Is College of Legal Practice Worth It? Honest SQE Course Review 2026

TL;DR: College of Legal Practice charges £2,200 for SQE1 prep and £2,700 for SQE2 prep — £4,900 combined. They are a not-for-profit provider accredited by the Office for Students, which explains why their fees are significantly lower than most competitors. The main caveat remains the absence of published pass rate data.

What You're Paying For

College of Legal Practice standalone prep courses:

• SQE1 prep course: £2,200
• SQE2 prep course: £2,700
• Combined (SQE1 + SQE2): £4,900

CLP also offer a full Masters programme at £7,245, which includes considerably more than the standalone prep courses. The figures above refer to the standalone SQE preparation courses only.

Why the fees are low: CLP is a not-for-profit provider. Keeping course fees accessible is a deliberate part of their mission.

Compare the combined prep cost to:

• BARBRI: £5,899 (£999 more expensive than CLP)
• City University: £9,500-£11,500 (£4,600-£6,600 more expensive)
• BPP: £12,200-£14,300 (£7,300-£9,400 more expensive)
• University of Law: £15,150-£18,850 (£10,250-£13,950 more expensive)

Positioning: CLP is one of the most affordable providers offering tutor-supported SQE prep — comfortably below BARBRI and well below the university providers.

Use our cost calculator to see the full breakdown including resits.

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The Transparency Problem

Ongoing concern: College of Legal Practice does not publish pass rate statistics. Unlike some providers (BPP: 68%, ULaw: 64%, City: 62%), CLP offers no data on student success.

Why this matters:

• Can't independently verify course effectiveness
• No comparison to competitors on outcomes
• Paying for a course without knowing how students perform

Actual SRA overall pass rates:

• SQE1: 41% (July 2025)
• SQE2: 80% (January 2026)

The SRA hasn't published official provider-level data, so we rely on self-reported statistics. CLP doesn't currently provide those.

That said, CLP has reviews on Trustpilot where you can read direct feedback from students on their experience. We recommend checking those before making a decision.

See our pass rates transparency guide for full context.

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What You Actually Get

SQE1 Preparation

✅ Study materials:

• Textbooks (physical + digital)
• Online learning platform
• Video lectures
• Practice question banks
• Revision resources

✅ Tutor support:

• Experienced legal tutors
• Live online sessions
• Q&A opportunities
• Email support

✅ Mock exams:

• Practice assessments
• Performance feedback
• Exam technique guidance

SQE2 Preparation

✅ Practical skills focus:

• Virtual skills sessions (live online)
• Mock client interviews
• Mock advocacy exercises
• Legal writing and drafting practice

✅ Individual feedback:

• One-on-one tutor feedback
• Performance improvement guidance
• Skills development coaching

Employability Support

✅ Career services:

• CV review and guidance
• Interview preparation
• Application support
• Networking opportunities

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Course Duration

SQE1: Available as 13, 20, or 40 week courses (full-time = 13 weeks / approx. 3 months) SQE2: Available as 10, 20, or 40 week courses (full-time = 10 weeks / approx. 2.5 months)

The flexibility to choose your timeline is useful — candidates sitting imminently can take the intensive full-time route, while those with more runway can spread the course over 20 or 40 weeks.

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Accreditation

• SRA approved
• Accredited by the Office for Students (OFS)
• Independent Higher Education (IHE)
• Association of Trainers and Lawyers (ATL)

The Office for Students accreditation is a meaningful credential — it places CLP within the regulated higher education sector in England.

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CLP's Strengths

1. Genuinely Affordable ✅ At £4,900 combined, CLP is cheaper than BARBRI and dramatically cheaper than the major university providers. For a tutor-supported course, this is excellent value on price alone.

2. Not-for-Profit Mission ✅ CLP keeps fees low deliberately. This isn't a budget compromise — it reflects their model.

3. Office for Students Accreditation ✅ Regulated provider within the higher education framework.

4. Practical Skills Emphasis ✅ Focus on real-world lawyering skills alongside exam preparation. Strong for SQE2.

5. Experienced Legal Tutors ✅ Practicing lawyers and experienced educators. You get actual tutor interaction.

6. Online Learning with 20 Years' Experience ✅ All courses are delivered online, combining on-demand video, live group sessions, and one-to-one supervision from experienced solicitors.

