Does anyone know if law firms have/will be willing to still let graduates sit the LPC over the SQE for TCs 2024 and beyond?
If I was successful this cycle, I would much prefer to do the LPC as I am still applying for traditional training contracts.. so it shouldn’t make the world of difference?
I have been asked this a lot in recent days.
The thing I would stress is that it’s not easy for law firms to run two qualification systems. There is also much more regulation and compulsory training (at cost) to the law firm on the LPC route, which isn’t needed with the SQE. It’s much easier to provide that training on mass than it is for individual trainees.
It ultimately means that firms may choose to still put people through the SQE and if anyone chooses the LPC for them to still ask trainees to do SQE2.
There are very few non law grads who can do the LPC route now and the vast majority of law students graduating after this summer won’t be able to the LPC. So for any firms recruiting 2026 or later intakes, most candidates would have to do the SQE, which is why many firms have already transferred across.
You can ask, and there will be firms willing to make exceptions. But many others won’t for the reasons I have outlined above.