The SQE and Social Welfare Solicitors by James Shipton

This seminar is hosted by the School of Law Research Seminar Series. Our series offers exciting insights into ongoing research projects within the law school and conducted by our external research partners. We often feature work from our research centres (the Centre for American Legal Studies, the Centre for Human Rights, the Centre for Science, Law and Policy, and the International Business Law Research Group). Our work is often transdisciplinary, dealing with law's relationship with broadly defined social justice, policy-making, science and much more. Join us for invigorating discussion! 

In this session, we hear from James Shipton. James is a first-year PhD student, starting his second semester of study at BCU Law School. As such, the research project duly presented is still in its infancy. Having researched this topic throughout undergraduate and postgraduate study, James' insight has been developed to inform his PhD topic and research process. Attendees’ insights are warmly welcomed to support the project’s development.

James Shipton will deliver a research seminar discussion on the SQE and Social Welfare Solicitors, followed by interactive Q&A. Details of the session below.

The SQE and Social Welfare Solicitors by James Shipton

About the Session

The Solicitors Regulation Authority’s reformation of the route to solicitor qualification has ignited a barrage of commentary centring on its impacts, or lack thereof, on accessibility and quality of legal training. The research focuses on wider reformative features and their impacts, but the current focus hones in on the removal of established requirements in solicitor training, like the introduction of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination.

If acted upon, the research’s insights could be used to develop more effective training programs, that afford greater support to vulnerable communities across England and Wales, by developing the foundations for higher quality legal aid.

This seminar has now concluded but it is available on demand. If you find that you do not have access, you can email the research seminar series leader at mitchell.longan@bcu.ac.uk in order to gain access.