7. Employability Focus ✅ Career guidance and professional development alongside exam prep.

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CLP's Weaknesses

1. No Published Pass Rates ❌ The main concern. Without outcome data, effectiveness can't be independently verified.

2. Less Established Brand ❌ Less recognised than BPP or ULaw, particularly with employers who may be unfamiliar with the provider.

3. No University Credential ❌ Not a university. No academic credential on CV as you'd get from City or ULaw — though the Office for Students accreditation does place them within the regulated HE sector.

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The Value Question

CLP vs BARBRI comparison:

At £4,900, CLP is cheaper than BARBRI and includes tutor access that BARBRI does not offer. The trade-off is the absence of published pass rate data.

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Who CLP Is Best For

✅ Students wanting tutor support at a low price At £4,900 with tutors included, this is one of the most affordable supported courses on the market.

✅ Those who can't afford BPP or ULaw The gap between CLP and the premium providers is substantial — £7,000+ in some cases.

✅ Students prioritising practical skills If you value real-world lawyering practice, CLP's SQE2 preparation is particularly strong.

✅ Those who want career support alongside exam prep Employability services are built into the programme.

❌ Students who need verified outcome data before committing Without pass rate statistics, this remains a leap of faith on effectiveness.

❌ Those wanting university prestige on their CV City and Nottingham offer university credentials. CLP does not.

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What Students Actually Say

CLP publishes satisfaction data from their own student surveys:

• 77% were satisfied or very satisfied with their courses
• 85% were satisfied or very satisfied with their personal supervisor
• 73% would recommend the course to others

The personal supervision figure (85%) is notable — one-to-one access to experienced solicitors is a genuine differentiator at this price point.

CLP also has a Trustpilot page where you can read independent reviews from recent students. We recommend checking those alongside the above figures before making a decision.

Common themes in available feedback include:

Positives:

• Tutors and supervisors are accessible and responsive
• Strong value given the price
• Practical, well-structured course content

Areas for improvement:

• Pass rate transparency would help students make more informed decisions

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The Honest Verdict

Is College of Legal Practice worth it?

At £4,900 for combined SQE1 and SQE2 prep, CLP is one of the most affordable tutor-supported options available. The not-for-profit model and Office for Students accreditation are genuine positives.

The remaining concern is the absence of published pass rate data. If CLP were to publish outcome statistics, they would be much easier to recommend outright. As it stands, you're making a decision on price, accreditation, and Trustpilot reviews rather than verified outcome data.

Better value alternatives if you want verified pass rates:

Slightly more expensive with outcome data:

• BARBRI (£5,899) — £999 more, 58% self-reported pass rate, proven platform

For university prestige + tutor support:

• City University (£9,500-£11,500) — significantly more expensive, but university credential and 62% self-reported pass rate

For absolute budget (self-study):

• QLTS School (£2,500) — cheaper but no tutor support

Compare all providers side-by-side on our provider comparison page.

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The Bottom Line

College of Legal Practice has significantly more to offer than its low price might suggest. Not-for-profit, Office for Students accredited, tutor-supported, and cheaper than BARBRI — the pricing argument for CLP is genuinely strong.

The honest gap is pass rate transparency. Until CLP publishes outcome data, the final word on effectiveness remains open. Check their Trustpilot reviews for the most up-to-date student feedback, and contact them directly to ask any questions before you commit.

Best for: Students who need tutor-supported SQE prep at a low price, who are comfortable making a decision based on accreditation and student reviews rather than published pass rate statistics.

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Disclaimer: College of Legal Practice does not currently publish pass rate statistics. The SRA has not published official provider-level data. This review is based on publicly available information and information provided by the College of Legal Practice. See our pass rates transparency page for full context on why provider data transparency matters.