Two schemes have been launched to help professionals already working in the legal sector qualify as solicitors.
Dentons has launched a route to qualification for 10 of its own paralegals. Named Quali-FLY, the route will take the selected paralegals, or other professionals, through the process of preparing for and taking the Solicitors Qualification Exam (SQE). They will gain qualifying work experience over a two-year period, and will be able to apply for newly-qualified solicitor roles on passing the final SQE exams. Dentons is partnering with BPP to deliver the programme.
Candidates will be eligible to apply for the Quali-FLY scheme after working for six months at the firm.
The scheme will have a limited lifespan. Once Dentons fully adopts the SQE from 2024, Quali-FLY will be integrated into the firm’s standard training contract route.
Separately, the University of Law (ULaw) is to run a course, SQE1 Preparation for Legal Professionals, which can be paused and restarted, allowing students to have flexibility around the demands of their paid employment. It is spread out over 40 weeks, with 10 hours of study per week.
ULaw deputy vice chancellor Peter Crisp said: “The introduction of our SQE1 Preparation for Legal Professionals course will enable those already working in the legal profession to continue the great work they do while furthering their legal education and readying them for the new SQE route to qualification.”
