A division of the company providing assessments for the Solicitors Qualifying Exam has been bought by US legal education giant Barbri.

Barbri has pledged to deliver ‘exceptional preparation for the SQE’, having acquired the entire assets of Kaplan Altior. When the transaction is completed, Barbri Altior will offer training courses, including the professional skills course offered by Kaplan. Barbri will not be involved in providing the SQE itself. 

All Altior employees will transition to Barbri which will continue to operate with the same venues and tutors.

Texas-based Barbri is a portfolio company of a New York private equity firm that invests in education, training, information services, and software. Last week, it announced it had partnered with Australasia’s foremost legal education provider, the College of Legal Practice, to pursue ambitious plans to roll out digitalised SQE courses in England and Wales.

Sarah Hutchinson, managing director for Barbri International, said of the Kaplan Altior deal: ‘This is an exciting development for Barbri as we build our expertise in the SQE preparation course market. Not only does it expand our team with an exceptional client service team, it also significantly enhances our base of experienced and well-respected tutors for specialist trainee and solicitor skills training.'