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The article shows that what is mooted is something "on top of the proposed new ‘super-exam,’" not as any kind of replacement.

All solicitors should take the same exams to qualify. If specific practice areas or geographies consider it useful for their young lawyers to acquire a further qualification, or to attend a particular course related to their firm's practise, so what? I don't however think that the provision of any such course or qualification should be run, set or assessed as part of the SQE.

While any lawyer may end up practising in a fairly specialised field, the breadth of background knowledge from a common qualification is useful in contextualising all areas of law, and can assist in specialist lawyers finding solutions and inspiration from a wide range of legal principles.

The proposed introduction of the SQE inevitably means that larger firms will consider providing courses to trainees to assist them in preparing for the SQE. Just as under the current system larger firms will pay for the LPC for future trainees.