The SQE Route to Qualify as a Solicitor in England and Wales (incl. Foreign-Qualified Lawyers)

The SQE: one national route to becoming a solicitor

The Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) is the single, centralised route to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales, set by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). It replaced the older Legal Practice Course (LPC) pathway as the standard route to qualification. It is a licensing route — passing it makes you eligible to be admitted as a solicitor — and it is separate from studying law at university.

According to the SRA, the SQE route has four elements: a degree in any subject (or an equivalent Level 6 qualification), passing both SQE1 and SQE2, completing two years of full-time (or equivalent) qualifying work experience, and meeting the SRA's character and suitability requirements. You do not need a law degree — graduates of any discipline can qualify.

Exact fees, sitting windows, and pass details change and are set by the SRA and its assessment provider, so always confirm current requirements on the official SRA and SQE websites before you plan or pay.

• Set by the SRA — the single route for England and Wales
• Four elements: degree/Level 6 + SQE1 + SQE2 + QWE + character & suitability
• No law degree required — any subject counts
• This is qualification to practise, not a course of study

SQE1 and SQE2 explained

SQE1 tests Functioning Legal Knowledge (FLK) and is delivered as two multiple-choice assessments — FLK1 and FLK2 — using single-best-answer questions taken on separate days. It checks that you can apply legal knowledge to realistic client scenarios across the core practice areas.

SQE2 assesses practical legal skills — things like client interviewing, advocacy, legal writing, drafting, and legal research — through written and oral tasks held over consecutive assessment days. You normally take SQE2 after SQE1.

Many candidates take a preparation course before each stage, but a prep course is optional and is not the assessment itself. The exact structure, number of questions, and marking are defined by the SRA — verify the current format on the official SQE website rather than relying on older LPC-era descriptions.

Qualifying work experience (QWE)

All candidates must complete two years of full-time (or equivalent part-time) qualifying work experience. QWE must involve providing legal services and can be built up across up to four different organisations — for example a law firm, a law clinic, or an in-house legal team.

The SRA states that QWE can be gained in England or Wales or overseas, and it does not need to be limited to English and Welsh law. Each placement is confirmed by a solicitor or the organisation's compliance officer. There is no requirement to hold a traditional two-year training contract — QWE is more flexible than the older model.

What counts as QWE, how it is signed off, and how to record it are all set by the SRA. Confirm the current rules and record-keeping requirements on the official SRA QWE guidance before relying on any placement.

Cross-qualifying as a foreign-qualified lawyer

If you already hold a professional legal qualification that confers rights to practise in another jurisdiction, you can cross-qualify as a solicitor of England and Wales through the SQE. The older Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS) has closed, so the SQE is now the route for qualified lawyers too — do not follow QLTS-era guidance.

The SRA allows qualified lawyers to apply for an SQE2 exemption where they can demonstrate the relevant skills and competence through their qualifications, practice rights, and professional legal work experience. SQE1 exemptions are much harder to obtain: the SRA requires extensive evidence that your qualifications and experience cover all the assessed areas and meet its Threshold Standard, and you must contact the SRA directly.

Qualified lawyers may also be able to count relevant prior legal work toward QWE. Exemptions are decided case by case, so a foreign lawyer should check the SRA's qualified-lawyers pages and apply for an assessment of their own qualifications rather than assuming any exemption in advance.

• QLTS is closed — the SQE is now the route for qualified lawyers
• SQE2 exemptions possible with evidenced skills, rights and experience
• SQE1 exemptions are difficult and assessed against the SRA Threshold Standard
• Prior legal work may count toward QWE — confirm with the SRA

Character and suitability, and admission

Every applicant must satisfy the SRA's character and suitability requirements — a check on matters such as honesty, integrity, and any criminal or disciplinary history. This applies to all candidates, including foreign-qualified lawyers, and is assessed against the SRA's published criteria.

Once you have passed SQE1 and SQE2 (or hold the relevant exemptions), completed your QWE, and met the character and suitability requirements, you can apply to the SRA for admission to the roll of solicitors.

Because character and suitability decisions and the admission process are set and administered by the SRA, applicants with anything to disclose should read the SRA's guidance early and, where needed, seek their own professional advice. This guide is general information, not professional-registration or legal advice.