Five reasons why The University of Law’s SQE employment promise will set you up in your legal career

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Deciding to enter a career in law can be daunting to say the least, but it doesn’t have to be. Choosing the right place to begin your career is crucial and your legal education matters. The University of Law has been educating future lawyers since 1876, but that doesn’t mean the legal world, or education system has stayed in the 1800s! The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) is a new system of exams, introduced in September 2021, that all prospective solicitors must pass to qualify.

As of now, The University of Law has extended its employment promise to include the LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) and LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) Online, so you’re guaranteed a job within nine months of completing your course or you’ll get your money back. Here are our top five reasons why this promise will set you up in your legal career.

It’ll help you to believe in your own ability

If a university has accepted you with this promise in mind, it’s likely that it considers you to be a strong candidate. With that in mind, have faith in your own ability! The application process to get onto a university course isn’t easy and you’ve already tackled one application, so you have experience for future legal applications. Having confidence in your own ability will only help you to progress in your future career.

There’s a course to suit you

The University of Law’s Employment Promise is offered to students studying the:

• Legal Practice Course (LPC) and LPC Online;
• LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) and LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) Online; and
• Postgraduate Business Courses and Online Postgraduate Business Courses.

There’s plenty of choice and a quiz you can take to see which course is recommended for you! Not every course will suit your previous experience, so using a provider that offers a course that suits you is essential.

Still curious about the SQE? Here’s everything we know so far.

Learn from the best

You’ll be learning from the experts as more than 90% of tutors at The University of Law are qualified lawyers. This will allow you to learn in a realistic, professional and contemporary context from those passionate about law and education. Hannah Scott, a senior tutor at The University of Law in Leeds, says: “I specialised in commercial dispute resolution, which is one of the subject areas I now teach. I found that transition really interesting, going from doing something in practice as a solicitor, and now being able to help train a future generation of solicitors.” Learning from people who are invested not only in the practice of law, but your education and future career is invaluable.

You career comes first

A promise like this means top notch career support across the board. Whatever your career or work experience goals may be, The University of Law’s employability service will be there to support you. With the new SQE route, you’ll need to complete a minimum of two years’ qualifying work experience (QWE) before you can qualify as a solicitor. For students studying the LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2) and MA Law (SQE1) the university offers four weeks guaranteed QWE within its Legal Advice Clinics. So, your legal career is always at the centre of your studies.

Wondering which SQE preparation course is right for you? Read this Feature from LawCareers.Net

You’re guaranteed a job, or your money back!

Last but not least, the employment promise does what it says on the tin. If you don’t obtain a job within nine months of completing your course, you’ll get 100% of your fees back – 50% cashback and 50% credit towards another course. However, with more than 30 experts guiding you through the legal careers and employability service, expert tutors and the drive to succeed, it’s unlikely you’ll need your money back. Take it from Luke Deacon, who studied the Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) at The University of Law in Reading: “I ultimately want to become a lawyer and the Employment Promise convinced me that the university would be committed to helping me achieve this.”

Katherine Bryant (she/her) is a content and engagement coordinator at LawCareersNet.