Meeting QWE Requirements for Solicitors

To qualify as a solicitor under the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) route, candidates must complete two years of full-time (or equivalent part-time) Qualifying Work Experience (QWE). This experience must be grounded in legal work and involve the provision of legal services. The primary goal of QWE is to help candidates develop some or all of the competencies outlined in the Solicitors Regulation Authority's (SRA) Statement of Solicitor Competence.

The SRA allows for a flexible approach to achieving the QWE requirement, which can be fulfilled in various settings and across multiple placements. A key element of the QWE is that it does not need to be completed in one continuous block. Instead, candidates can accumulate their experience across up to four separate organisations. These organisations may include law firms, legal clinics within academic institutions, law centres, and other appropriate organisations involved in legal services.

There is no minimum length of time required for each placement, giving candidates and firms the flexibility to tailor the experience according to their needs. However, it is essential to ensure that the duration of each placement is sufficient for the candidate to gain exposure to the necessary competencies.

Additionally, candidates are not restricted to a single placement at each of the four organisations. They can complete multiple placements of varying lengths at each organisation and combine them to meet the two-year QWE requirement.

For the QWE to be officially recognised, a solicitor or a Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (COLP) must confirm the details of the candidate's experience. This confirmation involves verifying the length of time spent in each placement and ensuring that the candidate was provided with opportunities to develop the required competencies. Furthermore, the solicitor or COLP must attest that no issues arose during the candidate's work experience that would affect their character and suitability for admission as a solicitor.

In summary, the QWE requirement under the SQE is designed to be flexible, accommodating a wide range of experiences and allowing candidates to develop their legal skills across different settings. After completing at least two years of QWE and having it confirmed by a qualified solicitor or COLP, candidates will be well on their way to meeting the necessary requirements for becoming a solicitor.