Solicitors offer legal advice in many situations and represent and defend client's legal interest in court. Barristers are more likely to do advocacy work and represent clients in the higher courts. This page focuses on ways in which you can qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales. If you want to learn more about becoming a barrister please visit the Lawyer Portal website.

If you want to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales there are different paths you need to follow, depending on whether you already hold a foreign lawyer qualification or not.

Please note that a new qualification system, the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) entered into force on 1 September 2021. However, the previous system will continue to apply until autumn 2021 and during the 10-year transition period to 31 December 2032 for those who are already on the path to qualifying (see "The previous qualification system- LPC and QLTS" below).

Detailed information about the SQE can be found on the SRA's dedicated website: https://sqe.sra.org.uk/.

The new qualification system: the SQE route

The SQE is the new assessment for all aspiring solicitors. You can qualify through this route if you start your qualification process in September 2021 or later. It is possible to sit the assessment outside of the UK, but you should check the timing of such assessment. There will be varied start times for assessments held in international centres.

The SQE consists in two separate assessment (known as SQE1 and SQE2).

The SQE1 consists of two legal knowledge assessments, of 180 multiple-choice questions covering:

·        business law and practice; dispute resolution; contract; tort; legal system of England and Wales; constitutional and administrative law and EU law and legal services; and

·        property practice; wills and the administration of estates; solicitors' accounts; land law; trusts; criminal law and practice

Ethics and professional conduct are examined pervasively across the two assessments.

A candidate must pass the SQE1 assessment in its entirety before they can take SQE2.

The SQE2 assessment is divided into two parts (although candidates will receive one pass mark):

·        SQE2 oral, consisting of four oral legal skills assessments which will take place over two half days, covering:

o   interview and attendance note/legal analysis; and

o   advocacy

·        SQE2 written, consisting of 12 written legal skills assessments which will take place over three half days, covering:

o   case and matter analysis;

o   legal research;

o   legal writing; and

o   legal drafting.

There are two sittings of each SQE1 and SQE2 per year, one in the autumn and one in the spring, although this is expected to increase to meet demand.

The total candidate fee for the new SQE is £3,980 (SQE1: £1,558; SQE2: £2,422). All fees are VAT exempt.

Not yet qualified candidates

If you are not a qualified lawyer yet, to qualify through the SQE route you will need to:

·        have a degree in any subject (or equivalent level 6 qualification);

·        pass both stages of the SQE assessment;

·        complete two years' full-time (or equivalent) qualifying work experience; and

·        pass the SRA's character and suitability requirements.

Qualified lawyers

A qualified lawyer is someone who holds a legal professional qualification which allows them to practise in England and Wales or another jurisdiction. If you are a qualified lawyer and wish to become a solicitor of England and Wales you need to do the following:

·        have a degree in any subject that is equivalent to a UK degree or level 6 qualification, or other qualification and/or experience equivalent to this;

·        pass the SQE1 and SQE2 assessments (unless your qualification has an agreed exemption or you wish to apply for an individual one); and

·        meet the SRA's character and suitability requirements.

Unlike the candidates who are not qualified lawyers yet, you are not required to do qualifying work experience, as the SRA will recognise your existing qualification and experience.

If a qualified lawyer is granted an exemption from SQE2, the SRA may also require them to demonstrate their English or Welsh language competence.

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The previous qualification system – LPC and QLTS

Candidates who have already started qualifying through LPC and QLTS will be able to continue using these respective routes.

The Legal Practice Course (LPC) route

You can only qualify through this route if you meet the SRA transitional requirements (if you do not meet these, you will have to follow the SQE path instead).

These apply to anyone who, before 1 September 2021, had completed, started, accepted an offer of a place or paid a non-refundable deposit for one of the following:

·        the Common Professional Examination / Graduate Diploma in Law;

·        the Legal Practice Course; or

·        a training contract.

Anyone who falls within this group will have until 31 December 2032 to qualify as a solicitor under the Legal Practice Course (LPC) route, as long as courses still remain available.

If you hold a law degree, you will need to complete the LPC, a 1-year course that focuses on the development of your practical skills as well as legal knowledge.

Once you've completed your LPC (or while you complete it), you will need to complete a period of recognised training, the final stage of qualifying as a solicitor. Your training will be in a firm of solicitors or other organisation that is authorised to take trainees, where your work will be supervised by qualified solicitors.

The training period normally lasts 2 years (full time), but it can be reduced if you have relevant previous legal experience. At the end of the training period, you can be admitted to the roll of solicitors and apply for your practising certificate.

If you have a non-law degree, you must complete the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) course before starting your LPC.

There is a limited number of institutions authorised to provide LPC and GDL courses. Please check the Solicitors Regulation Authority's website to find out more.

If you are a foreign qualified lawyer – the Qualified Lawyer Transfer Scheme (QLTS) route

A foreign lawyer is someone who holds a legal professional qualification which allows them to practice in a jurisdiction other than England and Wales. Following Brexit, EU jurisdictions are considered as any other foreign jurisdiction for the purposes of practising law in England and Wales.

A foreign lawyer can practice (with limitations) English law, become a manager or become an owner of an authorised law firm in England and Wales by registering with the Solicitors Regulation Authority as a Registered Foreign Lawyer (RFL).

If you are an RFL, you can practise the law of your home state and advise on English law, however the legal advice on English law is limited to so-called unreserved legal activities. Only solicitors qualified in England and Wales can provide legal advice on the reserved subjects, namely:

1.      Exercise of a right of audience and conduct of litigation before English courts;

2.      Property and probate;

3.      Notarial activities;

4.      Administration of oaths;

5.      Financial services; and

6.      Immigration advice.

It is important that you consider carefully whether as a foreign qualified lawyer you are legally permitted to carry out the work you intend to do and that you satisfy any conditions that apply.

The following information is only for foreign qualified lawyers who have already started qualifying through the QLTS.

A foreign lawyer can of course qualify as a solicitor through the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS). This assessment consists of two exams: a multiple choice test (MCT) and an objective structure clinical examination (OSCE).

If you have not passed the MCT by September 2021, you do not fall within the SRA transitional arrangements to qualify under the QLTS regulations. In this case you will need to qualify through the SQE route.

If you pass the OSCE, you must meet the SRA requirements and apply for admission by 31 August 2022. Alternatively, you can take the SQE2 instead. If you pass this assessment, you must meet the SRA requirements and apply for admission by 31 August 2023.

Once you successfully pass the QLTS, you can be admitted to the roll of solicitors and apply for your practising certificate.

Our member Maria Memoli recorded a presentation for foreign lawyers on becoming a Solicitor in England and Wales. The presentation is available both in English (click here to access) and Italian (click here to access).

The slides of the presentation can be downloaded here.

For further resources visit:

The Law Society's website page dedicated to becoming a solicitor.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority's website page dedicated to qualified lawyers becoming a solicitor.

Please note that the rules to qualify as a solicitor in Scotland and Northern Ireland differ from the ones set out above. Please visit the Law Society of Scotland's website and the Law Society of Northern Ireland's website for more information.