SQE2 Exemption

The SQE offers a pathway for becoming a solicitor in England and Wales. However, not every candidate is required to sit both stages of the SQE. For some qualified lawyers, an exemption from all or part of the SQE2 assessment may be possible.

An SQE exemption applies when a qualified lawyer does not need to sit certain assessments within the SQE framework. A qualified lawyer, in this context, is defined as someone who holds a professional legal qualification that grants rights of practice, either in England and Wales or in another recognised jurisdiction. The SRA, which oversees the SQE, considers applications for exemption based on the legal training, qualifications, and experience a candidate already holds.

For SQE2, the exemption is granted only if the applicant can demonstrate that his or her legal skills match the standard and scope of the SQE2 assessments. These assessments test practical legal skills including client interview, attendance note/legal analysis, advocacy, legal research, legal writing, and legal drafting. To qualify for an exemption, you must present strong evidence that your existing qualification, practice rights, and legal work experience meet the same standard as those tested in the SQE2. This evidence may be based on professional work undertaken in a similar legal environment or under a legal framework that closely resembles that of England and Wales.

The SRA maintains a list of qualifications it has previously considered for exemption. If your jurisdiction or legal qualification does not appear on this list, it does not mean you are automatically ineligible. Instead, it may simply mean that the SRA has not yet reviewed an application from someone with that background. In such cases, you are encouraged to submit an individual application, which will be reviewed on its merits.

Exemptions are also available for SQE1, though these are significantly harder to obtain. SQE1 focuses on functioning legal knowledge and includes four assessments, each comprising 180 multiple-choice questions, testing your ability to apply legal knowledge to practical scenarios. To gain an exemption from SQE1, you must prove that your legal qualifications and/or work experience cover the same legal areas and are substantially similar to the law of England and Wales. You must also demonstrate that your experience meets Level 3 of the SRA Threshold Standard for qualification as a solicitor. Detailed references from supervising lawyers, along with redacted work samples such as attendance notes or client correspondence, are usually required to support an application.

It is worth noting that the SRA will not grant an exemption from any part of the SQE that you have previously failed or are awaiting results for. Once you have attempted an assessment and not passed, the only route forward is to retake and pass that assessment.