University of York and The College of Legal Practice partner to launch new SQE master's
updated on 08 January 2025
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In an exciting development for aspiring lawyers, The University of York and The College of Legal Practice (the College) have joined forces to provide a master's programme – the LLM in Professional Legal Practice (SQE1 & SQE2) – designed to prepare students for the Solicitor Qualifying Exam (SQE). The first cohort of students is expected to start in September 2025, with approximately 50 students enrolling on the course.
The SQE is the centralised assessment that all aspiring solicitors must pass to qualify, consisting of two stages: SQE1, which tests legal knowledge and understanding; and SQE2, which assesses practical legal skills. The University of York and the College's LLM in Professional Legal Practice will provide comprehensive preparation for both stages of the examination, as well as a range of practice area options focused on employability in the profession.
The College, which has a proven track record of delivering vocational legal education and training, will provide the university with their learning materials for SQE1 to aid the delivery of the new programme.
The director of learning and teaching at York Law School, Professor Scott Slorach, said: “From our experience of developing professional programmes, and understanding the challenges of the SQE, the York Law School team see The College of Legal Practice’s SQE materials as a key component of our new programme.”
CEO of College, Dr Giles Proctor, was “thoroughly delighted” about the partnership and said that the training provider’s preparation materials will give students “the very best preparation for these intense exams”.
The collaboration follows similar agreements between the College and other universities, such as its partnership with the University of Winchester and Keele University, as well as Southampton Solent University, Manchester Metropolitan University and Middlesex University. In addition, the College has recently been named the exclusive training partner for Reed Smith.
