Future lawyer petition calls for urgent SQE reform, with more than 700 signing

More than 700 people have signed a petition calling for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) to be overhauled, amid growing frustration over its difficulty and perceived unfairness.

The petition - launched under the name "Hannah Cox", an alias used by a current trainee at an international firm - says the SQE has had "a severe toll" on candidates' "mental, financial, and physical well-being" and calls on the SRA to commit to a full review of the exam’s content and structure.

"Change is crucial", the petition states. "The SRA must commit to transparency… to ensure it accurately assesses a candidate's capability without placing undue stress on their mental and physical health."

SQE teething problems

Launched in 2021 to replace the traditional Legal Practice Course (LPC) plus training contract system, the SQE was designed to offer a more flexible route to qualification. But it has faced persistent criticism, with the first stage (SQE1) recording average pass rates below 50% and some City firms withdrawing training contract offers from those who failed at the first attempt.

Read more: The SQE Explained: What Law's New Entry Point Means For The Profession

Complaints have also centred on the cost of appeals - £350 for a first-stage appeal and £850 for a second - and rules such as an alleged ban on drinking water during SQE1, which keeps candidates in the test centre for almost six hours with only a single break.

The system’s credibility took another hit last year when exam provider Kaplan admitted 175 students had been wrongly told they had failed SQE1, later reissuing those affected with passes. Candidates have also criticised the rising cost of the qualification, with the SRA last year forecasting SQE income to more than double from £30 million to £66 million in a single year.

Anyone who started an undergraduate degree or law conversion after September 2021 must now pass the SQE to qualify as a solicitor.