A West Sussex legal professional has successfully passed the first stage of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination after studying at the University of Chichester, marking an important milestone for both his career and the University’s growing law provision.
Matt Gent, from Littlehampton, studied on the University’s campus-based 10-week SQE1 Preparation Course earlier this year before successfully passing the first stage of qualification for aspiring solicitors.
Dr Amy Elkington, Academic Lead for Law at the University of Chichester, said: “Matt embraced every aspect of the programme and has shown great determination – from his success on our LLB law degree, which embeds SQE elements to enable easy progression for students, to passing the SQE1. We look forward to following his continued progress as he prepares for SQE2 and takes the next steps towards qualification.”
Currently working in the Commercial Legal Team at West Sussex County Council, Matt is undertaking a training role that will support him on his journey to becoming a qualified solicitor.
Reflecting on his experience at Chichester, Matt praised the support offered through the University’s small-group teaching approach. He said: “My experience studying SQE1 at Chichester was very positive. The small class size, with only three students including myself, meant I received a high level of individual support and guidance. I felt comfortable asking questions and engaging openly with the tutor, and the small-group environment allowed the sessions to be flexible and tailored to our individual knowledge, understanding and learning needs.”
Matt’s interest in law began while studying BTEC Law at Worthing College, where an inspiring teacher introduced him to the breadth and variety of the legal profession. He later completed his LLB (Hons) Law degree at the University of Chichester, graduating with First-Class Honours in 2024 and receiving several academic awards, including the Irwin Mitchell Dissertation of the Year Award.
The SQE is widely regarded as one of the most challenging assessments for aspiring solicitors. Matt said: “Preparing for and sitting SQE1 was undoubtedly daunting. While the course and examination are challenging and time-consuming, they are achievable with the right preparation, commitment and support.”
Alongside his studies, Matt has continued to gain practical legal experience through his role at West Sussex County Council, where he manages his own caseload and works directly with clients across a range of commercial matters.
He now plans to complete SQE2 before qualifying as a solicitor, with longer-term ambitions of progressing into senior legal leadership roles within the public sector.
For more information about law courses at the University of Chichester, including the SQE preparation, go to: www.chi.ac.uk/law.