October 2025
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This conference considered the future for legal education and training in England and Wales, looking at ethics, digital skills and qualification routes.
It brought together key stakeholders and policymakers to discuss progress, challenges and next steps for widening participation, and integration of ethics into legal education, training and continuous professional development, as the sector prepares for the impact of artificial intelligence and digital innovation.
Qualification routes, funding pressures, and access to the profession
With the Solicitors Regulation Authority confirming increased Solicitors Qualifying Examination fees from September 2025, delegates also considered implications arising from the Department for Education’s withdrawal of funding for Level 7 solicitor apprenticeships, and the transfer of apprenticeship oversight responsibilities to Skills England. Sessions examined access to the profession, particularly for disadvantaged candidates and smaller firms, as well as the future of apprenticeship models under revised funding structures. It was an opportunity to discuss the way forward in light of the Bar Standards Board’s January 2025 report highlighting differential outcomes for students of colour and those from low socio-economic backgrounds, and the recent removal of the new diversity duty.
Evaluation, consistency, and support
Sessions in the agenda assessed implications of recent Solicitors Qualifying Examination evaluation findings, with a 56% pass rate and notable disparity between the Solicitors Qualifying Examination 1 and 2 results, and the formal approval of the new barrister apprenticeship standard. We expected discussion on stakeholder perspectives, including concerns around format and challenges with multiple-choice assessments, delivery timelines, regulatory oversight, consistency of quality across providers, and the adequacy of pastoral and financial support for candidates navigating new qualification routes.
Digital skills, evolving client needs, and longstanding competence gaps
Further discussion focused on preparing the profession for future demands, including the integration of artificial intelligence tools, data literacy, and wider digital competencies into initial and continuing training. We also expected delegates to examine options for addressing persistent competence gaps in areas such as probate, family, and housing law, particularly in light of changing client needs, regulatory scrutiny, and varied distribution of training resources. How best to support early-career professionals within this shifting landscape will be considered.
Workplace culture, lifelong learning, and ethical standards
Attendees also assessed how workplace culture and professional development practices can evolve to reflect generational change, rising expectations on wellbeing and inclusion, and the need to maintain public confidence. As the sector prepares for the Legal Services Board’s new professional ethical duties requirement, areas for discussion included enabling access to consistent, high-quality learning throughout a legal career, particularly continued ethics training and developing models of professional development that are adaptable, accountable, and aligned with ethical responsibilities.
Further areas for discussion
- alignment across routes: transparency and parity between the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations, apprenticeship, and traditional pathways - perceptions of fairness and rigour - avoiding fragmentation in qualification routes
- regulatory priorities: aligning legal services regulation with other sectoral frameworks, such as flexible working rights, whistleblowing and the right to switch off
- transparency: upholding client confidentiality and public trust amid increased scrutiny - understanding misconduct reporting and disciplinary procedures - bias, confidentiality, and liability issues
- oversight and governance: accountability across multiple regulatory and policy bodies - coordination on managing reform impacts over time - sharing learning and outcomes between institutions - roles and responsibilities of leadership, in terms of mentoring and continuing career development for colleagues
All delegates were able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those who attended include officials from Ministry of Justice; Government Legal Department; National Crime Agency; Home Office; the Welsh Government; and The Scottish Government.
