Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (SQE2 & SQE Plus)

This course is designed for those who wish to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales with the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) pathway and have already passed SQE1 (or are exempt from sitting it). This course combines our well-respected SQE2 Preparation Course with our SQE Plus programme to equip you with the practical legal skills required to pass the SRA's centralised SQE2 assessment and additional knowledge from studying the SQE Plus content.

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

• UK bachelor's degree in any subject at 2:2 or above, or equivalent qualifications.
• You must have either passed the SQE1 centralised SRA assessment, have an exemption for SQE1 or have passed the LPC.

Locations

• Birmingham
• Bristol
• Chester
• Egham (Royal Holloway)
• Exeter
• Leeds
• Liverpool
• London Bloomsbury
• London Moorgate
• Manchester
• Newcastle
• Norwich
• Nottingham
• Reading
• Sheffield
• Southampton
• Online

Study Mode Options

• Full-time
• Part-time
• Part-time Day
• Part-time Evening
• Part-time Weekend

Next Start Date

• July 2025

Course Details

Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (SQE2 & SQE Plus)

The SQE2 component of this course will develop your legal skills in interviewing, advocacy, case and matter analysis, legal research, legal writing, and legal drafting. This course will prepare you for the SRA's centralised SQE2 assessments.

The SQE Plus component, which has been created in collaboration with law firms, will give you the option to choose modules from key practice areas including corporate, commercial, and private client. In addition, our Preparation for Practice Module will help you become more commercially aware and a more well-rounded lawyer. You will then choose between two further modules, Business of Law or a self-study research module to complete your course.

Why Choose the Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (SQE2 and SQE Plus)?

• Adaptive and personalised learner journey, using our dynamic learning model: Prepare, Engage, Consolidate (PEC).
• Confidence for the assessments, with plenty of practice in the exact type of oral and written skills assessments you'll face in the SRA's SQE2 assessments.
• Benefit from our extensive experience in helping students develop the skills that will be assessed in SQE2, and additional knowledge required for a career as a solicitor with our suite of modules in the SQE Plus.
• In-depth lecturer guidance and support from our experienced lecturers, who are all practitioners.
• Enjoy flexibility - We understand that everyone's circumstances are different. That's why we offer a full-time or part-time version of this course to provide you with the greatest choice and flexibility you need to succeed in your studies.
• Brand new resources, developed specifically for SQE2 and SQE Plus by our expert lecturers.
• Experience of working in a virtual law firm. You'll learn in the context of our virtual law firm, ULaw LLP. ULaw LLP replicates the working environment of a law firm and students perform real-world tasks on simulated cases, deals, and transactions, as if they were in the office.
• Support for your career. You'll have access to our award-winning Employability Service, for information, advice, practical experience, and links to the profession to help you succeed in your career.

Modules

SQE2 Preparation (30 credits)

• You will develop the six practical legal skills needed to sit SQE2 and be ready for practice:
  • Interviewing
  • Advocacy
  • Case and matter analysis
  • Legal Research
  • Legal Writing
  • Legal Drafting

SQE Plus (90 credits)

• 3 Key Practice Areas (15 credits each) from one of the two pathways: Corporate/Commercial or Commercial/Private client
• Preparation for Practice module (15 credits)
• Plus the Business of Law module (30 credits) or the Professional Practice Report module (30 credits)

Key Practice Areas (KPAs) the Corporate/Commercial pathway include:

• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Debt Finance
• Equity Capital Markets
• Advanced Dispute Resolution
• Advanced Real Estate
• Commercial and International Trade
• Employment
• Intellectual Property and Data
• Insurance

Key Practice Areas (KPAs) for the Commercial/Private Client pathway include:

• Family
• Personal Injury Clinical Negligence
• Private Wealth
• Advanced Criminal Practice
• Immigration
• Advanced Dispute Resolution
• Advanced Real Estate
• Commercial and International Trade
• Employment
• Intellectual Property and Data
• Insurance

The Preparation for Practice Module

• (which is a compulsory module underpinning the 3 KPAs) includes commercial and well-rounded lawyer skills content taught within the delivery of the KPAs.

You may then choose between studying the Business of Law module or the Professional Practice Report module.

The Business of Law Module

• consists of two compulsory modules: Business of Law 1 which covers Professional Effectiveness, and Law Firms and their Clients. And Business of Law 2 where you can choose one of the following additional modules:
  • Commercial Law
  • Employment Law
  • Innovation, Technology and Legal Project Management
  • Intellectual Property
  • International Trade

The Professional Practice Report Module

• consists of: research method induction, individual tutor supervision, and the completion of an extended research report based on one of your chosen KPAs.

