Becoming a solicitor with the Legal Practice Course (transitional requirements)

Most LPC providers have stopped offering the course because demand has fallen. Only a few providers are authorised to deliver the LPC in 2026/27. Find out who these providers are.

Transitional arrangements were introduced to give candidates time to complete the LPC and their period of recognised training. As a result, four years after the SQE was introduced, most LPC providers are phasing out LPC courses in the 2025/26 academic year.

Before starting the LPC, you should consider the following:

• Will you complete it and meet the requirements to qualify by December 2032?

  There are limited LPC providers and spaces available. Although the LPC allows five years for completion, you should check your provider’s timelines for course availability and resit deadlines.

• Can you get a period of recognised training?

  To qualify through the LPC route, you must have completed a period of recognised training (PRT). Training opportunities are changing, and there are fewer PRTs available. Most training contracts are now for qualifying work experience to qualify via the SQE route.

• Could you complete qualifying work experience (QWE) instead of the PRT?

You can substitute QWE and passing SQE2 as an equivalent to a period of recognised training.

However, sitting the SQE2 as well would mean more costs on top of your LPC fees. It may be better not to do an LPC but to take the SQE route.

Also, the SQE2 pass rates of LPC graduates have been lower than those of the wider cohort. Cohorts with a higher proportion of LPC graduates tend to have lower overall pass rates. We have reminded LPC graduates that they need to understand the SQE is more demanding than the LPC and prepare accordingly.

SQE2 pass rate for LPC graduates

SQE2 sitting	Pass rate of candidates who had taken SQE1	Pass rate of candidates who had not taken SQE1
April 2024	83%	36%
July 2024	80%	44%
October 2024	85%	62%
January 2025	79%	50%
April 2025	84%	48%
July 2025	81%	47%

You have three options:

• Get a period of recognised training

  To qualify through the LPC route, you must have completed a period of recognised training (PRT). Training opportunities are changing, and there are fewer PRTs available. Most training contracts are now for qualifying work experience to qualify via the SQE route.

• Use Equivalent Means

  To qualify using Equivalent Means, you will need to demonstrate that you have the equivalent skills and experience gained through a PRT.

• Could you complete qualifying work experience (QWE) instead of the PRT?

You can substitute QWE and passing SQE2 as an equivalent to a period of recognised training.

However, sitting the SQE2 as well would mean more costs on top of your LPC fees. It may be better not to do an LPC but to take the SQE route.

Also, the SQE2 pass rates of LPC graduates have been lower than those of the wider cohort. Cohorts with a higher proportion of LPC graduates tend to have lower overall pass rates. We have reminded LPC graduates that they need to understand the SQE is more demanding than the LPC and prepare accordingly.

SQE2 pass rate for LPC graduates

SQE2 sitting	Pass rate of candidates who had taken SQE1	Pass rate of candidates who had not taken SQE1
April 2024	83%	36%
Julu 2024	80%	44%
October 2024	85%	62%
January 2025	79%	50%
April 2025	84%	48%
July 2025	81%	47%

Started LPC more than five years ago?

You must complete both Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the LPC within five years. If you do not finish within this timeframe, your LPC provider may consider an extension request where there are exceptional circumstances.

If an extension request is not upheld, you could still:

• qualify through the SQE route
• use Equivalent Means by demonstrating you can meet LPC Outcomes through certificated or work-based learning.

Not finished the LPC but have completed a PRT

If you have completed your PRT but not the LPC, you have two options:

• Qualify through the SQE

  You can use your PRT as QWE. You would also need to pass both SQE1 and SQE2.

• Use Equivalent Means

  To qualify using Equivalent Means by demonstrating that you have the equivalent skills and experience gained through a LPC.

You have three options:

• Get period of recognised training

  To qualify through the LPC route, you must have completed a period of recognised training (PRT), often know as a training contract. Training opportunities are changing, and there are fewer PRTs available. Most training contracts are now for qualifying work experience to qualify via the SQE route.

• Use Equivalent Means

  You could qualify using Equivalent Means. To do this, you will need to demonstrate that you have the equivalent skills and experience gained through a PRT.

• Use qualifying work experience (QWE) instead of the PRT?

You can substitute QWE and passing SQE2 as an equivalent to a period of recognised training.

However, sitting the SQE2 as well would mean more costs on top of your LPC fees. It may be better not to do an LPC but to take the SQE route.

Also, the SQE2 pass rates of LPC graduates have been lower than those of the wider cohort. Cohorts with a higher proportion of LPC graduates tend to have lower overall pass rates. We have reminded LPC graduates that they need to understand the SQE is more demanding than the LPC and prepare accordingly.

SQE2 pass rate for LPC graduates

SQE2 sitting	Pass rate of candidates who had taken SQE1	Pass rate of candidates who had not taken SQE1
April 2024	83%	36%
July 2024	80%	44%
October 2024	85%	62%
January 2025	79%	50%
April 2025	84%	48%
July 2025	81%	47%