Coronavirus: LPC exams not to move online according to SRA

Law schools may be forced to postpone LPC exams after the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) said that law schools assessments may not move online. Government social distancing guidelines mean that normal examinations cannot take place.

Despite the risk of delays to qualification as a result of the global pandemic, the SRA has confirmed that LPC assessments must be supervised and not moved online. A spokesperson stated: “It’s important that supervision is in place to ensure integrity and security and we recognise this might mean some assessments could be delayed”.

Many law schools and universities are moving undergraduate degree and GDL assessments online to reduce the impact of the outbreak on students – including Britain’s largest law school, The University of Law.

The SRA explained that it does not define what form law conversion course assessments take and added: “It’s a matter for the providers to consider what arrangements are best in the current circumstances.”

In light of the disruption this will cause, the SRA noted that prior to completing the LPC, prospective trainees will be eligible for a period of recognised training (commonly known as a training contract).

Following the government’s advice about travel and social distancing, the Bar Standards Board also recently announced that its centralised bar exams – which were set to happen in April – have been postponed until August 2020, at the earliest. The regulator stated: “The next scheduled opportunity to take the centralised exams will be August 2020 but we will need to keep this under review as the situation develops.”

Speaking about the Solicitors Qualifying Exam, which is set to be introduced in Autumn 2021, the SRA said that there is “no indication” that the outbreak will disrupt this plan. It added: “transitional arrangements are in place for 11 years, so any delays for current students should not cause difficulties.”