Outrage and Concern Over SQE Exam Error: Law Schools React

Senior figures at some of the country’s biggest law schools have expressed a mix of concern and anger following the revelation that nearly 200 aspiring lawyers were mistakenly told they had failed parts of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).

Kaplan and the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) issued an apology today for a calculation error that led to 175 students being incorrectly informed that they had failed either Functioning Legal Knowledge 1 and/or Functioning Legal Knowledge 2 (the two parts of SQE1), when in fact they had passed. A goodwill payment of £250 is being offered to those affected candidates for the “upset caused by this matter.”

Jonny Hurst, presenter of SQE TV, described the situation as an “omnishambles” and expressed empathy for the impacted candidates. He highlighted the significant financial losses and emotional distress that many students may have experienced as a result of the error.

BPP’s dean, Jo-Anne Pugh, stated that they are providing support to the affected students, while The University of Law’s deputy vice-chancellor law, Professor Peter Crisp, emphasized the concern for students whose future careers may have been impacted by the mistake.

BARBRI Global’s managing director, Lucie Allen, expressed concern over the scale of the error and the potential repercussions for students. She urged impacted individuals to reach out for support and assistance.

The College of Legal Practice also issued a statement expressing deep disappointment and highlighting the negative impact on students’ wellbeing, confidence, and finances. Dr. Giles Proctor, the law school’s CEO, emphasized the need for clearer communication and careful planning to prevent similar mistakes in the future.

Overall, the news of the SQE error has sparked a wave of concern and frustration among legal education professionals, as they work to support and assist the affected candidates in navigating this unexpected setback.