GDL and SQE: what’s going on with conversion courses?

With the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) now the centralised assessment that all aspiring solicitors must pass to qualify, the route to becoming a solicitor for non-law students looks a little different. Confused? In this Feature we’ll run through what your options are as a non-law student pursuing a career as a solicitor and the different law conversion courses that are available.

This article has been produced in collaboration with The University of Law.

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Conversion course no longer required

There are four things you need to qualify as a solicitor. You must:

• have a university degree or equivalent in any subject (law or non-law);
• pass the character and suitability assessment set by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA);
• pass SQE stages one and two (SQE1 and SQE2); and
• have two years’ qualifying work experience (QWE).

With the only academic requirements for the SQE being a university degree (or equivalent), it’s therefore entirely possible under the new system to rock up to the SQE assessments without having even studied law or undertaken an SQE preparation course. In short, non-law students don’t need to complete a law conversion course (like the Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL)) to attempt the SQE. Possible? Yes. Advisable? Definitely not! In fact, research conducted by The University of Law in collaboration with Legal Cheek in 2023 found that 98% of law firms surveyed will require non-law graduates to take some form of conversion course before undertaking SQE preparation.

So, to give yourself the best chance of passing the SQE, it’s recommended you complete an SQE preparation courses with a legal education provider.

As a non-law student, you’ll have the choice between taking a separate law conversion course, and then moving onto an SQE course; or completing a conversion course that incorporates elements of SQE preparation.

For more information, read this guide to SQE preparation courses.

Conversion courses: the GDL and PGDL

The Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) was the tried and tested route for thousands of non-law graduates. The course formed the basis for non-law graduate entry into both the solicitors’ and barristers’ professions and was equivalent to a law degree. Non-law graduates would’ve completed this year-long course after finishing their undergraduate degree, before embarking on the Legal Practice Course to qualify as a solicitor.

The GDL route was familiar to many converting to law. The good news? The concept of the GDL isn’t disappearing. Many universities and course providers will continue to offer GDL courses. However, The University of Law has replaced its GDL course with the  Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) – a conversion course that helps graduates from a non-law background learn to think like a lawyer and develop practical legal skills.

The PGDL is the step for non-law graduates that comes between their undergraduate degree and the SQE. It teaches the essentials of the key foundation areas of the law

The course focuses on:

• English legal system and constitutional law;
• Tort law;
• contract law;
• criminal law;
• administrative law and human rights;
• land law;
• equity and trusts;
• law of organisations; and
• skills and behaviours.

Those who embark on The University of Law’s PGDL can progress onto the university’s SQE1 Preparation Course and its LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2).

“The PGDL is a cutting-edge postgraduate law conversion course giving students the chance to develop the academic legal knowledge and skills necessary to become a lawyer in England and Wales. It’s laser-focused on preparing learners for modern professional legal examinations such as the SQE and centralised Bar assessments,” says Peter Goodchild, National Programme Director at The University of Law.

Interested in the PGDL? Discover more via The University of Law.

Master the law with a conversion course

For those interested in gaining a general legal qualification at master’s level, The University of Law’s MA Law (conversion) course is another option worth considering. The qualification includes a pre-course programme to be completed online to get you up to speed in legal method before you begin the master’s.

The course is delivered by qualified lawyers who are subject matter experts, with face-to-face or online learning options. It focuses on legal practice and not just theory and is aimed at non-law students who’d like to keep their legal career options open.

“The MA Law (conversion) is a fantastic postgraduate law conversion course giving students the academic legal knowledge and skills necessary to become a lawyer. While preparing learners for modern professional legal examinations, such as the SQE and centralised Bar assessments, it also allows students to demonstrate deeper understanding of developing legal issues in a dissertation module,” explains Peter Goodchild.

Alternatively, there’s also the option to complete the MA Law (SQE1) course – a law conversion course including SQE1 preparation. This course is designed for non-law graduates who want to qualify as a solicitor and gain a legal qualification at master’s level. The course prepares students for the SQE1 assessments. Once completed, you’ll be ready to progress onto an SQE2 preparation course.

Find out more about The University of Law’s MA Law (SQE1) course.

Don’t forget that one of the benefits of taking a conversion course that includes a master’s is that you’ll be eligible to receive the government’s postgraduate loan.

There’s more about funding your studies on LawCareers.Net’s ‘Finances’ page and in this Oracle: ‘Funding the SQE’.

Just the essentials: SQE Law Essentials Online

If you’re keen to get onto an SQE course as quickly as possible, The University of Law’s SQE Law Essentials Online course teaches you the fundamentals of law so you can progress onto SQE1. After completing this course, students can move directly onto SQE preparation courses such as the SQE1 Preparation Course or LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2).

The SQE Law Essentials Online course is especially suitable for those who’ve:

• studied or partly studied law some time ago;
• studied law in a different jurisdiction; or
• have professional experience in law and need a refresher.

Find out more about The University of Law’s SQE Law Essentials Online course.

Law firms

Although the above provides you with a range of conversion course options, it’s important to note that you might not have a choice in which course you take. If you secure a training contract (or QWE) with a law firm, they’ll likely decide which route you go down – or work with an education provider to develop a bespoke training programme for the firm’s trainees. For example, The University of Law provides training to 90 of the top 100 law firms in the UK, including Ashurst LLP, Birketts LLP, Bristows LLP, Gowling WLG (UK) LLP, Irwin Mitchell LLP and many others.

A benefit of securing a training contract before commencing postgraduate study is that the law firm will likely finance your studies. Doing thorough research into law firms and having an awareness of what sort of law firm you’re looking to go into will help to make your decision between conversion courses easier from the outset.

Choosing the right conversion and SQE preparation course for you is crucial and as you can see, there are now more options than ever to become a solicitor. Whether you want to convert via the PGDL or do an MA conversion course to gain a master’s qualification alongside your course, SQE provides more flexibility for students to decide. Do your research, speak to your university careers adviser and check what your potential future firms are doing. This knowledge will equip you to make the right decision for your future legal career.

Interested in studying at The University of Law? Find out whether there’s an open day coming up!

Find out more about the SQE  with our SQE hub, sponsored by The University of Law.

Olivia Partridge is the acting deputy head of content and events at LawCareers.Net