Hilary Chadwick, Head of Law at BPP University’s Waterloo campus, shares her insights on breaking into the profession, the reality of the SQE and the importance of gaining practical experience
The road to qualification as a solicitor has changed dramatically in recent years, and few people have a better view of how it’s all playing out than Hilary Chadwick – Head of Law at BPP University’s Waterloo campus, where the Law Conversion Course and Legal Apprentice programmes are delivered in London. She also teaches on the SQE from BPP’s London Holborn campus.
With over 25 years in legal education and a background in private practice, Chadwick has spent her career preparing students for life in the profession. Moving into teaching was a natural progression, driven by a genuine enthusiasm for training the next generation of lawyers. “I’ve always enjoyed the idea of developing future solicitors and being part of their journey,” she explains.
No conversation about legal education in 2025 is complete without the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) – the still new(ish) pathway to solicitor qualification that replaced the LPC in 2021. Given that the SQE is now becoming more established, is it living up to expectations?
For Chadwick, the SQE jury is still out. “I think it’s still very early days,” she says. “It’ll be a few more years before anyone can say whether the next generation of lawyers who’ve qualified through the SQE route are better or worse than those who did the LPC.” She points out that many of those who sat the first SQE exams in 2021 are only just starting out in their legal careers – making it difficult to judge the full impact just yet.
That said, one thing the SQE has undeniably improved is accessibility. “It’s definitely opened up different ways into the profession,” Chadwick notes. Unlike the traditional LPC and training contract model — which required candidates to complete their academic and vocational training before securing a two-year training contract — the SQE allows for more flexibility. Now, qualifying work experience (QWE) can be gained at any stage of the process, meaning aspiring lawyers can work towards qualification in a way that better suits their circumstances.
Chadwick explains that BPP has embraced this new flexibility while ensuring that employability remains at the core of its training. “It’s not just about passing exams — it’s about making sure students are actually prepared for practice.” That’s why BPP’s law conversion course is designed not just to meet the SQE requirements and beyond, but also those going down the barrister route as well.
And beyond traditional face to face and live online teaching, BPP offers a range of employability-focused initiatives, including an award-winning careers service, a multi-award-winning social impact team (formerly the pro bono team), and networking events designed to help students build key relationships early. “We put on a lot of networking events to encourage students to form those key connections they’ll need in their careers,” Chadwick says. The idea is to give students exposure to real-life legal work while they study – so they graduate not just with a qualification but with experience and connections too. This is why BPP now also offers three 1-year paid QWE placements with BPP’s Social Impact team to SQE graduates.
To help students cope, BPP has developed a ‘Managing Your Wellbeing’ initiative – a virtual suite of resources covering topics like mindfulness, managing stress, developing resilience, and coping with exam anxiety. The programme was a direct response to student feedback.
Technology is reshaping legal education and practice — and BPP is keen to keep its students ahead of the curve. AI is the big buzzword right now, and Chadwick acknowledges that legal education must adapt quickly to keep up.
As part of its efforts, BPP offers a free AI awareness course to both students and staff. “It provides a wealth of information about what generative AI is, how it works, and its specific applications in an educational context,” she says. With legal tech evolving at breakneck speed, staying informed is just as important as mastering the law itself.
So, what’s the one piece of advice Chadwick would give to aspiring lawyers? “It’s an incredibly competitive profession, and having good academic results isn’t enough,” she warns. Law firms are looking for much more than just a strong CV — they want to see leadership, emotional intelligence, and resilience.
Most undergraduates have few, if any, contacts in the legal profession. Chadwick advises recommends you start building your network early. “Attend events, join university associations, start developing those key skills — don’t leave it to the last minute,” she says. “Academic excellence is taken as a given. It’s how you make yourself stand out that matters.”
Unlike some university exams that students can blitz through with a few weeks of intense revision, SQE success depends on consistent effort from day one. Chadwick advises: “You cannot cram.” She stresses that preparing for the SQE requires a different mindset from traditional law school exams. With SQE1 covering a vast syllabus in a multiple-choice format and SQE2 testing practical legal skills, success depends on consistency and structured preparation. “You have to keep on top of it from the very beginning,” she explains. “This isn’t the kind of exam where you can put in a few weeks of intense revision and hope for the best. The volume of material is too great, and it requires deep understanding rather than just memorisation.”
She also advises students to make use of the support available to them. “It’s important to pace yourself, manage your workload properly, and try not to let stress take over,” she says. Many students, she notes, go into the exam feeling like they’ll never be fully prepared – and that’s normal. “One of the best pieces of advice I’ve heard from trainees who’ve been through the process is that you’ll never feel 100% ready for SQE1, and that’s okay. What matters is putting in steady, sustained effort, trusting in your preparation, and keeping a healthy work-life balance.”
Beyond passing the exams, Chadwick reminds aspiring lawyers that the SQE is just one step in a longer journey. “The legal profession is tough — it requires resilience, adaptability, and a real commitment to learning. Treat your preparation for the SQE as training for the kind of discipline you’ll need throughout your career,” she says. “And above all, don’t leave things until the last minute. Preparation is key.”
Join us MONDAY for our virtual student event “SQE1 taster workshop — with BPP”.
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