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Qualified Lawyers How To Cross Qualify As A Solicitor

To become a solicitor in England and Wales, qualified lawyers must have a degree or equivalent, pass the SQE1 and SQE2 assessments, and meet suitability requirements. The SQE consists of two parts: SQE1 tests legal knowledge, while SQE2 assesses practical skills. Qualified lawyers may apply for exemptions from the SQE assessments if they can demonstrate equivalent standards, and they can also practice under their home qualification as registered foreign lawyers.

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30 views12 pages

Qualified Lawyers How To Cross Qualify As A Solicitor

To become a solicitor in England and Wales, qualified lawyers must have a degree or equivalent, pass the SQE1 and SQE2 assessments, and meet suitability requirements. The SQE consists of two parts: SQE1 tests legal knowledge, while SQE2 assesses practical skills. Qualified lawyers may apply for exemptions from the SQE assessments if they can demonstrate equivalent standards, and they can also practice under their home qualification as registered foreign lawyers.

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Qualified lawyers:
How to cross qualify as a solicitor

September 2024
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How to become a solicitor


A qualified lawyer is someone who holds a professional legal qualification
which confers rights to practise in England and Wales or in another jurisdiction.

To become a solicitor, qualified lawyers need to:


• have a degree (does not need to be in law) or an equivalent qualification
and/or experience
• pass the SQE1 and SQE2 assessments, unless granted an exemption – for
SQE2 exemptions, will also need to demonstrate proficiency in English or
Welsh
• meet our suitability requirements
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What is the SQE?

• A single, robust examination for all aspiring solicitors

• Consists of two parts:


– SQE1 assesses functioning legal knowledge
– SQE2 assesses practical legal skills

• All candidates must meet the same high standards in a consistent way

• Candidates can choose how to prepare for the assessments


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Functioning legal knowledge


SQE1 assessment

Two 180-question FLK - test ability to Unflagged ethics


examinations - 10 identify legal principles questions
hours in total and apply them to throughout
client problems
and transactions
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Practical legal skills


SQE2 assessment

16 written and Simulating tasks Tests practical Unflagged ethics


oral tests - 14 carried out by legal skills and questions
hours in total a solicitor in functioning legal throughout
practice knowledge equally
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SQE exemptions

• Qualified lawyers are eligible to apply for exemptions from the SQE
assessments

• They must demonstrate that they meet the same standards that are
assessed in the SQE assessment they wish to be exempted from

• We cannot grant an exemption from an assessment that someone


has failed. They would have to must retake it and pass to be eligible
to qualify as a solicitor
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SQE2 exemptions

Use our SQE2 exemption


finder to see what evidence
you need to provide for your
specific qualification

sra.org.uk/sqe-exemptions
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Applying for SQE2 exemptions

SQE2 exemptions

• Step by step guidance for making an application is on our website

• Make sure you have added your jurisdiction in your mySRA profile

• Check the SQE2 exemption finder to see if you are applying for an
agreed exemption or an individual one
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Evidence for an SQE2 exemption

• Qualification evidence such as an admission certificate or certificate


of good standing (CoGS)
• Reference letter from employer
• Referees' qualification if they are legally qualified, such as an
admission certificate or CoGS
• If referee is regulated by us, they only need to provide their SRA
number
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Practising under your home qualification

• England and Wales is an open jurisdiction for legal practice


• You can practise as a lawyer under your existing home qualification,
so long as not carrying on reserved activities
• Legal Services Act 2007 reserves some activities to solicitors and
other qualified lawyers of England and Wales
• If you are a lawyer who wants to be a manager or owner of an
authorised law firm, you can register with us as a registered foreign
lawyer (RFL)
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Registered foreign lawyers


If you are an RFL, you can:
• practise the law of your home state, including legal work reserved
to lawyers, provided you can do this within the rules of your current
profession
• advise on English and Welsh law
• provide and supervise other unreserved legal services, including
acting in first-tier immigration tribunal cases, and preparing
documents for immigration tribunal proceedings
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More information

• SRA information for qualified lawyers: sra.org.uk/qualified-lawyers

• SQE assessment exemptions: sra.org.uk/sqe-exemptions

• Queries about becoming a solicitor, the SQE route, including


exemptions, and registering as an RFL: sra.org.uk/contact-us

• SQE assessments information, including dates and venues:


sqe.sra.org.uk

• Queries about RFL activities/duties: [email protected]

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