The College of Legal Practice’s Kathryn Newton discusses the evolution of legal education, the challenges of the SQE, and the essential skills aspiring lawyers need to thrive in practice
Kathryn Newton, programme leader at The College of Legal Practice (CoLP), sits down with Legal Cheek Careers to discuss everything SQE. Having transitioned from private practice to legal education, Newton now plays a key role in shaping the next generation of legal professionals. Over an insightful conversation, she shares her career story, her passion for legal education, and the unique features of CoLP’s SQE-focused approach.
Newton’s path to legal education was not straightforward. After completing a conversion course and the solicitors’ exams — then known as the Law Society finals — she began her legal career in private practice, specialising in family law. Her work spanned emotionally charged childcare cases to financial disputes, giving her a broad base of experience. “Family law was something I’d done right from my training,” she shares. “I reached a point where a decision had to be made to specialise, and I decided I preferred the environment of family law, which was more about seeking solutions and workable ways forward.”
Her young family prompted a career shift into legal education. “It was the right thing to let professional practice go and continue being involved with the legal world whilst having the flexibility to raise a family,” she explains. Her move into education brought her to a university in Manchester, where she joined a tight-knit team of former lawyers teaching postgraduate law. Reflecting on the switch, she says: “It was great to bring the law to life for students, sharing real-world context and experiences, particularly in family law and litigation.”
Teaching wasn’t just a pragmatic choice for Newton — it was a genuine passion. She thrives on connecting her practice experience to the classroom. “Everybody has their war stories,” she says, “but what I enjoyed most was helping students contextualise what they were studying, making it relevant and engaging.” Surprisingly, she even found joy during her stint in Manchester teaching solicitors’ accounts. “At first, students see it as all numbers,” Newton laughs. “But once they get it, they get it, and it’s satisfying to see their confidence grow.”
Her teaching also benefited from her continued engagement with the legal profession. “At the time, I was part of the family court forum for Manchester courts,” she explains. “It allowed me to share current developments in the local legal community with my students.” In 2021, Newton made another significant career move, joining CoLP to focus on training future solicitors through the Solicitors Qualifying Exams (SQE). She saw this as an opportunity to adapt to the changing legal education landscape.
“I made the active decision to move to an organisation focusing on the SQE,” she says. “Many institutions were grappling with the transition from the LPC, and I wanted to be part of an organisation entirely committed to the new system.”
Her role as programme leader involves overseeing CoLP’s full-time LLM in Legal Practice, which includes SQE preparatory modules and transactional electives designed to prepare students for practice. “Our transactional modules are akin to LPC electives, equipping students with practical knowledge they’ll need in a training seat,” she tells us.
One standout feature of CoLP’s LLM is the capstone module, a dissertation-like project that allows students to explore contemporary issues in law. “It’s a literature review rather than a traditional dissertation,” Newton explains. “Students delve into hot topics in the legal profession that relate to their transactional modules, demonstrating critical thinking and a deep understanding of their chosen area.” She believes this approach benefits students’ employability. “They can evidence their interest in a specific area, which can be a real asset in interviews,” she says. “It shows they’ve thought deeply about issues affecting the profession.”
CoLP’s commitment to accessibility is another point of pride for Newton. “Affordability was a deliberate decision,” she says. “We wanted to ensure students could fund their studies and exams without exhausting their student loans.” The online delivery model also enhances accessibility. “Our platform was purpose-built for online learning, even before Covid,” Newton notes. “It’s designed to be intuitive and allows students to study at their own pace, which is invaluable for balancing other commitments.”
Newton is realistic about the challenges posed by the SQE, which she acknowledges as a high-stakes qualification. “It’s important to start your SQE journey at a time when you can dedicate yourself fully,” she advises. “It’s not something to juggle alongside too many other responsibilities.” She also offers practical advice for tackling the SQE’s format. “Don’t rail against the system,” she urges. “The MCQ format is here to stay for now, so it’s about adapting your learning style and focusing on what the exam requires.”
Reflecting on the SQE’s implementation, Newton states the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and Kaplan deserve credit for responding to feedback. “They’ve expanded venues and dates for the exams, which makes a big difference,” she says. However, she acknowledges that the system still has teething problems, particularly around syllabus changes. “The four-month cut-off for examinable law could be simplified,” she suggests. With the SRA announcing a review of the SQE this week, Newton sees an opportunity for further refinement. “It’s always good to keep things under review,” she says. “The public’s needs evolve. Issues like AI are becoming more relevant, so it’s vital for the regulator to stay up to date.”
Newton has plenty of wisdom to share with aspiring lawyers preparing for the SQE. “Use active learning techniques and keep up to date with all 13 practice areas,” she advises. “Even for SQE2, which focuses on skills, you’ll still be examined on the knowledge you gained in SQE1.” She also highlights the importance of understanding the assessment criteria. “Most providers map their criteria to the SRA’s,” she explains. “It’s crucial to know what you’ll be marked on and to integrate both skills and legal knowledge into your answers.”
Finally, she encourages students to embrace the learning journey. “This is about preparing you to serve clients effectively,” she says. “It’s not just about passing an exam; it’s about being ready to handle real-world challenges with confidence.”
The College of Legal Practice offers preparation courses for SQE1 for £2,200 and SQE2 for £2,700, in addition to the LLM in Legal Practice (including the SQE prep courses) for £7,245. The courses are delivered fully online, with options to study on a full-time or part-time basis.
Kathryn Newton will be speaking at ‘Making SQE preparation work for you — with The College of Legal Practice’, a virtual student event taking place TODAY, Tuesday 10 December. Apply now to attend.
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