The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is the main process of qualifying as a solicitor in England and Wales as of 2021. In order to be admitted to the roll of solicitors, a candidate must have tertiary education (level 6, not necessarily a degree) in any subject, pass two SQE assessments, complete qualifying work experience (QWE) for two years full-time (or part-time equivalent) and meet the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)'s requirements for character and suitability.[1][2] It is the solicitors' equivalent of the Bar Professional Training Course.
The four required elements of the SQE route to qualification do not need to be completed in a prescribed order; for example, QWE can be undertaken before, during or after a candidate sits SQE1 or 2.
While the SQE refers specifically to the two exams which candidates must sit, in practice the term is often also used in reference to the current solicitors' training programme as a whole, including the transition from the traditional Training Contract to Qualifying Work Experience.