Qualifying Work Experience Course at Freedom Law Clinic
Unlock Your Legal Potential with Real-Life Work
Experience
Experience
AT FREEDOM LAW CLINIC, WE AIM TO CHANGE HOW WORK EXPERIENCE IS DELIVERED.
LEADING THE WAY IN CLINICAL LEGAL EDUCATION
WHY CHOOSE OUR QUALIFYING WORK EXPERIENCE (QWE) COURSE?
Our QWE course stands out by offering structured, real-life work experience with regular feedback and assessments, all under the guidance of experienced solicitors. We ensure that your work meets the Legal Services Act 2007 (s. 12) definition of legal activity, meaning your efforts contribute meaningfully towards your qualification.
WHY CHOOSE OUR QUALIFYING WORK EXPERIENCE (QWE) COURSE?
WHAT IS QUALIFYING WORK EXPERIENCE (QWE)?
Our program allows candidates to gain QWE before, during, or after taking the SQE assessments. Experience from previous roles can also count towards QWE. The flexibility of QWE means it can be gained in various settings, including:
HOW OUR QWE COURSE WORKS
a criminal case involving an application to the Criminal
Cases Review Commission (CCRC). This initial
assignment helps assess your practical abilities and serves
as a foundation for your future work.
Within four weeks of enrolment, you will receive a
comprehensive written report from your supervising
solicitor, evaluating your practical skills based on this
assignment. This stage, known as ‘Red Tier’ casework,
sets the baseline for your development
move on to more active, ‘Yellow Tier’ casework. If areas
for improvement are identified, we will provide guidance
and assign additional ‘Red Tier’ casework to help you
develop the necessary skills.
on a client file under the supervision of a solicitor. You
will gain access to our case management system, where
you will record and store your work, ensuring thorough
documentation of your progress.
solicitor to review your files and assess your progress
towards QWE. These meetings ensure you are
developing the relevant competencies and receiving
constructive feedback to guide your growth.
retained, you will continue as a permanent caseworker, advancing to ‘Green
Tier’ status. As a ‘Green Tier’ student, you will work on client files with greater
autonomy, further honing your skills under the guidance of our experienced
solicitors.
If not retained, your QWE with the clinic will conclude, but you will still have
access to our extensive library of SQE resources. Any QWE accumulated up to
that point will be officially recorded by your supervising solicitor.
COURSE BENEFITS AND COSTS
competency growth
another candidate – you are a future solicitor equipped with the skills and experience to excel.
JOIN US TODAY
Our QWE course is designed to be rigorous, supportive, and tailored to meet the demands of the
legal profession. With over nine years of experience in delivering clinical legal education, we are
ahead of the game and ready to help you achieve your goals.
Reach out to us for a prospectus via email or WhatsApp and take the first step towards a fulfilling
legal career with Freedom Law Clinic.
FAQ
The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is a single, national licensing examination that all aspiring solicitors will take before qualifying into England and Wales. If you hold a degree in any discipline from any recognised jurisdiction you will be eligible for the SQE.
To qualify you will need to:
- Have a degree in any subject (or equivalent qualification or work experience)
- Pass both stages of the SQE assessment - SQE1 focuses on legal knowledge and SQE2 on practical legal skills
- Have two years' qualifying work experience
- Pass the SRA’s character and suitability requirements
No. You no longer need a GDL to be able to sit the SQE.
You will be tested on the application of Functioning Legal Knowledge by single best answer multiple choice questions. The two SQE1 Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK) assessments comprise the following subject areas:
Business Law and Practice; Dispute Resolution; Contract; Tort; Legal System of England and Wales; Constitutional and Administrative Law and EU Law and Legal Services.
Property Practice; Wills and the Administration of Estates; Solicitors Accounts; Land Law; Trusts; Criminal Law and Practice.
Ethics and Professional Conduct is examined pervasively across both FLK exams, and principles of Taxation are assessed in the context of Business Law and Practice, Property Practice, and Wills and the Administration of Estates.
SQE2 (Practical Legal Skills Assessments)
You will be tested on:
- client interviewing with linked attendance note/legal analysis
- advocacy
- case and matter analysis
- legal research and written advice
- legal drafting
- legal writing
The subjects assessed in SQE2 are Property, Probate, Business, Criminal, and Dispute Resolution.
Read the SQE2 Assessment Specification for more detail on what will be tested.
Please note candidates are assessed to the standard of a day one newly qualified solicitor.
You may find that you are exempt from parts of the SQE.
If you have undertaken the Legal Practice Course (LPC), you can be exempt from the SQE1.
If you are a qualified lawyer overseas looking to dual-qualify in England & Wales via the SQE, you may find that your home jurisdiction is in the list of exemptions for either the SQE1 or SQE2.
For details on exemptions, whether you qualify, as well as how to apply for these, please check out the SRA website.
The course begins with a 12 week cycle of lectures and seminars which take students through each topic of the SQE. Students then move to a revision timetable where the format of the sessions changes to focus on intensive exam preparation. This element lasts an additional six weeks in the lead up to the exam sitting.
For the upcoming year, the SQE1 timetable consists of two 19-week terms. Each term includes 12 weeks of SQE1 lectures followed by a 1-week break and then a 6-week revision timetable. After the January and July SQE1 exams, there are designated periods off: February is a month off after the January exams, and the end of July/beginning of August is off after the July exams. This structured format allows for focused study and adequate breaks for preparation.
Details of all of our tutors can be found on the ‘Our Team’ page of the website.
The FLC SQE course allows you to study when and where you study best over the duration of the course session you choose. While your study time, days and location are extremely flexible, you should plan on spending the recommended hours per week studying. You wil be provided with a bespoke study planner on enrolment to help you plan.
There are certain live sessions in each course, but these are recorded and available to watch on demand if students can’t make them or want to re-watch.
Each student receives regular knowledge audits to identify how they are progressing and their areas for development. These audits take place regularly and allow each student to keep track of their development.
The SQE1 Prep course has over 1,000 multiple-choice questions in addition to the FLC workbooks, pre-recorded lectures and tutor support.
Our QWE element is completely optional and flexible to suit your existing commitments. You can choose to take on as much or as little QWE as you like. You should budget sufficient time to complete your SQE study while factoring in any casework you take on. Your supervising solicitor can discuss this with you.
Yes. Our mooting competition runs every year. Details on how to enter can be found on our website.
Yes – we schedule regular open days to allow students access to our materials and to meet our tutors. Check our social media for details. You can also request sample materials by getting in contact through the website.
The SQE1/QWE combined course costs £495 course materials fee £295 p/m tuition subscription to a total cost of £3,740 over 23 months. The SQE 1 intensive programme costs £1500 for tuition and £295 p/m ongoing subscription to a total cost of £4745.
Yes. Means tested scholarships are regularly made available through our website and social media.
