Responding to an ongoing Solicitors Regulation Authority consultation on the issue, The Law Society has suggested that putting in place yet another qualification hurdle for young solicitors-to-be is likely to trip up individuals without sufficient financial support. To pass the SQE, students would likely have to undertake additional preparatory courses designed specifically to help prepare for the exam, incurring additional costs and debt in the process. Such courses would likely not be covered by student loans. 'The counter argument put forward by the SRA that students have financial choice as they are not required to undertake university or post-graduate education at all ignores the fact that many poorer students benefit immensely from university education,' said Chancery Lane in its response to the SRA's consultation on the SQE.
Non-graduate lawyers
Earlier this week, The Law Society confirmed that it did not oppose individuals without law degrees becoming solicitors. The clarification came after chief executive Catherine Dixon warned that allowing non-graduates to qualify may lower overall entry standards to the solicitor profession with knock-on consequences for the UK legal brand. As other professions like teaching and nursing are demanding greater 'academic rigour', dragging solicitor qualifications in the opposite direction will be 'damaging to the profession and the clients we serve,' says the letter published in the Law Society Gazette.
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