Since the introduction of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) in 2021, the route to qualifying as an English or Welsh solicitor has changed fundamentally. You no longer need a UK law degree. You can now qualify with a qualifying law degree from virtually any country - including a European one - provided you pass both stages of the SQE and complete two years of qualifying work experience.
For students who are drawn to law but put off by UK tuition fees, this opens a genuinely interesting alternative: obtain a rigorous legal education in Europe, often at a fraction of UK costs, and use it as the foundation for a career as an English-qualified solicitor.
What the SQE Route Actually Requires
To qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales via the SQE route, you need:
- A degree (in any subject, from any recognised university - it does not need to be law)
- Passing SQE1 (multiple-choice knowledge assessment across all major areas of English law)
- Passing SQE2 (practical legal skills assessment - client interviewing, advocacy, research, drafting)
- Two years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) in a legal or law-adjacent role (this can be with up to four different organisations and does not all need to be at a solicitor firm)
- Meeting the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) character and suitability requirements
Importantly: the SRA does not require your degree to be in English law. A law degree from the Netherlands, Germany, France, or Poland is an entirely valid educational foundation for the SQE - as is a degree in history, engineering, or economics.
Most candidates supplement their undergraduate study with a dedicated SQE preparation course (offered by providers such as BPP, BARBRI, QLTS School, and others). These typically run for several months and focus specifically on the English law content tested in SQE1 and SQE2. Budget for the exams themselves too: SQE1 costs £1,934 and SQE2 £2,974, rising to £2,006 and £3,086 for sittings from September 2026 - over £5,000 in assessment fees on top of any preparation course.
Why Study Law in Europe?
The cost argument is substantial. UK law degrees at Russell Group universities cost £9,790 per year for domestic students (the 2026/27 fee cap) and £20,000-£35,000 per year for international students. A three-year LLB plus SQE prep course plus living costs in a UK city easily reaches £80,000-£120,000 or more for an international student.
By contrast, a law degree in the Netherlands - the European country with the most developed English-medium legal education - costs €8,000-€15,000 per year in tuition for non-EU students, with living costs of €800-€1,200 per month depending on the city. Total cost for a three or four-year LLB equivalent, plus SQE prep: typically €40,000-€70,000. For EU students, the Dutch statutory fee is €2,694 for 2026/27, making the total far lower.
Beyond cost, a European legal education offers genuine intellectual advantages: exposure to civil law traditions, comparative law perspectives, EU legal frameworks, and GDPR expertise that is increasingly valuable in English commercial practice. Law firms with European practices specifically look for lawyers with cross-jurisdictional awareness.
Best European Options for English-Medium Legal Education
The Netherlands is the strongest option by some margin. The University of Groningen (LLB International and European Law) and Maastricht University (European Law School) offer LLB programmes taught entirely in English, with curricula covering European law, comparative law, and international law. These degrees are well-structured, internationally recognised, and supported by strong law schools with active research programmes. Note that Leiden and Utrecht, often mentioned in older guides, teach their LLBs in Dutch - their English-medium offerings are at Master's level.
Germany has fewer English-medium LLB options. Most German law programmes require German-language proficiency. However, some universities offer English-medium LLM programmes (postgraduate), and students who already hold a bachelor's degree could pursue a German LLM as a postgraduate qualification. Bucerius Law School in Hamburg and several other institutions offer English-medium postgraduate options.
Central and Eastern Europe - Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary - offer some English-medium law programmes, often at lower cost than Western Europe. Quality varies, so check rankings and accreditation carefully.
Important Caveats and Pitfalls
This route requires careful planning. Several things can go wrong if you do not research thoroughly:
The SQE tests English law. A European law degree will not teach you English contract law, tort, criminal law, land law, or equity in the way UK law schools do. You will need dedicated SQE preparation - budget for this explicitly, both in terms of time and money.
Qualifying Work Experience requires access to English legal environments. Two years of QWE in relevant legal roles is a meaningful requirement. If you are studying in the Netherlands or Germany, you will need to plan actively for how you will obtain UK or English-law-adjacent work experience. This is achievable - remote roles, UK-based vacation schemes, in-house legal departments of multinational companies - but it requires planning.
SRA character and suitability. The SRA assesses applications carefully. Any academic or professional conduct issues need to be disclosed.
Verify your specific degree's recognition. While the SRA does not require a UK law degree, some firms (particularly at the Magic Circle level) still favour candidates from UK institutions. The European law degree route is most naturally suited to candidates targeting commercial law at international firms with European practices, in-house legal roles at multinational companies, and regional or national firms rather than the most elite London practices.
Is This Route Right for You?
This route works well for students who are cost-conscious, interested in European legal frameworks and comparative law, targeting commercial or international legal careers rather than domestic UK-focused practice, and who are organised enough to plan their QWE pathway in advance.
It is less suitable for students who want to practise exclusively in domestic UK criminal, family, or immigration law, where UK law school networks and domestic placements are more directly valuable.
Use Sophyra's Best Fit tool to explore English-medium law programmes in the Netherlands and beyond, and the Affordability Planner to compare realistic three-year costs against UK alternatives.
SQE requirements, SRA policies, and university fee structures are subject to change. This article provides general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Verify current SRA qualification requirements at sra.org.uk before making decisions about your legal education pathway.