Jonathan Worrell, director of business development at BARBRI, shares his insights on supporting non-law graduates, navigating the SQE route, and the value of flexible, practical preparation
With the SQE pathway now firmly embedded into the legal landscape, one question continues to crop up: how do aspiring solicitors actually prepare for these tough exams, especially if they’re not following the traditional law degree route?
That’s exactly what Jonathan Worrell, director of business development at BARBRI, is coming to discuss at ‘No law degree? No problem. Your path to becoming a solicitor — with BARBRI’, our upcoming virtual event on 25 March. Ahead of the session, we caught up with Worrell to hear about his own career journey, the evolution of the SQE and what makes BARBRI’s approach different.
Worrell started out in the City, working in business development teams at two international law firms. There, he cut his teeth supporting lawyers on pitches and client relationships. “It was a fast-paced and pressurised environment,” he recalls, “but one that really drills into you the importance of the client experience.” A shift into the education sector followed, including time in accountancy training and tech startups, before he found his way back to the legal world via BARBRI. “What I enjoy about legal education,” he explains, “is helping talent to thrive, particularly when the exams are this challenging.”
That passion for supporting early careers talent is a thread that runs through much of Worrell’s work today. He’s keenly aware that entering the legal profession has never been more competitive, and that the path can look different depending on whether you’re a law graduate, a paralegal, or someone coming from another field entirely. “It’s a time of opportunity, but also of uncertainty,” he says. “We’re seeing volatility in the wider economy, but law continues to hold steady. It remains a solid, secure career path and we want to help make that path accessible to more people.”
So, what does that look like in practice? According to Worrell, the key is flexibility. “What makes BARBRI different,” he says, “is that we haven’t tried to bolt the SQE onto a traditional LPC-style programme. From the start, we’ve used data and tech to tailor everything around what’s needed to pass these specific exams.” That means stripping away any filler content and zeroing in on what really matters. “We’ve analysed student performance in detail to figure out what works. And we’re constantly updating the course based on that feedback.”
BARBRI’s SQE preparation courses are delivered entirely online, but that doesn’t mean students are left to go it alone. Far from it. Each candidate receives a ‘Personal Study Plan’ — a tailored learning platform that maps out their SQE journey week by week. It contains everything from recorded lectures and interactive exercises to thousands of multiple-choice questions. And for those moments when a student wants to talk through a tricky concept, learning coaches and tutors are just a few clicks away.
“It’s not about passive learning,” Worrell explains. “Yes, we have recorded lectures, but we also make them interactive, and we run live law clinics so students can talk through questions in real time. The tech allows us to track their progress and identify where they’re struggling. If someone starts falling behind, we step in.”
It’s a system designed with busy lives in mind, he explains. “We all have things going on: work, family, whatever it might be. Our students can log in from anywhere and study at a time that works for them,” he says. “That might sound like a small thing, but it’s huge, especially for people who wouldn’t be able to get into a classroom regularly.”
Flexibility, however, doesn’t mean compromise:-
“These exams are tough,” Worrell says, “and we never lose sight of that. It’s not about making the journey easier — it’s about making it doable.”
One of the biggest challenges for SQE1 candidates is mastering the art of the multiple-choice exam. “It’s five hours a day, over two days. That’s a lot of brainpower,” Worrell says. “So, we don’t just give students content. We teach them exam technique, and we give them as much practice as possible.” He describes the process as helping students become “assessment literate”, ensuring they’re not just learning the law but learning how to apply it under pressure.
The platform also supports personalisation, something that’s particularly important for neurodivergent learners. “Some people slow the videos down. Some speed them up. Some increase the font size, or skip back and rewatch sections,” he explains. “Everyone processes information differently, and we’ve built a system that allows for that.” It also helps students spot their own patterns: which areas of the law they’re strongest in, and which topics they need to revisit.
Worrell also highlights the support BARBRI provides to paralegals and overseas-qualified lawyers. “We work with a wide range of students,” he says. “Some are full-time trainees on a structured route into a City law firm. Others are working full-time and fitting study around their jobs. We offer different course lengths and levels of intensity to suit those different paths.”
For paralegals in particular, Worrell sees a growing trend. “Some firms are now using the paralegal route as a stepping stone to qualification,” he says. “You do a year or two as a paralegal, show your value, and then the firm supports you through the SQE. In other firms, there are more distinct routes. But either way, the barriers are coming down.”
So, what would Worrell say to someone standing at the start of their SQE journey, unsure whether they can make it? “Feel the fear, but do it anyway,” he says. “Yes, it’s daunting. But don’t be put off by the horror stories online. With the right provider and the right plan, it’s absolutely achievable.”
Looking ahead, Worrell is excited about the wider transformation happening in legal training. “We’re seeing more and more firms switching from the LPC to the SQE. It’s taken time, but the momentum is building,” he says. “We’re working with those firms to get the right systems in place with everything from study leave to wellbeing support.”
And while the legal profession is still finding its feet in the age of AI, Worrell is optimistic about what tech can bring to training. BARBRI already uses artificial intelligence within its course platform, including a feature called ‘ISAAC’ that adjusts a student’s study plan if they’re falling behind. “It identifies where they’re struggling and helps them make the most of the time they have left,” he says. “That’s just the start. There’s so much more potential in using AI to personalise education.”
But perhaps the most exciting change, he says, isn’t about tech — it’s about people. “The profession is opening up. There’s a lot more work to do, but firms are recognising the value of bringing in talent from different backgrounds,” he says. “We’re seeing more social mobility, more diversity. That’s what the SQE was meant to deliver, and I’m hopeful that over time it will really shift the dial.”
Find out more from BARBRI at ‘No law degree? No problem. Your path to becoming a solicitor — with BARBRI’, a virtual student event taking place on Tuesday 25 March. Apply now to attend.
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