SQE Update – September 2026

This month's SQE Update brings changes to the SQE1 from January 2027, how you can share your SQE experiences with us and all the latest SQE news.

Share your SQE experience

We are looking for law firms, in-house teams and newly qualified solicitors to share their experiences and insights into the SQE. Your feedback will help us showcase different qualification journeys available through the SQE and build understanding of the route across the profession.

Share your experience

Changes to SQE1 from January 2027

We have announced changes to the SQE1 following feedback from candidates, training providers and the profession. From January 2027, the number of questions will reduce from 360 to 340, with FLK topics divided between morning and afternoon sessions. These changes are intended to improve the candidate experience while maintaining the rigour and consistency of the assessment.

Read more about the changes

Updated SQE assessment specifications published

Updated versions of the SQE1 and SQE2 Assessment Specifications have been published, incorporating changes made through the annual review of the Functioning Legal Knowledge content. These updates apply to the SQE2 assessments in October and those after.

Find out more

SQE1 January 2027 bookings information

Key information and timings for candidates booking the January 2027 SQE1 assessment is now live. Candidates will need to register first and complete the required pre-booking steps to secure a place.

Find out more about sitting SQE1 in January

SQE2 April results released

The SQE2 April 2026 sitting results have been released, with an overall pass rate of 83% across almost 3,000 candidates. First-time sitters achieved a pass rate of 85%, the highest recorded for SQE2 to date, making this the strongest-performing cohort so far. 

Read more about the results

New video explains SQE2 marking process

A new video is now available to help candidates and training providers better understand the SQE2 assessment marking and moderation process. This can support candidate preparation and performance and includes key points from a workshop held for training providers and organisations involved in developing SQE2 preparation materials. 

Take a look at the video

SQE training and course finder

The SQE training and course finder can help aspiring solicitors navigate the training landscape through clear, comparable information. Users can filter by study mode, duration and price, and compare providers side by side. More than 150 providers and 250+ different training options are included.

Take a look at the SQE training and course finder

New toolkit launched to widen access to the legal profession

A new toolkit has been developed to help law schools, law firms and other organisations create effective partnerships and initiatives that improve access to the solicitor profession for people from underrepresented backgrounds. The resource brings together practical guidance on improving access, progression and outcomes, explore successful partnership models and identify initiatives that align with their goals.

Read more about the toolkit

SQE exemptions guidance for qualified lawyers

If you're a qualified lawyer also looking to become a solicitor, our SQE exemptions tool and guidance can help you understand whether you need to take all parts of the SQE. It includes information on qualifications that have already been assessed for exemptions and explains the requirements for both SQE1 and SQE2 exemption applications.

Take a look at the exemption pages

Blog – Understanding SQE1: what employers need to know

In a new blog, we explain how SQE1 assesses more than legal knowledge alone and why understanding it is important to employers. It offers valuable insights into the assessment format, what it tests and the candidate experience. Find out how SQE1 is designed to test candidates' ability to apply legal knowledge and professional judgement in realistic practice-based scenarios, not just recall facts.

Read the blog