Qualifying as a Lawyer in England and Wales: The SQE Pathway Explained
The SQE:
Qualified lawyers and overseas students
Julie Brannan, Director of Education and Training
Ben Fisher, Head of External Communications
The SQE
Current QLTS candidates
If you have passed QLTS part one (multiple choice) before 1 September
2021 you can choose:
o
P
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T
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o
(
O
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C
E
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+
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f
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3
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A
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s
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2
0
2
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;
o
r
o
Pass SQE2 + apply for admission by 31 August 2023
If you have not passed QLTS part one before 1 September 2021, or are
fully exempt – you are not in the QLTS transitional cohort
SQE
Foreign qualified lawyers in future
•
Qualified lawyer – someone with a professional legal
qualification and practice rights
•
To qualify in England and Wales, you must:
o
Pass SQE1 and 2
o
Meet our character and suitability requirements
•
No work experience requirement
•
Can apply for exemptions
•
Possible language test for candidates with SQE exemptions
Overseas students and trainees
•
Overseas degree will usually count
– we will check
•
You can get QWE overseas – needs to be signed off by a COLP
or other solicitor of England and Wales
•
SQE1 available to sit internationally, availability will evolve with
demand
•
SQE2 written assessments available internationally
•
SQE2 oral assessments only available in England and
Wales
CILEx members
You could still qualify through the current LPC route if you have
accepted an offer to start an LPC or QLD, before 1 September 2021 –
see
exact details on our website
To qualify through the SQE you will need:
o
Degree or CILEx level 6 qualification
o
CILEx work experience will likely count
o
Pass SQE1 and 2
o
Character and suitability
SQE
Barristers
For qualified lawyers route,
need to have completed pupillage
and have practice rights
Already have a degree
Experience at the bar likely to count
You will also need:
o
Pass SQE1 and 2 – unless you have exemptions
o
Character and suitability
SQE
Exemptions
Qualified lawyers
can apply from exemptions
Must demonstrate that
qualifications and/or experience are equivalent
in content and standard to the SQE
Exemptions
can only be granted for the whole of:
o
SQE1 paper one
o
SQE1 paper two
o
SQE
2
SQE
Keep in touch
Send your
queries to
sqe@sra.org.uk
SQE resources
sra.org.uk/
becomingasolicitor
Subscribe to our
monthly
SQE Update
Discover the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) pathway for becoming a qualified lawyer in England and Wales. Understand the requirements for current QLTS candidates, foreign qualified lawyers, overseas students and trainees, CILEx members, and barristers. Learn about the SQE exams, exemptions, work experience, and character suitability criteria. Follow this comprehensive guide to navigate the process of qualifying as a lawyer in the legal profession.
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Presentation Transcript
The SQE: Qualified lawyers and overseas students Julie Brannan, Director of Education and Training Ben Fisher, Head of External Communications
Current QLTS candidates If you have passed QLTS part one (multiple choice) before 1 September 2021 you can choose: o Pass QLTS part two (OSCE) + apply for admission by 31 August 2022; or o Pass SQE2 + apply for admission by 31 August 2023 If you have not passed QLTS part one before 1 September 2021, or are fully exempt you are not in the QLTS transitional cohort SQE
Foreign qualified lawyers in future Qualified lawyer someone with a professional legal qualification and practice rights To qualify in England and Wales, you must: o Pass SQE1 and 2 o Meet our character and suitability requirements No work experience requirement Can apply for exemptions Possible language test for candidates with SQE exemptions
Overseas students and trainees Overseas degree will usually count we will check You can get QWE overseas needs to be signed off by a COLP or other solicitor of England and Wales SQE1 available to sit internationally, availability will evolve with demand SQE2 written assessments available internationally SQE2 oral assessments only available in England and Wales
CILEx members You could still qualify through the current LPC route if you have accepted an offer to start an LPC or QLD, before 1 September 2021 see exact details on our website To qualify through the SQE you will need: o Degree or CILEx level 6 qualification o CILEx work experience will likely count o Pass SQE1 and 2 o Character and suitability SQE
Barristers For qualified lawyers route, need to have completed pupillage and have practice rights Already have a degree Experience at the bar likely to count You will also need: o Pass SQE1 and 2 unless you have exemptions o Character and suitability SQE
Exemptions Qualified lawyers can apply from exemptions Must demonstrate that qualifications and/or experience are equivalent in content and standard to the SQE Exemptions can only be granted for the whole of: o SQE1 paper one o SQE1 paper two o SQE2 SQE
Keep in touch Subscribe to our monthly SQE Update Send your queries to sqe@sra.org.uk SQE resources sra.org.uk/ becomingasolicitor
