Is the SQE harder than the LPC?

The SQE is generally considered more challenging than the LPC for several reasons, including its scope, standard, and assessment format. While the LPC assesses candidates at the level of a day one trainee solicitor, the SQE is designed to evaluate candidates at the higher standard of a day one qualified solicitor. This significant difference in the competency level required is a key factor in the increased difficulty of the SQE.

The pass rates for the SQE1 exams further illustrate its complexity. Since its introduction, the average pass rate has hovered just above 50%, with a staggering 44% recorded in the July 2024 assessment, significantly lower than the typically high pass rates for the LPC. This discrepancy reflects the rigorous and demanding nature of the SQE. A significant factor contributing to the difficulty of SQE1 is its multiple-choice question format, where you must select the single best answer from five plausible options. This format tests not only knowledge but also deep understanding and application of legal principles across a wide range of topics.

In addition to its broader legal scope, the SQE includes practice-based areas that may not be covered in traditional law degrees or conversion courses, which typically assess students through essays and problem questions. You must demonstrate both theoretical legal knowledge and practical skills, such as drafting, advocacy, and client interviewing, assessed in SQE2. These skills-based assessments add another layer of complexity compared to the LPC.

Overall, the SQE's focus on assessing both legal knowledge and practical competence, combined with its higher standard and demanding assessment methods, makes it more challenging than the LPC. It is designed to ensure that those qualifying as solicitors under the SQE route are ready to perform effectively from their first day as qualified practitioners.

Back to blog

Where are our students from?

Council of Europe
Crown Prosecution Service
Baker Mckenzie 
Yale University
University of Chicago
Columbia University
New York University
University of Michigan 
INSEAD
University of London
University College London (UCL)
London School of Economics (LSE)
King’s College London (KCL)
Royal Holloway, University of London 
Birkbeck, University of London
SOAS, University of London
University of Manchester
University of Zurich
University of York
Brandeis University
University of Exeter
University of Sheffield
Boston University
University of Washington
University of Leeds
University of Law
University of Kent
University of Hull
Queen’s University Belfast
Toronto Metropolitan University
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
University of Buckingham
ESSEC Business School

  • SQE Wills and the Administration of Estates

    Diagrams and Flowcharts

    Our carefully designed diagrams and flowcharts will guide you through complex legal issues.

  • SQE Dispute Resolution

    Digestible Bullet Points

    Legal concepts are explained in clear, easy-to-follow bullet points.

  • SQE Property Practice 5

    Clear and Succinct Definitions

    Key concepts are concisely defined to help you understand legal topics quickly.

  • SQE Wills and the Administration of Estates

    Statutory Provisions

    Statutory provisions are provided side by side with legal concepts to help you swiftly locate the relevant legislation.

  • SQE Trusts Law

    Rules and Exceptions

    Rules and exceptions are clearly listed so that you know when a rule applies and when it doesn't.

  • SQE Land Law

    Terminology

    Legal terms and key concepts are explained at the beginning of each chapter to help you learn efficiently.

  • SQE Dispute Resolution

    Structured Illustrations

    Complex legal procedures are explained and visualised step by step with flowcharts.

  • SQE1 Mock Exam

    Practice Questions

    SQE1-style questions are provided to help you become familiar with the exam format.

  • SQE1 Mock Exam

    Detailed Explanations

    Practice questions are explained in detail so that you know how to select the best answer out of the five plausible options.

  • SQE Solicitors Accounts

    Real-World Scenarios

    Real-world scenarios are provided to help you understand how legal concepts, rules, and regulations are applied in practice.

  • SQE Ethics and Professional Practice

    Ethical Considerations

    Solicitors' ethics and professional conduct are presented in concise, digestible bullet points.

  • SQE Wills and the Administration of Estates

    Legal Principles and Concepts

    Legal principles and concepts are broken down into clear, concise explanations, making them easier to understand and apply.

Customer Reviews

Based on 1 review
100%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
A
Anonymous
Comprehensive and Easy to Understand

This study guide is comprehensive and presented in clear, easy-to-understand bullet points. It covers everything you need for SQE1 Business Law and Practice at a fraction of the cost you would otherwise pay to major legal education providers. I highly recommend SQE Turbocharge for its exceptional value.