The University of Nottingham and BARBRI collaborate to support aspiring solicitors

Added by Love Business East Midlands | 22 March 2022

UPDATED: 23 March 2022

The University of Nottingham has today announced its collaboration with global legal education provider, BARBRI, to enhance access to Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) preparation for aspiring lawyers.

• The University of Nottingham is the latest Russell Group university to join forces with BARBRI to offer discounted SQE1 preparation
• This collaboration will support increased diversity in the legal profession 

Officially launched in 2021 with more than 1,000 candidates having received their inaugural results in January 2022, the SQE will replace the Legal Practice Course (LPC) as the new route to qualification for aspiring lawyers in England and Wales. With its introduction, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) hopes to diversify the profession by attracting candidates from all walks of life. 

Now, the University of Nottingham and BARBRI aim to support the SRA’s mission through increased access to SQE1 exam preparation for the university’s students with discounted SQE1 Prep. 

BARBRI’s SQE1 courses are curated to equip students with the in-depth knowledge and tools needed to achieve SQE success. With technology at its core, candidates who prepared for the inaugural SQE1 exam with the provider achieved a 77% pass rate, significantly higher than the 53% exam average. 

Speaking of the collaboration, Richard Hyde, Professor of Law, Regulation and Governance and Deputy Head of School at the University of Nottingham, said:

“We believe in providing an outstanding university experience which will guide our students through their studies and initial career steps. This collaboration will mean that any aspiring solicitors who come through our doors will now also have access to tried and tested preparation methods, industry experts and the latest LawTech tools to prepare for the SQE at an exclusive rate.”

Alongside a requirement for two years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE), the SQE is split into two exams - SQE1 and SQE2. These include multiple-choice questions and skills-based assessments.

Chris Jorgenson, Senior Director of Institutional Partnerships for BARBRI, said:

“We’re pleased to announce our collaboration with the University of Nottingham to support students in their SQE preparation. We understand that the next generation of solicitors in England and Wales are hoping to pursue the SQE route, but financial constraints may provide a barrier to that process for self-funded students. So, our objective is to help support increased access to legal education to ensure that, alongside our carefully selected partners, we’re helping to shape a profession that is reflective of society today.”

BARBRI’s innovative testing and learning technologies provide future solicitors with the best opportunity to succeed. It offers a range of full-time and part-time course options to prepare candidates for SQE success.

For more information, please visit: barbri.com/sqe   

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