Course, here is what you need to do.
Register your training
- You must register your period of recognised training (often known as a training contract). You need to do this at least 30 days before it starts.
Complete the Professional Skills Course
- The Professional Skills Course (PSC) is the final, compulsory part of training on the LPC route and usually takes place during a period of recognised training.
Checking your character and suitability
- We look at your suitability to be a solicitor just before you apply for admission. This includes identity, financial and criminal records checks. However, you can also get it checked early if you have any areas you’re concerned about
- To apply for admission, you must first do your screening and have your results. We will contact you eight weeks before your training is due to end so you can do this
Applying for admission
- Once you have completed your screening and your training is signed off by your employer, you can apply for admission
- When applying, you will choose 'Trainee Solicitor (period of recognised training)' on the application form
Applying for a practising certificate
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Once you have chosen your admission date, you can apply for a practising certificate. Find out how to apply.
Tell us you want to use the equivalence
- Complete the substitute qualifying work experience and SQE2 as an equivalent to a period of recognised training form.
Pass the SQE2 assessment and retrieve your results
- You will need to create an account on the SQE assessment website to book your SQE2 exam and get your results
- You’ll then need to retrieve your SQE2 results so we can confirm you have passed. Log into mySRA and in ‘Start a new application’ and you will find the form to retrieve your results.
Create your SQE assessment account or go to mySRA
Register your qualifying work experience
- You must have registered two years’ qualifying work experience before you apply for admission
Register your qualifying work experience
Checking your character and suitability and applying for admission
- We check your suitability as part of your admission application. However, you can also get it checked early if you have any areas of concern
- Before you apply for admission, you must do your screening and have your results
- When applying for admission, you will choose 'Trainee Solicitor (period of recognised training)' on the application form
Take a look at what we check or find out how to apply for screening
Find out how to apply for admission, see Admission forms and fees.
Applying for a practising certificate
Once you have chosen your admission date, you can apply for a practising certificate. Find out how to apply.
Pathways to admission - Infographic
If you have been granted an exemption from one of the following, you can apply through Equivalent Means:
Complete the Professional Skills Course
- The Professional Skills Course (PSC) is the final, compulsory part of training on the LPC route.
Checking your character and suitability and applying for admission
- We check your suitability as part of your admission application. However, you can also get it checked early if you have any areas of concern
- Before you apply for admission, you must do your screening and have your results
- When applying for admission, you will choose ‘Equivalent Means’ on the application form
Take a look at what we check or find out how to apply for screening
Find out how to apply for admission, see Admission forms and fees.
Applying for a practising certificate
Once you have chosen your admission date, you can apply for a practising certificate. Find out how to apply.