UK junior lawyers say difficult exams are 'discriminatory'

A petition signed by over 650 trainee lawyers demands changes to the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), labeling it “discriminatory” and a barrier to diversity in the legal profession. The petitioners argue that the exam’s difficulty disproportionately affects candidates from ethnic minority and working-class backgrounds, citing Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) data showing stark pass rate disparities. In January, 70% of white candidates passed the SQE, compared to 49% of Asian and 37% of black candidates.