SQE Route Information
We are pleased to be able to offer the new Solicitor Qualifying Exam (SQE) route to qualification through a Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship.
There are 2 assessments that make up the Solicitors Qualifying Exam. SQE 1 will test your legal knowledge and SQE 2 assesses practical legal skills. Both assessments need to be passed prior to qualification. In addition to the SQE exams you will need to complete a minimum of two years of qualifying legal work experience through our training contract and pass a character and suitability test.
Our Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship Programme is a 2 year and 8-month programme that supports you towards taking both SQE 1 and 2 exams along with allowing you to gain the two years qualifying legal experience. We have partnered with a training provider to support you through your studies, prepare you for the assessments and guide you all the way through to completion of the examinations.
There are 2 different routes to complete our Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship and we work with our successful candidates to provide the route that is most beneficial to their learning.
Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship Route 1 – Day Release
- Two years and eight-month programme (32 months).
- Graduate Solicitor Apprentices work at Ellisons throughout this entire period and take a minimum of one day a week to study throughout the entire apprenticeship.
- The programme is structured so that Graduate Solicitor Apprentices will sit the SQE 1 assessment during the second year of the apprenticeship, and the SQE 2 assessment within the last six months.
- All training is funded by Ellisons along with the time off required for study.
- Graduate Solicitor Apprentices will receive a salary throughout the entire two year and eight-month programme.
Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship Route 1 – Block Learning
- Two years and eight-month programme (32 months).
- This allows for a period of eight months’ study followed by two years’ qualifying work experience.
- Before joining, our Graduate Solicitor Apprentices complete 8 months of study with our training provider and will sit the SQE1 assessment.
- Once the first 8 months of study are complete our Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship will work at Ellisons on a full-time basis for a further 2years.
- The SQE2 examination is taken in the last 6 months of the training contract with the support of our training provider.
- All training is funded by Ellisons along with the time off required for study.
- Graduate Solicitor Apprentices will receive a salary throughout the entire two year and eight-month programme.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview in the first instance. Candidates going through to second interview will be asked to present on a topic provided for the purposes of the interview.
Minimum Entry Requirements for applications: 2:1 Law Degree or any other degree followed by successful completion of the Graduate Diploma in Law.