Concerns as SQE enters final run

In a letter to the Legal Services Board last week, outgoing JLD chair Amy Clowrey expressed ‘support, in principle’ of the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s decision to overhaul the current system and ‘develop a consistent centralised standard’. However, the JLD, which has about 70,000 members, has concerns about the structure of the SQE, and wants to see more consultation take place.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has said it will apply in summer 2020 to the Legal Services Board for final approval of the SQE, which would eventually replace the Legal Practice Course.

In a separate letter to the Welsh Language Commissioner, Clowrey offered to work with her to ensure the SQE is offered in Welsh. The Solicitors Regulation Authority had initially said it would offer a Welsh language version provided parity of standard between the two versions could be achieved and the cost was not exorbitant. The regulator said last month that it would be too expensive and disproportionate to offer a Welsh SQE.

Clowrey also wrote to the Justice Select Committee urging further scrutiny of the SQE, which is ‘by no means a foregone conclusion’. She cited concerns that the exam would ‘dilute the standard of the solicitor qualification in England and Wales (thus making it less appealing as the jurisdiction of choice post-Brexit)’, including excepts from the 2016 consultation responses of Clyde & Co, Linklaters and The Association of Law Teachers. She highlighted, in particular, fears that the multiple choice questions element of the SQE was too easy.

Switalskis associate Clowrey, whose practice specialises in abuse claims, stepped down as chair last week. The new chair is Charlotte Parkinson, litigation associate at Addleshaw Goddard.