Kickstart your legal career with our unique combined LLM with SQE preparation course, specifically designed for future solicitors in England and Wales.
In just one year, you’ll acquire the vital knowledge and skills needed to prepare you for the SQE exam to qualify as a solicitor whilst completing your specialist LLM. This course seamlessly integrates expert legal teaching with comprehensive SQE preparation, offering you a world-class education in a time-efficient and cost-effective format.
About BARBRI
BARBRI is a market-leader in providing SQE preparation for those seeking to qualify as solicitors in England and Wales. For many decades, BARBRI have helped prepare lawyers for professional practice, with over 1.3 million alumni to date. Using industry-leading course materials and specialised multiple-choice testing software, students will study with a learning system used by many of the UK’s largest legal sector employers.
Programme structure
With our extensive selection of LLM specialist programmes listed below, you’ll have the flexibility to choose 120 credits from a wide variety of modules tailored to your chosen pathway. These modules will feature interactive, in-person teaching throughout the year on our London campus from our expert academic team.
Your 60 credits of SQE preparation will be integrated throughout the year, delivered through BARBRI’s online digital platform, supported by their dedicated learning team.
Additionally, you’ll have optional access to a series of insightful lectures on Critical Thinking and Writing in Law, designed to enhance your writing and research skills in the legal field.
Want to find out more?
Catch up on our webinar with Dr Nigel Spencer, Professor of Professional Practice and Chris Howard from BARBRI.
Register your interest in our LLM with SQE preparation to keep updated on information about this exciting programme.
FirstLondon Russell Group University
to embed SQE preparation in an LLM
Top 50Law school in the world
According to the THE subject rankings
20%Alumni Discount
for Undergraduate LLB Students from Queen Mary
Ready to apply?
Choose to embed your SQE preparation in one of the following LLM specialist pathways at Queen Mary. Make your application through the programme pages below.
- Art, Business and Law LLM
- Banking and Finance Law LLM
- Commercial and Corporate Law LLM
- Comparative and International Dispute Resolution LLM
- Competition Law LLM
- Criminal Justice LLM
- Energy and Climate Change Law LLM
- Human Rights Law LLM
- Intellectual Property Law LLM
- International Business Law LLM
- International Trade and Economic Law LLM
- International Tax Law LLM
- Laws LLM
- Public International Law LLM
- Tax Law LLM
- Technology, Media and Telecommunications Law LLM
Frequently Asked Questions
How to apply?
You can apply directly through our coursefinder pages as you would for our standard LLM but choose the SQE option at the top of the page.
Who can apply?
The LLM with SQE preparation is available for any student who is eligible for our LLM programmes, the entry requirements are the same.
However we cannot currently accept applications from students requiring Student Visa sponsorship for this course.
How will the SQE be delivered?
The SQE preparation part of your programme will be delivered online by our partner BARBRI and should be considered part of your timetable alongside your other on-campus modules throughout the year. This will require you to take time to self-study using the BARBRI platform around your LLM modules.
Of the 180 credits you are required to take for your LLM, the SQE will take up 60 credits of those.
How demanding is the LLM course, including the SQE preparation?
Our full-time LLM with the SQE preparation is a demanding study option which will require your full commitment and detailed focus throughout the course – especially if you are planning to take the external, regulated SQE examinations in parallel to your Queen Mary LLM.
If you intend to study the programme full-time and pass the SQE examinations in 12 months, we would advise that working part-time alongside your studies may be difficult due to the commitment required for this programme. Performing well in your studies will need to be your 100% focus.
We do offer the programme as a part-time study option over two years, which is less intensive and designed to allow you to fit other work commitments around your LLM studies.
Does it cover SQE 1 and 2?
Yes the programme covers both SQE 1 and 2.
You can do both SQE1 and SQE2 preparation in the LLM, or if you are exempt from SQE 2, then you don't need to complete SQE2 preparation and can choose to do a different 15 credit module of your choice from the modules available within your chosen Queen Mary LLM programme.
Note: If you are exempt from SQE2, you will need to have applied for, and gained the exemption, before starting the LLM. The application process for exemptions can take 6 months to be confirmed. Guidance on how to gain exemptions is available on the SRA website, here.
Must I take the external, regulated SQE examinations to gain my LLM?
No. You do not have to take the external, regulated SQE examination to gain our LLM. For the purposes of your Queen Mary LLM, we will be assessing your SQE1 and SQE2 learning from the BARBRI preparation courses internally, asking you to create a reflective portfolio of your learning from those courses which will be assessed by Queen Mary academic staff.
When will I be prepared and ready to take the external, regulated SQE examinatio
Our programme includes all the SQE preparation in the 12 months of the LLM and will offer you the flexibility to take the external, regulated SQE examination outside our LLM when you are ready to do so (if you do wish to take them at this stage).
Students starting the LLM in September:
SQE1 - you will be prepared to take the SQE external examination (if you feel ready/would like to do so) in January – however there will be flexibility should you need to consider later sittings.
SQE2 – you will complete your learning for SQE2 in the Spring and Summer of your LLM course, ready to take the external SQE examination immediately in the Autumn, as your LLM ends.
Note: we have deliberately structured our LLM programme and suggested these timings for the external examinations in case you would like to take longer for your SQE1 preparation – or in case you do not pass the external SQE examination the first time (e.g. in January) and wish to retake it in July.
Students starting the LLM in January:
SQE1 – you will be prepared to take the SQE1 external examination (if you feel ready/would like to do so) in July.
SQE2 - you will complete your learning for SQE2 in the Autumn term of your LLM course (from September), ready to take the external SQE examination immediately in January/February, as your LLM ends.
Is the cost of the exam included in my fees?
No, the SQE part of your programme is SQE preparation which includes mock exams, however it is up to you to independently book and take your external regulated SQE exam.
Is it available for September and January start?
Yes, however there are a restricted number of January programmes that are available compared to September entry. See the individual programme pages for the entry options available.
Which campuses can I study this on?
This is only currently available for students studying on a London based LLM programme – and you need to be in London for the duration of the LLM programme. Please also note that the external regulated SQE examinations can only be taken in person.