Course Start Dates

July 2025

• Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (SQE2 and SQE Plus)
  • Full-time: Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, London Bloomsbury, London Moorgate, Manchester, and Newcastle
  • Part-time Day: Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, London Bloomsbury, and London Moorgate
  • Part-time Evening: London Bloomsbury
  • Part-time Weekend: Birmingham, London Bloomsbury, and Manchester

January 2026

• Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (SQE2 and SQE Plus)
  • Full-time: Birmingham, Bristol, Chester, Egham (Royal Holloway), Exeter, Leeds, Liverpool, London Bloomsbury, London Moorgate, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich, Nottingham, Reading, Sheffield, and Southampton
  • Part-time Day: Birmingham, Bristol, Egham (Royal Holloway), Exeter, Leeds, Liverpool, London Bloomsbury, London Moorgate, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Reading, Sheffield, and Southampton
  • Part-time Evening: Birmingham, Bristol, Chester, Exeter, Leeds, London Bloomsbury, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, and Sheffield
  • Part-time Weekend: London Bloomsbury and Manchester

July 2026

• Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (SQE2 and SQE Plus)
  • Full-time: Birmingham, Bristol, Chester, Egham (Royal Holloway), Exeter, Leeds, Liverpool, London Bloomsbury, London Moorgate, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich, Nottingham, Reading, Sheffield, and Southampton
  • Part-time: Birmingham, Bristol, Chester, Egham (Royal Holloway), Exeter, Leeds, Liverpool, London Bloomsbury, London Moorgate, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich, Nottingham, Reading, Sheffield, and Southampton

Online

• Study Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (SQE2 and SQE Plus) Online starting July 2025, January 2026, or July 2026

Fees and Applying

How to Apply

• Students are required to confirm and provide evidence that they have passed the SQE1 centralised SRA assessments, have an exemption for SQE1 or have passed the LPC. A transcript from SRA will provide evidence of passing SQE1.

Fees and Funding

• 2025/26 Course Fees (for courses starting on or after 1 July 2025)
  • London: £13,900
  • Outside London: £11,000
• This course does not qualify for postgraduate funding. We have alternative courses with postgraduate funding including our LLM Legal Practice (SQE1&2).
• Offers and discounts:
  • There is an additional £250 SQE Prep Alumni Discount for ULaw graduates.
  • Study manuals: eBooks are included in the course fee, and you'll receive a 50% discount if you'd like to purchase print versions.
  • You can pay with one upfront payment or with monthly instalments.

International

• We have students from over 120 different countries throughout our campuses, with a dedicated team to help international students.

The University of Law

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Overview:

The University of Law is a specialist provider of legal education in the UK. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as professional legal training and apprenticeships. The university is known for its high-quality teaching, strong employability record, and commitment to student support.

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Services Offered:

The University of Law offers a variety of services to its students, including:

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Courses:

A wide range of programs in law, business, criminology, policing, psychology, and computer science.

SQE Courses:

Courses specifically designed for the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).

Online Courses:

Flexible learning options for students who prefer to study remotely.

Scholarships and Bursaries:

Financial assistance to help students fund their studies.

Student Support:

A range of services to help students succeed academically and personally, including career guidance, disability support, and mental health services.

Professional Legal Training:

Courses for aspiring lawyers, including the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) and the Legal Practice Course (LPC).

Apprenticeships:

Work-based learning opportunities for students who want to gain practical experience while studying.

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Student Life and Campus Experience:

The University of Law has campuses in major cities across the UK, including Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, London, Manchester, and Nottingham. Students can expect a vibrant and supportive campus environment with opportunities to engage in extracurricular activities, meet new people, and develop their skills.

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Key Reasons to Study There:

High-Quality Teaching:

The university is ranked 10th in the UK for quality of teaching in the National Student Survey 2024.

Strong Employability Record:

94% of postgraduates were in employment or further study 15 months after graduating (2021/22 Graduate Outcomes data).

Higher than Average SQE Pass Rates:

78% of students passed the January 2024 SQE1 assessments first time, compared to the industry average first attempt pass rate of 59%.

Experienced Lecturers:

Over 90% of lecturers are qualified lawyers and business professionals, bringing extensive practical experience to the classroom.

Excellent Student Support:

The university provides a range of services to help students succeed, including career guidance, disability support, and mental health services.

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Academic Programs:

The University of Law offers a wide range of academic programs, including:

Undergraduate Courses:

LLB (Hons) Law, BSc (Hons) Business, BSc (Hons) Criminology, BSc (Hons) Policing, BSc (Hons) Psychology, and BSc (Hons) Computer Science.

Postgraduate Courses:

LLM (Master of Laws), MBA (Master of Business Administration), MSc (Master of Science), and other postgraduate qualifications.

Professional Legal Training:

BPTC, LPC, and other professional legal training courses.

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Other:

The University of Law has a strong alumni network, with over 100,000 graduates working in various legal and business sectors. The university also has a 5-star rating from QS World University Rankings, recognizing its excellence in teaching, employability, online learning, academic development, and inclusiveness.